Although nitrogen generators require minimal maintenance regular maintenance checks are critical to keep them running with problem free and prevent the shutdown of facilities and operations that depend on them. Scheduled nitrogen generator maintenance performed by a professional service provider is particularly beneficial for large facilities such as food manufacturing plants. These types of facilities need to ensure that their operations are fully functional at all times with minimal downtime and closures.
Why Maintenance Is Essential for Nitrogen Generators
Making sure your nitrogen generator undergoes routine maintenance is absolutely crucial for a number of reasons. First off, it ensures that your unit is getting routine inspections on a regular basis. Second, regularly scheduled nitrogen generator maintenance helps you identify potential problems as soon as possible so that you can anticipate any necessary adjustments, part replacements, or repairs your nitrogen generator may need ahead of time. This will help minimize your facility’s downtime for maintenance and/or repairs.
Performing scheduled nitrogen generator maintenance inspections every three months also ensures that your unit is always running at optimal efficiency and this can help cut down your operational expenditures while also lowering your energy consumption and extending the lifespan of your unit.
Nitrogen Generator Maintenance Checklist
To help you properly keep track of the work done on your nitrogen generator, we’ve put together a maintenance checklist for your convenience.
- Log all inspections and maintenance. Keeping a log of nitrogen generator inspections, maintenance and repair dates helps you track of what type of work was done on your nitrogen generator and how long it’s been since the last inspection.
- Review and inspect system operation. Check the air receiver in front of the nitrogen generator daily for any visible signs of moisture in the compressed air feeding into the nitrogen generator. Make sure your nitrogen generator starts up and goes into standby as required. Inspect for system leaks and optimal valve operation. If you notice your nitrogen generator is not operating as per standard parameters this could indicate that there’s a system leak or malfunctioning valve.
- Check the purity levels. Make sure the nitrogen generator nitrogen purity levels are the same as when the unit was initially installed. A low nitrogen purity reading could be an indicator of a more serious problem.
- Check if the filter elements need replacing. Depending on how often you use your nitrogen generator, your filters need to be changed on a regular basis. Carbon filter elements typically should be changed every 2,000 operating hours. Particulate and coalescing filter elements should be changed every 4000 to 8000 operating hours depending on the installation.
- Oxygen analyzers require maintenance as well. Nitrogen generator oxygen analyzers need to be calibrated on a regular basis. Depending on the nitrogen purity the nitrogen generator operates at analyzer calibration can be done with compressed air for lower purity analyzers or calibration gas with high purity analyzers. Periodically analyzer sensor cells will need to be replaced.
- Maintenance messages. If you’re seeing maintenance advisory messages on the digital display of your nitrogen generator, then take immediate actions requested.
What Steps Can You Take Yourself?
- Follow correct operating procedures.
- Inspect the inlet compressed air receiver tank for moisture daily.
- Inspect nitrogen purity daily.
- Change inlet compressed air filters as required.
Professional Nitrogen Generator Maintenance from Advanced Gas Technologies
From initial onsite nitrogen gas generator installation to performing routine maintenance, Advanced Gas Technologies Inc. provides state-of-the-art services to ensure your unit is always running at optimal performance levels. We specialize in installing, maintaining, and servicing Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) nitrogen generators and membrane nitrogen generators.
Contact us today to book an installation, maintenance, or inspection service from one of our experienced technicians.