University and Labs Know Nitrogen Generators are Where it's At!

Universities and laboratories all over North America have learned the secret to lab/research centre efficiencies. The secret - continuous nitrogen supply through the use of nitrogen generators.

With efficiency and purity being the main information required for the application  - nitrogen generators have been a viable solution for a broad range of applications such as LC/MS (Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) and blanketing (chemical, catalyst, pharmaceutical, etc.).

The uninterrupted gas supply and convenience of on-site nitrogen production are key attributes as to why nitrogen generators have become such a valued asset in university/lab applications.

Requests for top quality lab equipment functionality and the importance of efficient advancements in research make nitrogen generators the perfect match when it comes to assisting university and lab facilities operate at their optimal poential.  For more information on how nitrogen generators assist university/lab applications, visit our website. 

Food: Fresher, Longer!

Packaging Solution Company innveri in association with German Company Filltech have recently brought the concept of Modified Atmospheric Packaging to public households!

Modified Atmosphere Packaging uses a mixture of natural gases to slow the decaying processes of foods to make their shelf life longer. Nitrogen which is a clean, dry, inert gas, plays a key part in the Modified Atmosphere Packaging process (MAP) preventing product deterioration. 

Read more about this great new innovation with nitrogen gas in this article produced by Gas World.

Visit Nitrogen-Generators.com for more information regarding nitrogen gas generation and how other industries benefit from nitrogen generators.

CGT Saves World Renowned Refrigerator Manufacturer Thousands Through Use of Nitrogen Generators

Recently Compressed Gas Technologies worked with one of the world’s largest manufacturers of refrigerators  (Whirlpool) to find ways to reduce their nitrogen consumption.

After a meeting with the staff and a thorough review all of the processes that utilized nitrogen throughout the plant was implemented, CGT was able to find ways for Whirlpool to save a significant amount of money in regards to their nitrogen consumption.

We are able to eliminate areas where nitrogen was being misapplied.  Reduced weekly consumption by over 30,000 cf with a yearly savings of $17,000. By eliminating the inefficient high pressure nitrogen system that was no longer needed for laser cutting, reducing the nitrogen consumption by 50%. Estimated savings were $50,000.
And we also recommended the installation of a nitrogen generator with a high pressure booster, with 100% redundancy, for pressure testing of coils. This would eliminate the need for bulk liquid nitrogen. The payback is expected to take less than 2 years. The changes made in the plant were very small but the financial rewards were huge.

Can nitrogen generators help your process? Let us help you find out - contact us today regarding all our nitrogen gas generation options.

Nitrogen Generators Can Decrease Chances of Combustible Dust Explosions in Dust Collectors

Over the last 30 years, more and more accidents involving dust collector explosions are being reported. The purpose of a dust collector is to improve the air quality in industrial facilities by removing particle matter from the air and the working environment and converting it to safer breathing air. The trick is that sometimes - depending on the industry that is using the dust collector – the actual dust being collected may have a combustible aspect which could result in a combustible dust explosion. In the United States alone there have been at least 350 combustible dust explosions. The scariest part about this is that in most instances, those injured were unaware that a hazard was present to begin with; a hazard that needed to be monitored carefully.

Depending on your industry’s process and application, combustible dust can be present in many different forms (i.e. metal dust, wood dust, plastic resin dust, etc.) and multiple sizes. Combustible dust can be produced in facilities you may not have even thought of – food, wood, plastic, rubber, pharmaceuticals, coal, grain and more.

As a precautionary measure, dust collectors are introduced to absorb this combustible dust and decrease the risk of any fires which could not only injure your employees but decrease your plant’s efficiency whereby your process needs to be shut down for repair or replacement for an extended period of time.

Nitrogen can be introduced into your dust collector for explosion prevention. Instead of using only oxygen in the dust collector process, a nitrogen generator can convert some of the oxygen to nitrogen thereby decreasing the chances of a dust collector fire.

Membrane nitrogen generators or PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) generators are best suited to assist any industry where dust collectors are a necessity.

Speak to an experienced nitrogen generator supplier to ensure that you choose the generator best suited for your process.

Nitrogen Tire Inflation Provides A New Service for Automotive Repair Industry

Gas prices in North America are soaring painfully high this year and rumor has it – it’s not going to get much better. Seeing your gas gauge point towards “E” in your vehicle will often make you cringe as you sigh and pose the question internally “How much it is going to cost me this time?”

We all know there are many alternative “green” methods to save ourselves money when it comes to transportation – but depending on how far your commute to work is – sometimes a bike just won’t cut it.
Nitrogen tire inflation is becoming a very popular replacement for air, and for good reason.

With proper inflation procedures and adequate purity,  nitrogen can provide amazing benefits. If you convert the air in your tires to nitrogen you can improve your fuel economy by up to 5%.

Car dealerships, repair shops or anyone in the automotive repair industry probably already has a  reciprocating air compressor in their facility to power equipment. Reciprocating air compressors would supply the nitrogen generator, PSA or membrane, directly – introducing a new revenue stream for automotive repair industries. All nitrogen generators require dry compressed air therefore an air dryer must be installed to protect the units from water contamination.
 
Reciprocating compressors are an ideal fit for this industry because of their low initial cost and minimal maintenance requirements (oil and air filter changes). A reciprocating air compressor paired with a nitrogen generator (membrane or PSA) can be a great asset to introducing nitrogen tire inflation as a service that will become more and more popular as the gas prices go higher and higher.

Scroll Compressors - Best For Lab Applications where Nitrogen Generators are Required

Laboratory applications such as Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) (LCMS), GC, ICP, ELSD / CAD detector, Circular Dichroism and Sample Evaporation have benefitted from the use of incorporating a nitrogen generator into their process.

In a specific example of sample preparation procedures for chemical analysis, a pressurized nitrogen source is required. Common nitrogen generators that assist in the laboratory industry are lab gas nitrogen generators or PSA nitrogen generators (Pressure Swing Adsorption). Within these nitrogen generators are compressors which assist in exactly what the name implies (compressing air). There are many different air compressors available on the market today, however scroll compressors tend to be the best for a laboratory application.

Scroll compressors are great for the laboratory industry as they are oil-free, but best of all they are extremely quiet – the quietest compressor in the industry; which is perfect for a laboratory setting. Scroll compressors are also simplistic in design with minimum movable parts. This allows a long operating life. All nitrogen generators require dry compressed air therefore an air dryer must be installed to protect the units from water contamination.

 
So if you are in an industry where you find yourself in a lab-type settings and want an cost effective way to keep your low –flow nitrogen process moving at maximum efficiency – consider a nitrogen generator today with a scroll compressor.

Basic Nitrogen Generator Price

Nitrogen generator price is something that is hard to quote generally. Depending on the business type and the appropriate application, certain nitrogen generators units may be better suited than others. Nitrogen generator units vary with differentiating factors/benefits and options.

Basic nitrogen generator price is as follows:

• Small flow nitrogen generators generally start at $3000 and go up to $20,000.
• Mid flow nitrogen generators range between $20,000 and $100,000.
• Large flow nitrogen generators are $100,000 and above.

Options that may become a factor for specific nitrogen generator price can be a nitrogen buffer tank, oxygen analyzers, high pressure requirements, feed air compressors, compressed air dryers, and skid mount packages. Getting a customized quote is easy and more information on nitrogen generator price and options can be found here. 

  

 

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

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.

Lab Gas Generators - Another Great On-Site Nitrogen Option!

Lab gas nitrogen generators are typically high purity, low flow, PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) systems. They have a small footprint and are extremely quiet which allows them to be installed right in the lab. These units can either use existing house compressed air or they can be ordered with integral oil-free air compressors. Purities (oxygen levels) range from 1% down to 10 PPM.



For LCMS applications membrane nitrogen generators are becoming more popular now that the flow rate requirements are increasing (4 LPM up to 60 LPM). Your nitrogen generator supplier will recommend the best technology for your application.

Sizing a nitrogen generator for your lab equipment is very simple. The operations manual for your equipment will have your nitrogen requirements (flow; purity; and pressure) listed in the "utilities" section of the manual.

Get more information on lab gas nitrogen generators.

What Kind of Generator is Best for You?

So you've made the decision to utilize on-site nitrogen production - but what nitrogen generator is best for your industry's application? CGT can help!

Generally speaking there are two types of nitrogen generators: Membrane Nitrogen Generators and PSA Nitrogen Generators. Check out both types and decide which one is best for you.

Membrane Technology

Membrane technology works by filtering oxygen from the dry compressed air stream via hundreds of thousands of hollow, polymeric fibers each the diameter of a human hair to produce gaseous nitrogen. The purity of the nitrogen (O2 Content) can be adjusted by regulating the volume of air passed through the membrane. Membrane modules can be added as necessary, so it's easy to expand as requirements change.

Membrane nitrogen generators are typically used in applications where the purity requirement is below 99.5% (0.5% O2 of higher).





PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) Technology

PSA technology utilizes two towers which are filled with carbon molecular sieve (CMS). Compressed air enters the bottom of the "online" tower and flows up through the CMS. Oxygen and other trace gases are preferentially adsorbed by the CMS, allowing nitrogen to pass through. After a pre-set time the on-line tower automatically switches to the regenerative mode, venting contaminants from the CMS. Carbon molecular sieve differs from ordinary activated carbons as it has a much narrower range of pore openings. This allows small molecules such as oxygen to penetrate the pores and separate from nitrogen molecules which are too large to enter the CMS. The larger molecules by-pass the CMS and emerge as nitrogen gas.

PSA nitrogen generators are typically used in applications where the purity requirement is higher than 99.5% (0.5% O2 or below).

If you're still not sure which unit is best for your company, please feel free to request a quote from us or give CGT a call directly.

CGT's new Nitrogen Generators Blog!

Compressed Gas Technologies Inc. is a leading supplier of on-site nitrogen generators throughout North America. We can help you save money on your nitrogen gas costs. Our line of generators allows you to produce on-site nitrogen, simply and cost effectively from a supply of compressed air. Eliminate rental charges, transportation expenses, labor costs, and evaporation losses of bulk systems.

Please check out our blog for information regarding nitrogen generators, nitrogen generation technology as well as industry-specific uses for our generators. If you have any nitrogen related questions, or you would like to see specific information regarding nitrogen generators on our blog - please contact CGT directly.