Industrial Nitrogen Production

Nitrogen plays a vital role in the production of metal goods, the food industry, healthcare, the oil & gas sector, chemical manufacturing, and waste treatment. In industrial settings, nitrogen is typically produced by separating it from ambient air. Alternative methods are more labour-intensive and expensive, and are generally reserved for laboratory use and research purposes.

So, how is nitrogen extracted — and why is it so important?

Methods of Nitrogen Production

The most accessible source of nitrogen is atmospheric air, which contains up to 78 % nitrogen. In industry, nitrogen is produced either for in-house use or for commercial distribution. In the first case, the gas is delivered directly to the point of use via an on-site generator. In the second, it is compressed into cylinders for storage, transport, and external application.

There are three primary methods of nitrogen generation:

1. Cryogenic Separation

This method relies on ultra-low temperatures to condense and separate gas mixtures. The process includes the following stages:

1. Ambient air is compressed to increase pressure.
2. Liquid nitrogen is passed through a distillation system that separates it from other components (such as oxygen, argon, and other inert gases), based on their differing boiling points.
3. The compressed air mixture passes through filters and adsorbers to remove impurities and contaminants.
4. Purified nitrogen is collected and stored in dedicated tanks for further use.
5. The cleaned mixture enters a cryogenic tank, where it is cooled to below –180 °C. At this temperature, nitrogen becomes a liquid.

Key advantage: the production of high-purity liquid nitrogen.

Limitations: requires large-scale equipment, continuous monitoring, scheduled maintenance, and is not suited for rapid start/stop operations.

2. Membrane Separation

This process follows these steps:

1. Compressed air is fed into a membrane module made of specialised polymer fibres.
2. Nitrogen diffuses through the membrane and is collected for further use.
3. The gas mixture is separated into individual components.
4. Oxygen and other gases are either released or processed separately for reuse.

Advantages:

• Low energy consumption
• No chemical reagents or catalysts required
• Compact footprint
• Simple operation and maintenance

Drawbacks:

• Gas purity typically limited to 99.0–99.5 %
• Membrane lifespan is relatively short — approx. 5 years

3. Adsorption (PSA – Pressure Swing Adsorption)

This technique separates nitrogen and oxygen based on the molecular size of the gases. The process includes:

1. Atmospheric air is compressed to the required pressure level.
2. The compressed air is cooled and partially liquefied.
3. Water vapour, solid particles and carbon dioxide are removed.
4. At –196 °C, nitrogen is separated from the mixture.

Key advantages:

• Consistently high nitrogen purity — up to 99.999 %, suitable for nearly all applications
• Low sensitivity to variations in compressed air temperature
• Long adsorbent service life — up to 10 years

Limitations:

• Requires a freon-based air dryer
• Less suitable for integration into mobile nitrogen systems.

Applications of Industrial Nitrogen

Nitrogen is widely used across various sectors:

• Oil and gas
• Metallurgy
• Mining
• Food industry
• Pulp and paper

For enterprises with high production demands, purchasing nitrogen in cylinders is inefficient and inconvenient. We offer a range of adsorption nitrogen generators with different output capacities, suitable for on-site industrial use.

We ensure fast delivery and installation of equipment at your facility.

For consultation, call us at +7 (495) 150-44-22.