Beer has been one of the world’s most widely enjoyed alcoholic beverages for centuries. Despite its popularity, most people rarely think about how beer is produced or the key role gases like nitrogen play in modern brewing. Onsite nitrogen generation systems allow breweries to produce food-grade nitrogen directly at the facility by separating it from compressed air. In brewing applications such as tank purging, beer transfer, keg pressurization, and packaging, nitrogen purity between 99% and 99.9% is typically sufficient.
By generating nitrogen onsite, breweries reduce reliance on cylinder deliveries, avoid supply chain interruptions, and maintain tighter control over gas quality and availability. Advanced Gas Technologies designs and supplies PSA nitrogen systems for breweries ranging from small craft producers to large-scale operations.
Why Onsite Nitrogen Generating Systems Are Important for Breweries
From macro to microbreweries, every institution that makes their own beer can benefit greatly from installing onsite nitrogen generators. Traditionally, a combination of nitrogen and CO2 (carbon dioxide) are used throughout various stages of the beer-making process, including preventing beer oxidation and purging tanks between applications. Little do most brewers know, the majority of CO2 used in these processes can be replaced with pure nitrogen gas.
Nitrogen gas can also be used to transfer beer from one tank to another and to pressurize kegs. It can also be used in bottling and canned beer prior to shipment to help extend the shelf life and maintain purity of the product.
Overview of the Beer Brewing Process
While nitrogen is not part of the core recipe, it is widely used in breweries to improve product quality, consistency, and shelf life by minimizing oxygen exposure and maintaining controlled environments throughout production. Beer brewing typically follows four main stages:
- Malting: Barley is germinated and dried to develop enzymes that convert starches into fermentable sugars. This process creates the base malt used in brewing.
- Mashing: The malt is mixed with hot water to activate enzymes that break down starches into sugars. The resulting liquid, known as wort, is separated from the solid grain material.
- Boiling: The wort is boiled, and hops or other ingredients are added depending on the beer style. Boiling sterilizes the wort and influences bitterness, aroma, and flavour.
- Cooling and Fermentation: The boiled wort is rapidly cooled and transferred into fermentation vessels. Yeast is then added to convert sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide, producing beer.
How Nitrogen Gas is Used in Brewing
Nitrogen is chemically inert, meaning it does not react with beer or most brewing materials. This makes it ideal for protecting product quality at multiple stages of production, including:
- Purging tanks after each batch is removed in preparation of the next one to remove residual wort, mashing, and malting
- Preventing cross-contamination between batches
- Displacing oxygen and carbon dioxide in tanks during the beer transferring process
- Pressurizing kegs, bottles, and cans to maintain and extend product freshness, quality, and shelf life
- Adding nitrogen to beer to increase carbonation and enhance flavour
PSA Nitrogen Generators for Breweries
PSA nitrogen generators use two towers filled with carbon molecular sieve. As compressed air flows through, oxygen and other gases are captured while nitrogen passes through for use. The towers switch back and forth between production and regeneration, allowing for a continuous nitrogen supply. PSA systems can produce very high purity nitrogen, up to 99.999%, and are often used in larger breweries with higher production demands.
Most brewing applications work well with nitrogen in the 99%-99.9% purity range. This level is typically sufficient to maintain beer stability and limit oxygen exposure during production and packaging.
Benefits of Onsite Nitrogen Generators for Breweries
Onsite nitrogen generators for breweries have the following benefits:
- Lower carbon emissions by not having to transport nitrogen from different locations
- Lower carbon emissions by reducing or eliminating the use of CO2
- Significantly lowers the cost of nitrogen gas when compared to conventional nitrogen supply options
- Eliminate risk of nitrogen supply shortages and delayed deliveries
- Reduce operational carbon footprint
- Increase safety measures by minimizing the risks involved with transporting and handling nitrogen in liquid dewars or nitrogen gas cylinders
Get Onsite Nitrogen Generator for Your Brewery
Advanced Gas Technologies is a leading designer and supplier of PSA nitrogen generators that can be installed on virtually any industrial and commercial property to enhance and economize operations costs. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of onsite nitrogen generating systems in your brewery operation.