Industrial Nitrogen Generators
A nitrogen generator is an industrial system that separates nitrogen from compressed air to produce a continuous, on-demand supply of nitrogen gas at purities ranging from 95% to 99.999%. The two primary technologies are Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) generators, which use carbon molecular sieve to adsorb oxygen from compressed air, and membrane generators, which use hollow-fiber polymeric membranes to filter oxygen from the air stream. Advanced Gas Technologies supplies both PSA and membrane nitrogen generators with flow capacities from under 1 m³/hour (40 SCFH) to over 100 tons per day, serving industries including food packaging, laser cutting, electronics manufacturing, and petrochemical processing. Onsite nitrogen generation eliminates the cost, safety risk, and logistical complexity of delivered cylinders, dewars, or bulk liquid nitrogen - with typical ROI achieved within 9 to 24 months.
Types of Nitrogen Gas Generation Technologies
Advanced Gas Technologies offers PSA and membrane type nitrogen generation technologies, engineered for reliability, energy efficiency, and long-term performance. Our nitrogen generation technologies cover a wide range of flow capacities from less than 1 m3/hour (40 SCFH) to large tonnage nitrogen plants suitable for refining, chemical processing, and other high-flow volume applications.
Both PSA and membrane systems can be supplied as standalone generators or as turnkey packages with integrated air compressors, dryers, filtration, and buffer tanks.
Explore our full range of PSA nitrogen generators and membrane nitrogen generators below.
Membrane Type
Nitrogen Generators
Membrane nitrogen generators use advanced hollow-fiber, polymeric membranes to efficiently filter oxygen from a dry compressed air stream to produce gaseous nitrogen. The purity of nitrogen can be adjusted, which makes it ideal for applications where the purity requirement is below 99.5%. Membrane technology is a sustainable, low maintenance, and efficient way to produce nitrogen. Membrane nitrogen generators are also compact and easy to install, making them a highly economical option for businesses of all sizes.
Standard Twin Tower Nitrogen Generators
For higher nitrogen flow requirements, Advanced Gas Technologies' line of standard twin tower nitrogen generators are the most energy efficient on the market. These systems use Pressure Swing Adsorption technology with carbon molecular sieve (CMS) to separate oxygen from compressed air, producing nitrogen at purities up to 99.999% in a continuous, automated cycle. Based on an electricity cost of $0.07 USD per kW/h, ultra-high-purity nitrogen (99.999%+) can be produced on site for a little as $0.10 USD per 100 CF (< $0.04 per M3). Depending on nitrogen purity requirements, system capacities of over 100 tons per day of nitrogen production are available with a single equipment train. Multi-train systems c/w energy efficient turn-up and turn-down capabilities are available for higher capacity requirements.
Modular PSA Nitrogen Generators
For lower nitrogen flow requirements, Advanced Gas Technologies can offer a truly modular, field expandable PSA nitrogen generator. These systems are ideal for smaller operations that have high growth aspirations. Adding a second selective soldering to your electronics manufacturing operation? Adding a second MAP line to your food packaging operation? No problem. We have you covered. We can add additional modules in the field to your nitrogen generator and have you up and operating with increased nitrogen generation capacity in a matter of hours!
Nitrogen Generation Services We Provide
By installing an onsite system, all you need to focus on is routine maintenance, while your investment pays for itself over time. We offer the following nitrogen generator services:
Installation Services
We install nitrogen gas generators across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and most regions around the world through our global network of industry partners.
Maintenance Services
Advanced Gas Technologies provides 24/7 maintenance and service support for PSA and membrane nitrogen generators. Routine maintenance typically includes compressed air pre-filter replacement, system pressure checks, purity monitoring, and more. Our technicians ensure your nitrogen generator operates at peak efficiency and meets the purity requirements of your application.
The Benefits of an Onsite Nitrogen Generating System
The benefits of generating your own nitrogen include:
Cost Savings
Factors like fluctuating conventional nitrogen supply prices and delivery location will impact what you spend if you have nitrogen delivered to your facility. When you shift to onsite nitrogen generation, you can substantially reduce these costs no matter where you are located. In fact, you can see a return on investment in a little as nine to 24 months.
Increase Safety for Employees
Employee safety is paramount in any industrial environment. Onsite nitrogen generation significantly reduce the risk of worker injury. Handling nitrogen cylinders, tank leaks and exposure to liquid nitrogen through delivery and unloading is 100% eliminated, thus creating a safe and reliable system.
Reduce Negative Impact on Environment
By having your own nitrogen generating system, you reduce your environmental impact as you no longer need to use heavy transport trucks to deliver and replenish your tanks. You also increase operational efficiency and improve your reputation in the industry as a company that is environmentally conscious.
Efficient Time Savings
Industrial users who set up onsite nitrogen generation save time on critical operations that use nitrogen. One of the biggest losses for industrial users each year is operational downtime caused by logistical issues with transporting nitrogen from vendor locations. With an onsite nitrogen generating system, critical processes run smoothly because you have a 24-hour supply of high-purity nitrogen gas to run your processes.
How Much Does It Cost to Generate Nitrogen?
The cost to generate nitrogen onsite depends on the purity required, the nitrogen generation technology used, geographic location, and local electricity rates. In most cases, onsite generation is significantly less expensive per unit volume than any form of delivered nitrogen.
Conventional Nitrogen Supply Costs
Here is a range of costs associated with the various types of conventional sources of nitrogen gas supply in the North American marketplace:
Cylinder / Nitrogen
$3.00 - $15.00 per M3 / $8.00 - $40.00 per 100 CF
Liquid Dewar / Nitrogen
$0.70 - $1.50 per M3 / $1.80 - $4.00 per 100 CF
Bulk Liquid / Nitrogen
$0.12 - $0.75 per M3 / $0.30 - $2.00 per 100 CF
The typical cost to generate nitrogen on site at a nitrogen purity of 99.5% would be $0.03 - $0.05 per M3 / $0.10 - $0.14 per 100 CF.
Top 5 Industrial Nitrogen Generator Applications
Here are the five most popular nitrogen generator applications in the industrial sector:
Food Packaging (MAP)
Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) with nitrogen and nitrogen-CO2 gas mixes are often used in the food packaging industry to preserve perishable items by preventing spoilage, ensuring freshness, maintaining flavour, and extending the product shelf life. Onsite nitrogen generation is highly beneficial in the food packaging industry to save on costs and maintain a quality product.
Beverage Storage, Transport, and Dispensing
Like the food industry, the beverage industry can also improve its operational efficiency by having onsite nitrogen generating systems. These systems make it more efficient to transport beverages to end users such as juice packagers, vintners, breweries, and other manufacturers of beverage dispensing systems.
Laser Cutting
The success of a laser cutting operation depends on a lean and efficient shop, which is why it is highly beneficial to generate your own nitrogen onsite. Nitrogen shields the metal from oxidation and removes molten material during cutting. Many industrial facilities rely on high-pressure cylinder or bulk liquid nitrogen, which can lead to significant purge losses of up to 20%. An onsite nitrogen generator eliminates these losses entirely.
Electronics Manufacturing and Soldering
High-purity nitrogen is essential in electronics manufacturing, particularly for solder applications such as selective soldering applications, where consistent purity reduces dross and improves solder quality. Nitrogen generators reduce dross formation, lowers surface tension, and allows solder to separate cleanly from the workpiece.
Fuel and Chemical Tank Inerting
The ideal inert gas for blanketing or purging fuel and chemical tanks is nitrogen. Having an onsite nitrogen system will reduce your costs and allow you to have a 24/7 nitrogen supply to meet your requirements.
Other Common Applications for Membrane and PSA Nitrogen Generators
Some of the other applications that are well-suited for onsite nitrogen generating systems technology include:
- Autoclaves
- Biofuel Production
- Chemical Plants and Refineries
- Coffee Packaging
- Controlled Atmosphere Fruit Storage
- Enhanced Oil Field Recovery
- Ethanol Production
- Gas-Assist Injection Molding
- Heat Treating
- Jewelry Manufacturing
- Leak Checking
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- Printing
- Power Plants
- Reflow Ovens
- Shipboard Inerting
- Tire Inflation
Why Choose Advanced Gas Technologies
Advanced Gas Technologies has supplied onsite nitrogen and oxygen generation solutions to industrial clients across North America and internationally since 1994. Over nearly three decades, we have helped clients reduce their industrial nitrogen gas costs by up to 90% by replacing delivered cylinders, dewars, and bulk liquid nitrogen with onsite PSA and membrane nitrogen generating systems.
If you want to reduce your industrial nitrogen gas costs by up to 90%, contact us toll-free at 1-(866) 725-7551 in North America or (905) 305-0094 local and overseas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nitrogen Generators
What is a nitrogen generator?
A nitrogen generator is an industrial system that produces nitrogen gas onsite by separating it from compressed air. A nitrogen generator extracts nitrogen using either Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) or membrane technology, delivering a continuous supply of purified nitrogen gas at the purity and flow rate required by the application.
How does a nitrogen generator work?
A nitrogen generator works by separating nitrogen from oxygen and other gases in compressed air. PSA generators use carbon molecular sieve (CMS) to absorb oxygen in two alternating pressure vessels, producing nitrogen at purities up to 99.999%. Membrane generators pass compressed air through bundles of hollow-fiber polymeric membranes that selectively permeate oxygen, producing nitrogen at purities up to 99.5%. Both technologies require clean, dry compressed air as their input.
How much does a nitrogen generator cost?
Nitrogen generator prices vary based on technology type, flow capacity, and purity requirements. Small-flow systems start at approximately $20,000 and range up to $50,000. Mid-flow industrial systems cost between $50,000 and $200,000. Large industrial systems for high-demand operations range from $200,000 to over $1,000,000. Most nitrogen generators achieve return on investment within 9 to 24 months through savings on delivered nitrogen costs.
What maintenance does a nitrogen generator require?
Routine nitrogen generator maintenance includes compressed air pre-filter replacement (typically every 8,000 operating hours), purity monitoring, pressure checks, and oxygen sensor calibration. PSA systems additionally require switching valve inspection and rebuild every 30,000-40,000 operating hours. The most critical maintenance requirement for all nitrogen generators is ensuring clean, dry compressed air. Contaminated air is the leading cause of premature system failure.
Should I choose a PSA or membrane nitrogen generator?
The choice depends on your purity, flow, and cost requirements. Membrane generators are typically more cost-effective for applications requiring purity below 98%, and they are compact, quiet, and very low maintenance. PSA generators are the better choice for applications requiring purity above 98% and up to 99.999%, and they are more energy-efficient at higher purity levels. Advanced Gas Technologies can help assess your application and recommend the right technology.
How long does a nitrogen generator last?
PSA nitrogen generators are typically designed for an equipment life cycle of 20 to 25 years. Membrane nitrogen generators can last 10 to 15 years before replacement is required. With proper maintenance, both types of generators can exceed these expected lifespans.
