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nitrogen generator introduction

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publisherlezo

time2011/06/20

Nitrogen generator
 
Adsorption nitrogen generatorThe adsorption gas separation process in nitrogen generators is based on the phenomenon of fixing various gas mixture components by a solid substance called an adsorbent. This phenomenon is brought about by the gas and adsorbent molecules' interaction.

Swing adsorption technology
Flow chart of adsorption nitrogen generatorThe technology of air-to-nitrogen production with the use of adsorption processes in nitrogen generators is well studied and widely applied at industrial facilities for the recovery of high-purity nitrogen.

The operating principle of a nitrogen generator utilizing the adsorption technology is based on the dependence of the adsorption rates featured by various gas mixture components upon pressure and temperature factors. Among nitrogen adsorption plants of various types, Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants have found the broadest application world-wide.

The system's design is based on the regulation of gas adsorption and adsorbent regeneration by means of changing pressures in two adsorber–adsorbent-containing vessels. This process requires constant temperature, close to ambient. With this process, nitrogen is produced by the plant at the above-atmospheric pressure, while the adsorbent regeneration is accomplished at below-atmospheric pressure.

The swing adsorption process in each of the two adsorbers consists of two stages running for a few minutes. At the adsorption stage the adsorbent serves to adsorb predominantly one of the gas mixture components with the recovery of product nitrogen. At the regeneration stage the adsorbed component is released from the adsorbent and is vented in the atmosphere. The process is then multiply repeated.

Advantages of nitrogen generators
Adsorption nitrogen generator plants allow production of high-purity nitrogen from air, which membrane systems are unable to provide – up to 99.9995% nitrogen. This nitrogen purity may also be ensured by cryogen systems, but they are considerably more complex and justified only by large consumption volumes. The Nitrogen generators use CMS (Carbon Molecular Sieve) technology to produce a continuous supply of ultra high purity nitrogen and are available with internal compressors or without.

Low operating costs
By substitution of out-of-date air separation plants nitrogen production savings largely exceed 50%.
The net cost of nitrogen produced by nitrogen generators is 20 to 30 times less than the cost of bottled or liquefied nitrogen.

Application:

Metallurgy
The metal industry generally utilizes nitrogen as a means of protecting ferrous and non-ferrous metals during annealing. Also, nitrogen is helpful in such standard industry processes as neutral tempering, cementing, hard brazing, stress relieving, cyanide hardening, metal-powder sintering and extrusion die cooling.

Chemical and petrochemical industries
The primary and very important application of nitrogen in chemical and petrochemical industries is the provision of inert environment aimed at ensuring general industrial safety during cleaning and protection of process vessels. Besides, nitrogen is used for pipelines pressure testing, chemical agents transportation, and regeneration of used catalysts in technological processes.

Paint-and-varnish industry
Paint and varnish production uses nitrogen for the creation of an inert environment in process vessels to ensure safety, as well as for oxygen displacement during packing in order to prevent polymerization of drying oils.

Pharmaceutical industry
In pharmaceutical industry, nitrogen finds application in pharmaceuticals packaging, and ensuring against explosion and fire safety in activities where fine dispersed substances are used.

Electronics
In electronics, nitrogen serves as an antioxidant in the manufacture of semi-conductors and electric circuits, heat treatment of finished products, as well as in blowing and cleaning.

Glass industry
In the glass production, nitrogen proves efficient as a cooling agent for bow oven electrodes, oxidation inhibitor during process procedures, as well as air cooler.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia