Cutting the cost of nitrogen

The launch of the enhanced MIDIGAS systems, part of the MAXIGAS range, means that the company has the capability to offer nitrogen generators for low to high volume requirements. Nitrogen gas is used for many different applications throughout industry. The MIDIGAS generators have been designed to offer a cheaper way of producing high purity nitrogen in situ, from a supply of compressed air. According to Parker Hannifin, this eliminates the need for traditional and expensive gas storage cylinders, dewars or bulk storage. By producing nitrogen on site, the latest MIDIGAS generators are said to overcome environmental issues associated with road transport of bottled gas, and the unpredictability of fluctuating gas prices. Each MIDIGAS generator is supplied as an integrated system, has a compact footprint and requires mains power and compressed air connections. The generators use pressure swing adsorption technology, with pairs of extruded aluminium modular columns filled with carbon molecular sieves (CMS). These adsorb oxygen preferentially from the compressed air supply, with the larger nitrogen molecules being allowed to pass through each sieve to a storage vessel, from where the gas can be fed directly to process applications. During manufacture, the extruded columns are snowstorm filled with CMS. This provides a maximum packing density and uniform flows, producing a method of separation with a continuous nitrogen stream that delivers 5% down to 10ppm oxygen content. The operation of each MIDIGAS system is automatic, with the production of nitrogen being determined by the demands of downstream processes. This has been designed to reduce overall energy consumption and extend the operating life of the unit.