2024-03-11

Application of Oil-free Air Compressor and Membrane Dryer in Nitrogen Generator


Nitrogen generator is an advanced gas separation technology, the current market is divided into pressure swing adsorption (high purity) and membrane nitrogen (purity "98%) two. Pressure swing adsorption nitrogen making machine (referred to as PSA nitrogen making machine) is based on pressure swing adsorption technology. Under different pressures, the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent for nitrogen and oxygen in the air is different, and the adsorption and desorption are carried out. The performance of the dynamic adsorption capacity and separation coefficient of carbon molecular sieve (CMS) determines the quality of the nitrogen making machine. Membrane separation, different gas components in the air through the separation membrane permeation rate is not the same, the rapid separation of permeation in one side of the enrichment, not through the separation membrane on the other side of the enrichment.

 

Air compressors play an important role in the nitrogen generator industry, providing gas demand for nitrogen generators. Main applications: LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry 95% purity is sufficient) and GC (gas chromatography)

 

Molecular sieve air separation nitrogen to air as raw material, carbon molecular sieve as adsorbent, the use of pressure swing adsorption principle, the use of carbon molecular sieve on the selective adsorption of oxygen and nitrogen and the separation of nitrogen and oxygen, known as PSA nitrogen. This method is a new nitrogen production technology developed rapidly in the 1970 s. Compared with the traditional nitrogen production method, it has the characteristics of simple process, high degree of automation, fast gas production (15-30 minutes), low energy consumption, product purity can be adjusted according to user needs in a large range, convenient operation and maintenance, low operation cost, and strong device adaptability. Therefore, it is quite competitive in nitrogen production equipment below 1000 Nm3/h, and is increasingly welcomed by medium and small nitrogen users, PSA nitrogen production has become the preferred method for small and medium-sized nitrogen users. Membrane air separation nitrogen to air as raw material, under certain pressure conditions, the use of oxygen and nitrogen and other different properties of the gas in the membrane with different permeation rates to make oxygen and nitrogen separation. Compared with other nitrogen making equipment, it has the advantages of simpler structure, smaller volume, no switching valve, less maintenance, faster gas production (≤ 3 minutes), convenient capacity increase, etc. It is especially suitable for medium and small nitrogen users with nitrogen purity ≤ 98%, and has a good function-price ratio. When the nitrogen purity is above 98%, the price is more than 15% higher than that of the PSA nitrogen generator of the same specification.

 

With the application of nitrogen in various industries, the application of nitrogen generator is more and more widely. According to the different demand of nitrogen, the displacement of supporting air compressor is also different. Usually for some small and medium-sized laboratories or small equipment, the nitrogen generator with membrane separation is selected, and the product with purity of 98% has a price advantage. Pressure swing adsorption technology for medium-sized laboratories or medium-sized equipment, the advantage is very obvious, the purity of 99.99% or higher. Pressure swing adsorption technology and membrane separation technology to produce nitrogen, each has its advantages and disadvantages. Which method is used to produce nitrogen depends on the application and flow rate requirements. In the market, some people say that nitrogen film and carbon molecular sieve are consumables and need to be replaced regularly, which is wrong. If the user's oil and water removal filters are not effective, the separation effect of carbon molecular sieve and nitrogen membrane will slowly fail with the increase of service life. Nitrogen is usually used as a protective gas is widely used in metallurgy, chemical industry, coal, food, medicine, electronics, magnetic materials, transportation, heat treatment, tires, thermal power, aviation and other industries.

Nitrogen generator, oil-free air compressor, membrane dryer