What’s so Great About Nitrogen?

Throughout our blog, we have provided you with a vast amount of information on the specifics on nitrogen generators and how they can assist various industries in their day-to-day processes.  So what is it exactly about nitrogen that we find so fascinating?...

Here’s some cool facts you may not know about nitrogen.

- Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of the volume of the Earth's air

- Most common uses for nitrogen:

• Gunpowder
• Fertilizer
• Rocket Fuels
• Liquid Nitrogen
• Nitrogen Generators (we had to throw this one in...) Find out more about nitrogen generators and how they work
• Nitrogen dioxide

- Nitrogen is odorless, tasteless and colorless

- Your body is 3% nitrogen by weight

- Nitrogen is lighter than water at liquid state and lighter than air at gaseous state

Take your Gasoline Further with Nitrogen!

Vehicles take a lot of abuse… it is important to always maintain your vehicle throughout the year to eliminate costly repairs in the future.

If you haven’t already heard…Shell gas stations across Canada and the United States have introduced a nitrogen-enhanced gasoline containing a unique, patented cleaning system designed to destroy build up on intake values and fuel injectors left by low quality gas in all their gasoline grades  – this is also known as “engine gunk”.

Nitrogen is the “secret” in this new gasoline and acts as the active cleaning molecule throughout the gasoline. Nitrogen allows the gasoline to perform in more a more balanced fashion at higher temperatures and allowing your vehicle to operate at a cleaner level.  

Nitrogen is also extremely useful when it come to keeping you moving… nitrogen tire inflation is becoming extremely popular with the benefits being improved fuel economy and increased tire life.

PSA nitrogen generators or membrane generators are recommended for auto service businesses who are looking to provide an added service for their customers.

Nitrogen – Eliminating Pesky Business!

Grain  - an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, oils and protein. Since grain is such an important staple to our survival, it is mass produced in order to meet the demands of the human race and the multiple uses for which grain can be integrated. However, with all natural products length of shelf-life is always an issue therefore proper storage is crucial. Within grain silos, there is always a risk of loss of moisture, temperature, excessive amounts of oxygen and even worse the potential of pest issues.

Nitrogen can assist with the preservation of grain within silos.  A nitrogen tank linked into the silo can provides balanced nitrogen up to 98% concentration.   This will eliminate all pest issues within 10 days of installment  and keeps the grain shelf life for one year…. Sometimes longer.

Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) nitrogen generators or membrane generators are recommended for this type of application.

Learn more about how nitrogen generators can assist in grain silos.

Nitrogen Generators – Size Variations

Choosing to produce on-site nitrogen is a very economical decision for a business that relies on a compressed gas source to aid in a process.  Depending on what your process requires, a particular type and size nitrogen generator will be recommended by a nitrogen generator supplier.  Below are a few key answers you should have in order to get a nitrogen generator that’s best for you!

1.  What is your current source of nitrogen – liquid dewars, high pressure cylinders, or bulk nitrogen?

2. Flow Rate – How much are you currently using? Decide how many high pressure cylinders, dewars or bulk nitrogen your application uses in a week in order to calculate the scfh (standard cubic feet per hour) – this will help you determine the flow rate your application requires.

3. Purity – how much oxygen can your process tolerate? The more oxygen you can allow, the less expensive it will be for your nitrogen generator.

4. What is the actual pressure of the nitrogen at the point of use?

5. Compressed air – is it available in your facility? If so, what is the compressed air pressure and does the system have an air dryer?

6. Where will your generator be installed – indoors or outdoors? For outdoor generators, specify the type of conditions the generator could be exposed to and if shielding the equipment is an option. For indoor generators, what are the highest and lowest temperatures possible for the generator to be exposed to?

Always remember, if you are unsure about how to find out the answers to these questions above - a knowledgeable and reputable supplier will be happy to help you... not sure where to start - check out Compressed Gas Technologies.

A Fresh New Idea for Coffee Packagers!

If you’re looking for a guaranteed process to make the freshest coffee possible in the coffee packaging industry – look no further than nitrogen generation.

Nitrogen is used in the food industry because of its ability to reduce spoilage.

Immediately after roasting coffee beans, oxygen begins destroying coffee causing it to lose its flavor. Transferring oxygen with nitrogen or "Nitrogen Flushing" during packaging preserves the flavor of  the coffee.

In a simple taste test comparing nitrogen-flushed coffee to a valve bag coffee the taste results based off the packaging process are significantly different. After being packaged for a period of approximately 20 days, coffee that was nitrogen-flush packaged was far more fresh than the valve bag, in which the coffee was flat and bag-tasting. Therefore it can be concluded that nitrogen flushing offers stabilization and preserves freshness when it comes to coffee packaging. Nitrogen as a pure element has no smell, no taste and no colour, this assures that chances of it affecting the taste and smell of the coffee are next to impossible.

Check out more information on nitrogen generators and the coffee packaging industry.

Is On-Site Nitrogen Right for You?

If your business currently requires nitrogen for tank padding, drying, product transfer, purging, flushing, or inerting, look at your plant's compressed air supply as a source to produce your own on-site nitrogen. This is an easy and reliable way that can save you money and give you more control over your gas use. Companies who produce their own supply of on-site nitrogen can generate as much or as little nitrogen as they need, at a fraction of the cost of having the gas delivered by an external source.

Applications that are useful to on-site nitrogen of the membrane filtration variety are: snack food packaging, laser cutting with nitrogen, tank padding, tire filling, rapid prototyping, RIM (Reaction Injection Molding), Injection Molding (Gas Assist), fruit storage, power stations, dry box storage of assembled electronic components, mine fires, fire sprinkler systems, and beer dispensing.

Applications that are best suited to on-site nitrogen of the Pressure Swing Adsorption variety are: snack food packaging, bottling (wineries), laser cutting with nitrogen, tank padding, tire filling, power stations, Injection Molding (Gas Assist), fruit storage, lead free soldering, beer dispensing and mine fires.

Discuss with a trusted and knowledgeable nitrogen generator supplier about your options today!!!

Learn more about PMNG membrane nitrogen generators and PSA nitrogen generators.

Nitrogen To The Rescue!

Fire sprinkler systems are an integral aspect of any fire safety process. If in the event of a fire you want to feel confident that the system you have installed in your building will perform as it was originally designed. However, all systems have the potential to run the risk of being flawed. The number one error potential in fire sprinkler systems is corrosion in the piping.

Corrosion can cause pinhole leaks, damage to the equipment, and potentially revenue loss due to shut down for repairs. The best prevention method for your fire sprinkler piping lines is nitrogen – a clean, non-flammable dry inert supervisory gas.

Fire sprinkler systems mandate the assistance of a supervisory gas so that when a fire is detected through extreme warm temperatures and smoke, the gas will proceed through the open sprinkler head first, followed by the water set off by a triggered value.  Nitrogen generators supply nitrogen on demand at a low pressure, which makes it a safer alternative to using high pressure nitrogen cylinders. There are no heavy cylinders to keep on hand, only small containers as a back-up for refilling the piping if necessary.

Consider on-site nitrogen generators as your preference for a supervisory gas for your fire sprinkler systems.

View more information regarding fire spinkler systems and nitrogen generators and other nitrogen generator products.