Supply compressed air
Flow, pressure, temperature and usable compressor reserve must fit the generation system. An existing network can be used if other consumers remain unaffected.
Nitrogen generators and supply
Generate nitrogen onsite –
when the demand supports it.
A nitrogen generator uses treated compressed air to produce a nitrogen-rich gas stream at a defined purity or residual-oxygen level. Whether this fits better than cylinders, bundles or bulk supply is decided from actual operating data.
01 Basics
How a nitrogen generator
turns compressed air into supply.
Ambient air consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. A compressor raises its pressure; treatment limits water, oil and particles to the generator requirement. PSA or membrane technology then separates the components.
Treat the air
Filtration and drying are range-specific. There is no single compressed-air class that applies to every generator.
Separate and buffer gas
The product gas is measured and, depending on demand, stored, boosted or fed directly to the consumer. Short peaks do not automatically justify a larger generator.
02 Supply decision
Cylinders, bulk or onsite?
No route is universally best.
Onsite generation can reduce deliveries and cylinder handling, but it requires electricity, compressed air, maintenance, space and an appropriate reserve concept. Delivered gas may still fit small, occasional or highly variable demand.
| Supply route | Can fit when … | Points to assess |
|---|---|---|
| Cylinder or bundle | demand is small, irregular or mobile. | handling, storage, changeover, logistics and actual ancillary charges. |
| Liquid or bulk supply | large quantities are supplied centrally and logistics are dependable. | tank, vaporisation, minimum take, delivery windows, losses and reserve. |
| Onsite generation | regular demand and suitable infrastructure support a full-cost comparison. | compressor, treatment, energy, storage, boosting, maintenance and backup. |
| Combination | onsite generation covers base load while delivered gas protects peaks or outages. | changeover, storage, responsibilities and periodic testing. |
03 Technology
PSA or membrane:
processes, not quality levels.
PSA and membrane separation are two common onsite routes from compressed air. PSA is often considered for high to very high purity. Membrane systems can be mechanically simpler and are often considered at lower purity. The choice still involves much more than purity.
PSA
Alternating vessels preferentially adsorb oxygen on carbon molecular sieve. Gas quality, useful flow and air demand change with the design point.
Membrane
Oxygen, water vapour and other faster gases preferentially permeate hollow fibres, leaving a nitrogen-rich stream. Feed-air and operating conditions remain critical.
Selection
Gas quality, flow, pressure, temperature, start behaviour, load, space, noise, energy, maintenance and budget all matter.
Compare technologies →
04 Design
The relevant inputs
that actually define the system.
Average flow is not enough. Supply is designed at the handover point and against a credible demanding operating case.
01
Gas quality
Required purity or residual oxygen from the process or machine specification.
02
Flow and peaks
Base load, peak, peak duration, simultaneity and expected growth.
03
Pressure
Required pressure at the user, line loss and any boosting duty.
04
Operation
Shifts, start-stop behaviour, service windows, reserve and required availability.
05 Common questions
Key questions
before sizing.
Which purity can a nitrogen generator reach?
The achievable range depends on technology, model and conditions. Current nano PSA ranges cover different purity bands, so one number cannot describe every system. The required process quality is the correct starting point; unnecessary over-purification can affect useful flow and energy demand.
Can an existing compressed-air network be used?
Yes, if usable reserve, pressure, temperature, air quality and load profile are suitable and other consumers are not impaired.
Can a generator supply continuous demand?
Industrial systems can be designed for continuous demand. Round-the-clock supply still depends on power, compressor, treatment, generator, storage and maintenance. Critical processes require a separate review of redundancy or backup.
Does onsite generation fully replace delivered gas?
Not necessarily. Delivered gas may still protect peaks, planned maintenance or faults. A combination can be more economic or operationally robust than full replacement.
What starts a useful first selection?
Current supply, typical and maximum demand, gas-quality requirement, pressure, operating hours, available compressed air and reserve or expansion needs. Unknown values can be marked as such.
Useful next questions
From the basics
to a decision.
Next step
Know the current supply?
Then the comparison can begin.
Send any available invoice, demand or machine data. MX Solutions will identify gaps and the next technical action.