Manufacturing and N2 Technology

Nitrogen represents one of nature&#;s most valuable and abundant chemical substances. In its gaseous state, nitrogen is virtually indispensable in modern manufacturing applications. This article will highlight the role of nitrogen in some of the most crucial product industries today.

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Why Is Nitrogen Gas Important to Manufacturing Processes?

Gaseous nitrogen has several beneficial physical and chemical properties, making it a popular choice in manufacturing. Nitrogen exists in nature as a very stable diatomic molecule. It can be used to displace more reactive chemical elements and compounds. As a result, the gas is prevalent in industries that have highly explosive environments.

Another key stand-out feature is its lack of odor. This physical property is desirable in food and beverage processing since the original intended food and drink flavors are not altered. The colorless nature of food-grade nitrogen is also beneficial to operators who use nitrogen in their applications. For example, nitrogen gas would be preferable for modified atmosphere packaging of food items as it won&#;t alter their appearance.

How Is Nitrogen Generated for Manufacturing Industries?

Nitrogen gas for industrial manufacturing is harnessed using various techniques. In many cases, large volumes of gaseous nitrogen are synthesized on-site using one of the following methods.

Pressure Swing Adsorption

PSA nitrogen technology operates on the selective separation of nitrogen from the air. A typical pressure swing adsorption setup includes two drying cylinders containing molecular sieve materials that alternate between oxygen adsorption and its release. The result is the generation of high-purity nitrogen.

Membrane Nitrogen Generation

For industrial systems that use membrane nitrogen to source their gas, the technology uses the differential speeds of various air components to generate a stream of pure nitrogen gas. A semi-permeable membrane with hollow fibers will selectively filter gaseous nitrogen out of a gas mixture.

Fractional Distillation

Fractional distillation produces nitrogen gas of very high purity (99.999%) by cooling air to its liquefaction point and then distilling its component gases according to their boiling points.

How Is Nitrogen Technology Used in Manufacturing?

Nitrogen technology is currently applied in several manufacturing processes across diverse industries. Some common industries that utilize nitrogen technology are outlined below.

Metal Fabrication

The metallurgical industry requires the crafting of high-quality metal parts used in assembling various machinery, and nitrogen plays a crucial role in the process. On-site nitrogen generators can be utilized to generate adequate volumes of nitrogen used in metal cutting lasers, efficiently crafting metal parts with neatly cut edges without causing excessive heat damage.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Molecular nitrogen is a virtually indispensable chemical substrate in synthesizing many life-saving medications we use today. Nitrogen gas generators are used to produce synthetic antibiotics and anesthetics.

Food and Beverage Manufacturing

Prolonging the shelf life of commercially manufactured food items can be achieved using gaseous nitrogen in the processing stage. Modified atmosphere packaging with nitrogen gas creates an environment within food packing that inhibits rapid oxidative food spoilage.

Alcoholic beverages require careful processing to obtain satisfactory flavors and aromas. Therefore, nitrogen gas is often used in wine sparging as well as crafting high-quality nitrogenated brews.

Plastic Fabrication

N2 technology is also employed in the plastics and synthetic polymer industries to improve the final products. For example, nitrogen will harden plastics, improving their tensile strengths and durability.

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Electronics Manufacturing

Modern electronics are composed of circuits housing various components held together by soldering. Nitrogen gas soldering is a very efficient method of assembling electronic components as it guarantees excellent finishes. Furthermore, nitrogen gas can cool computer systems and prevent heat-related damage.

On-site Nitrogen vs. Bulk Supply Methods

The nitrogen used in industrial applications can be supplied by gas vendors in cylinders or generated on-site using nitrogen generators. Synthesizing nitrogen gas on-site has significant advantages over bulk-supplied gas.

• Long term cost-effectiveness as recurring cylinder procurement costs are eliminated
• Less wastage as only required volumes of nitrogen are generated and used for manufacturing
• Elimination of occupational health hazards associated with gas cylinder storage
• Removal of supply chain blockages as nitrogen can be generated on-demand at any point in the manufacturing cycle
• Ease of installation and minimal maintenance requirements

Find Quality Nitrogen Generators at NiGen

At NiGen International, we prioritize your nitrogen generation needs. Among our various products and services, we offer state-of-the-art on-site process gas equipment guaranteed to optimize your industrial manufacturing operations.

Please contact us today to learn more about our unique on-site nitrogen generation units and field services.

On-site nitrogen generation can be a cost-effective option for a wide range of purity and flow requirements.

Nitrogen gas is a staple in the chemical process industries (CPI). Because it is inert, it is suitable for a wide range of applications in manufacturing, processing, handling, and shipping. Nitrogen is often used as a blanketing and purging gas to protect valuable products from contaminants. It enables flammable materials to be safely stored, and it can protect against combustible dust explosions. Nitrogen gas is also used to remove contaminants from process streams through stripping and sparging.

&#;Figure 1. Nitrogen users can choose from a range of options for on-site nitrogen production to meet a variety of needs, including cryogenic air separation (top left), pressure swing adsorption (top right), and membrane systems (bottom).

The widespread use of nitrogen in the CPI has driven nitrogen production and supply methods to become more reliable, efficient, cost-effective, and convenient. Multiple nitrogen technologies and supply modes are available to meet a variety of requirements, including purity, usage pattern, portability, and footprint. Choosing the optimal supply option, however, can be a challenge. Producing nitrogen gas on-site is a proven and cost-effective option for a wide range of flow and purity requirements. These generators use either noncryogenic separation processes, such as membrane permeation and pressure swing adsorption, or cryogenic processes, which rely on very low temperatures to separate nitrogen from compressed air (Figure 1).

Nitrogen gas generation systems

Industrial nitrogen gas is produced by cryogenic fractional distillation of liquefied air, separation of gaseous air by adsorption, or permeation through membranes. Cryogenic distillation of air is the oldest method of nitrogen production and was developed in (1).

The concept of producing and selling industrial gases on-site was introduced in the early s (2). These cryogenic plants were built on or near a customer&#;s site and the product was delivered via a pipeline. This method allowed customers that required large volumes of gases to significantly reduce product costs while enhancing raw material reliability. The relatively high capital and power costs associated with on-site cryogenic plants, however, limited users of smaller volumes to liquid nitrogen delivered by vacuum-insulated trucks. The nitrogen was stored on-site and then vaporized and piped to the point of use as needed.

The s ushered in alternative methods of on-site generation, including pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and membrane separation. PSA systems operate on the principle of adsorption, whereas membrane systems rely on selective permeation. Early system designs produced nitrogen that was suitable mostly for small-volume, low-purity requirements. PSA and membrane systems have since improved and can now meet a range of volume, purity, and usage requirements.

&#;Figure 2. In a cryogenic air separation system, the feed is compressed and cooled to remove water vapor, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons before it enters the vacuum can, where a...

Cryogenic nitrogen generation. Cryogenic air separation systems (Figure 2) compress atmospheric air in the main air compressor and then cool and treat the air to remove water vapor, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons. In the vacuum can, a heat exchanger cools and partially liquefies the air, which then passes into the distillation column, where the mixture is separated into nitrogen gas and an oxygen-enriched waste liquid. A small amount of liquid nitrogen may be injected or an expander installed to provide additional cooling. The nitrogen gas then flows into the supply line to downstream applications; the product may be compressed to meet pressure requirements.

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