If your facility relies on nitrogen, you have two main options: continue purchasing nitrogen through cylinders or bulk deliveries, or produce it directly at your facility with an on-site nitrogen generator.
Neither option is right for every operation. The best choice depends on how much nitrogen you use, the purity your process requires, your current supply costs, and the compressed air system available to support on-site generation.
So, how do you know which makes more sense for your facility?
What’s the Difference Between Delivered and On-Site Nitrogen?
Delivered nitrogen typically arrives in cylinders or through bulk refills. For facilities with low or occasional nitrogen demand, this may be a practical way to get the nitrogen they need without investing in additional equipment.
However, facilities that use nitrogen consistently also must manage deliveries, storage, cylinder or tank rentals, changing supply costs, and nitrogen inventory.
An on-site nitrogen generator takes a different approach. The system uses properly treated compressed air and separates nitrogen from oxygen and other gases, allowing your facility to produce nitrogen where it is needed.
This can give your operation more control over nitrogen availability while reducing its dependence on outside deliveries.
When Does On-Site Nitrogen Generation Make Sense?
On-site nitrogen generation is often worth considering when nitrogen is a regular part of your operation.
It may be a good fit if your facility:
- Uses nitrogen consistently
- Receives frequent cylinder or bulk deliveries
- Pays recurring delivery and rental charges
- Has limited space for nitrogen storage
- Has experienced supply or delivery delays
- Expects nitrogen demand to increase
- Wants greater control over nitrogen purity and availability
For these operations, producing nitrogen on-site can help reduce dependence on deliveries, limit storage and handling requirements, and create more predictable supply costs.
PSA or Membrane Nitrogen Generation?
If on-site generation makes sense, the next step is choosing the right technology.
PSA nitrogen generators are commonly used for applications requiring higher nitrogen purity and consistent production. Membrane nitrogen generators provide a compact option for applications that do not require ultra-high purity.
The right choice depends on your required purity, flow, available compressed air, operating schedule, and application.
This is also why it’s important not to automatically specify the highest possible purity. Your nitrogen system should be sized around what your process actually requires.
Is On-Site Nitrogen Generation Right for Your Facility?
If your facility has consistent nitrogen demand and regularly manages deliveries, rentals, storage, or changing supply costs, on-site nitrogen generation may be worth evaluating. If your nitrogen needs are relatively small or infrequent, continuing with delivered nitrogen may make more sense.
Lewis Systems can evaluate your nitrogen demand, required purity, existing compressed air system, air treatment, storage, piping, and current delivered-gas costs to help determine the right approach for your operation.
Take More Control of Your Nitrogen Supply
Ready to find out whether on-site nitrogen generation makes sense for your facility?
CTA: Explore On-Site Nitrogen Generation
Lewis Systems On-Site Nitrogen Generators
