Exploring the Technology Behind Membrane Nitrogen Generators

There’s a growing demand for nitrogen in various industries around the world. Nitrogen is an abundant element that makes up most of the earth’s atmosphere. If your business relies on nitrogen for manufacturing, production, or packaging, you have many options for obtaining that nitrogen, including membrane nitrogen generators.

Membrane nitrogen generators are used in many industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and others. We’ll explore the technology behind membrane nitrogen generators and their applications and learn more about how these relatively simple machines are long-lasting and highly effective for businesses.

What Are Membrane Nitrogen Generators?

A membrane nitrogen generator is a generator that extracts nitrogen from the air, separates the nitrogen from other molecules like oxygen, and then ejects a steady stream of nitrogen for industrial purposes.

Nitrogen generators are relatively simple devices that use a membrane consisting of thousands of hollow polymer fibers. These fibers allow oxygen and other molecules to permeate the walls of the generator, while the nitrogen is collected inside the membrane until it is pushed out of the generator through the outlet.

The resulting high-purity nitrogen is very dry because water molecules have been extracted. It’s also inert, which means it won’t react with other materials. This is why many industries use nitrogen as it doesn’t lead to oxidization or deterioration of metals, food, medications, and other products.

History of Membrane Technology

Finding a consistent, reliable source of nitrogen for businesses became important in the 1980s and 1990s when electronics manufacturing became an important industry. Nitrogen is used to prevent oxidation during soldering, which is an important activity in electronics manufacturing.

Traditional methods of nitrogen delivery involved the use of liquid nitrogen or nitrogen cylinders. This delivery system was expensive on an ongoing basis and not practical for businesses that needed an ongoing, regular supply of nitrogen. Thus, the need for membrane nitrogen generators was created.

Continuous advancements in the nitrogen generator industry led to the development of nitrogen membrane technology. These generators are now standard for many businesses in many industries.

Nitrogen membrane generators primarily consist of a nitrogen generator membrane containing thousands of hollow fibers. These generators have no moving parts.

Advantages of Membrane Nitrogen Generators

There are many advantages of membrane nitrogen generators, especially compared to traditional nitrogen delivery methods. See below, why many industries turn to these generators:

  • Efficiency: Membrane nitrogen generators efficiently produce a continuous and reliable supply of nitrogen.
  • Flexibility: These generators are easily adjustable to meet varying nitrogen demands. Regardless of your industry, we can configure your generator to produce nitrogen at the desired purity level.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Nitrogen cylinders and liquid nitrogen come at costs that add up over time. Membrane nitrogen generators have lower operational costs compared to traditional nitrogen supply methods.
  • Compact Design: Whereas nitrogen cylinders take up a lot of space in a warehouse or industrial setting, membrane nitrogen generators are relatively compact. They offer space-saving benefits for various industrial setups.
  • Low Maintenance: Nitrogen cylinders have no moving parts and thus minimal maintenance requirements and associated costs.

Applications of Membrane Nitrogen Generators

Many industries can make use of membrane nitrogen generators, including:

  • Food and Beverage: Food and beverage companies use nitrogen generators for packaging, storage, and preservation of products.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Nitrogen helps ensure product stability and purity, and can be used for packaging purposes.
  • Electronics: Nitrogen prevents oxidation during manufacturing processes and helps ensure strong solder joints.
  • Oil and Gas: The use of nitrogen in oil and gas industries helps enhance safety and efficiency in exploration and extraction processes.
  • Automotive: Nitrogen can be used in tire inflation and parts manufacturing for the automotive industry.

How On-Site Gas Systems Utilize Membrane Technology

On-Site Gas Systems has expertise in membrane nitrogen generation and can create customizable solutions to fit specific industry needs. When you work with On-Site Gas Systems for your nitrogen generator, you can be assured that your nitrogen generator will be of the highest quality and well-maintained throughout its service life.

Want to know more about membrane nitrogen generators from On Site Gas Systems? Contact us for an initial consultation and further assistance. Reach out to us through our website, or give us a call at (860)-667-8888.

Need a Nitrogen Membrane Generator? We Can Help!

If you’re seeking a reliable and cost-effective solution for your nitrogen needs, look no further than On-Site Gas Systems. Contact us today to discover how our membrane nitrogen generators can benefit your business across various industries, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and oil and gas.

 

Choosing the Right Nitrogen Generation System for Your Industry Needs

Nitrogen is one of the most abundant elements in our galaxy and is in nearly 80% of the earth’s atmosphere. Its abundance makes it easy to access, and its inertness makes it useful across a variety of industries.

There are many ways to access nitrogen and use it in your manufacturing processes. However, traditional nitrogen supply methods, which require cylinders to deliver nitrogen to businesses, have their downsides.

This is why many businesses turn to nitrogen generation for their nitrogen needs. Nitrogen generators pull the nitrogen from the air and produce a steady, ongoing stream of nitrogen for manufacturing, packaging, welding, and other purposes. In this blog, we’ll help you decide which type of nitrogen delivery system works best for your business, so you can make an informed decision when using nitrogen for your needs.

Benefits of Onsite Nitrogen Generation

  • Savings: Onsite n2 generator systems are inexpensive to operate. After an initial upfront investment, nitrogen generators cost almost nothing to use.
  • Continuous supply and availability: Nitrogen cylinders that must be delivered are subject to supply chain problems. Nitrogen generators remain onsite and available at all times to produce nitrogen, 24 hours per day.
  • High, customized purity levels: Nitrogen generators can produce nitrogen at a high purity level. They can also be customized to produce the level of purity needed for the purposes at hand.
  • Environmental benefits: Nitrogen cylinders must be delivered via vehicle and thus have a much larger carbon footprint compared to nitrogen generators.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Nitrogen Generation System

When you’re selecting a nitrogen generation system or a nitrogen cylinder delivery for your business, some factors must be considered to ensure that your nitrogen delivery method is adequate. For example:

  • Purity Levels: Different applications require different purity levels. Take care to ensure that your nitrogen delivery system will deliver nitrogen at the purity levels you require.
  • Flow Rate and Volume: How much nitrogen does your business need at any given time? What flow rate and volume does your business require? Know the system specs to ensure your nitrogen delivery system can meet the demands of your operations.
  • Space and Installation: Nitrogen cylinders take up a lot of space. Nitrogen generators are small by comparison. Assess the available space before committing to a specific nitrogen delivery method.
  • Cost and ROI: Know the initial investment, operational costs, and return on investment analysis for your nitrogen delivery system. If your business relies on nitrogen in an ongoing way, then it’s important to consider the long-term implications for your business.

Industry-Specific Considerations

Every industry uses nitrogen in different ways. Nitrogen doesn’t react with organic material or lead to oxidation when exposed to metals. It can be used to replace oxygen in enclosed environments and can extend the service life or shelf life of various materials. Below are some of the ways that nitrogen is used in modern industries.

  • Food and Beverage: Nitrogen can be used to maintain product quality and extend shelf life in food and beverage packaging. Nitrogen is found in chip bags and cereal bags to preserve quality, can be infused in beverages for a smooth bubbly finish, and is found in packages of dried fruits to prevent food from spoiling or turning colors.
  • Pharmaceuticals: In pharmaceutical packaging, nitrogen is used to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and maintain product integrity.
  • Electronics and Manufacturing: In the electronics and manufacturing industries, the use of nitrogen prevents oxidation and enhances product reliability. Nitrogen is used to ensure quality when soldering and creates stronger joints to ensure product quality.
  • Oil and Gas: Nitrogen is used in the oil and gas industry to enhance safety and efficiency in drilling and extraction processes. Nitrogen is used in injection and pressure testing, pressure maintenance, and more.

How On-Site Gas Systems Can Help

On-Site Gas produces nitrogen generators that ensure a steady, ongoing stream of nitrogen, available for your business use 24 hours per day. We offer customizable solutions to meet specific industry needs.

The team at On-Site Gas can help your business find the right nitrogen generator system by customizing a system to fit your exact specifications. We also refurbish old systems as needed to help businesses meet their nitrogen needs on a budget.

We specialize in two different types of nitrogen generators:

  • PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) Nitrogen Generators: PSA nitrogen generators use two chambers to produce a high-purity supply of nitrogen. During the generation process, oxygen and other impurities are adsorbed by the carbon molecular sieve, while nitrogen is collected in a receiver and then ejected in a steady stream.
  • Membrane Nitrogen Generators: Membrane nitrogen generators separate water, CO2, and oxygen from nitrogen using a membrane with holes too small for nitrogen to pass through. This produces a continuous flow of nitrogen.

On-Site Gas offers support and maintenance for nitrogen generators so that our customers can get the most out of their nitrogen generators. Our systems are designed to last, but with maintenance and repairs available from On-Site Gas, you can enjoy years of steady, low-cost nitrogen production.

To get started with a nitrogen generator for your business, contact On Site Gas to speak with one of our customer service representatives.

Choose the Right Nitrogen Generation System for Your Business

If your business relies on nitrogen for its manufacturing, production, or packaging process, it’s important to find the right delivery method for your needs.

Customers chose On-Site Gas for its nitrogen generators because we provide excellent customer support and a personal touch. Our nitrogen generators are customized for our clients to ensure that each system we deliver is just right. To begin a personalized consultation, contact us today. Make your appointment with our knowledgeable nitrogen generator expert!