If you’re considering an on-site nitrogen generator, you may already have an air compressor supplying your facility. So, do you need another compressor, or can you use the one you already have?
Possibly. Your existing air compressor may be able to support an on-site nitrogen generator, but having compressed air available doesn’t automatically mean your system is ready for nitrogen generation.
Your compressor needs enough available capacity, the right operating pressure, and properly treated compressed air to support both the nitrogen generator and the rest of your facility’s demand.
Why Does a Nitrogen Generator Need Compressed Air?
An on-site nitrogen generator starts with compressed air.
Your air compressor draws in ambient air, which contains nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases. Before entering the nitrogen generator, that compressed air is filtered and dried. The generator then separates nitrogen from the other gases and supplies it to your process at the required purity, pressure, and flow.
That means the performance of your nitrogen generator is directly connected to the compressed air system feeding it.
Before adding a generator, you need to know whether that system can handle the additional demand.
Does Your Air Compressor Have Enough Capacity?
This is one of the first things to evaluate.
Your existing compressor may already be supplying production equipment, pneumatic tools, controls, or other processes throughout your facility. Adding a nitrogen generator creates additional demand on that same compressed air system.
If there isn’t enough available capacity, adding another demand could affect your ability to maintain the pressure and airflow required elsewhere in the facility.
That’s why looking only at the compressor’s rated capacity isn’t enough. You also need to understand how much air your facility is currently using and how much capacity is actually available.
Lewis Systems can assess your existing compressed air system and nitrogen demand to determine whether your compressor can support both.
Is Your Compressed Air at the Right Pressure?
Capacity isn’t the only consideration. The nitrogen generator also needs compressed air supplied at the appropriate pressure.
If your existing system can’t maintain the pressure required by the generator while also supporting the rest of your facility, nitrogen production may not perform as intended.
Nitrogen flow and purity requirements can also affect how the overall system needs to be configured. Looking at these requirements together helps determine whether your existing compressed air system is a good fit.
Is Your Compressed Air Properly Treated?
Before compressed air enters the nitrogen generator, it needs to be properly filtered and dried.
That makes your existing air treatment equipment another important part of the evaluation.
Your system may need to be reviewed for:
- Dryer performance
- Filtration
- Compressed air quality
- Moisture and contaminants
- Required pressure
- Air treatment capacity
If your existing dryer or filtration isn’t appropriate for the nitrogen generation system, additional air treatment may be needed.
How Much Nitrogen and What Purity Do You Need?
The compressor requirements can’t be determined without understanding what you expect the nitrogen generator to produce.
A facility that needs a relatively small amount of nitrogen has different requirements than one with high or continuous demand. The purity required by your process matters too.
Lewis Systems offers both PSA and membrane nitrogen generation systems. The right technology depends on your process, available compressed air, operating schedule, purity requirements, and other system needs.
The goal is to size the system around what your process actually needs rather than producing more nitrogen or higher purity than necessary.
What Should Be Evaluated Before Adding a Nitrogen Generator?
Before deciding whether your existing compressor can support on-site nitrogen generation, look at the system as a whole:
- Available compressor capacity
- Current facility air demand
- Required operating pressure
- Compressed air quality and treatment
- Required nitrogen flow
- Required nitrogen purity
- Operating schedule
- Storage and piping requirements
Evaluating these factors together helps determine whether your current compressor is ready to support nitrogen generation or whether changes to the compressed air system should be made first.
Make Sure Your Existing System Is Ready
You may not need a new air compressor to add an on-site nitrogen generator, but it’s important to find out before investing in the equipment.
Lewis Systems can evaluate your existing compressor, air treatment, storage, piping, and process demand to determine what your complete nitrogen generation system requires.
That helps ensure your nitrogen generator isn’t simply connected to an available air line. It’s supported by a compressed air system capable of meeting the needs of your operation.
Is Your Compressor Ready for On-Site Nitrogen Generation?
Lewis Systems can evaluate your existing compressed air system and nitrogen requirements to help determine what you need to produce nitrogen reliably on-site.
CTA: Evaluate Your Nitrogen Generation Needs
Lewis Systems On-Site Nitrogen Generators
