On-Site Nitrogen Generators for Greater Supply Control and More Predictable Costs
Produce the Nitrogen You Need Without Depending Entirely on Deliveries
Cylinder exchanges, bulk refills, delivery schedules, storage requirements, and changing supply costs can make nitrogen harder to manage than it should be.
Lewis Systems helps industrial facilities produce nitrogen on-site from compressed air, giving your team greater control over supply, purity, and long-term operating costs.
We evaluate the complete system including your compressor, air treatment, storage, piping, and process demand to deliver a solution built around how your operation actually runs.
Reduce the Cost and Complexity of Delivered Nitrogen
When nitrogen is essential to production, supplier delays and inventory issues can create real operational risk.
An on-site nitrogen generator allows your facility to produce nitrogen as needed, helping you:
- Reduce dependence on cylinders and bulk deliveries
- Gain more predictable supply costs
- Limit storage and handling requirements
- Improve nitrogen availability
- Match purity to the application
- Reduce delivery-related waste and transportation
On-site generation may also help eliminate recurring rental charges, delivery fees, fuel surcharges, and the administrative work involved in managing purchased nitrogen.
How Does an On-Site Nitrogen Generator Work?
Nitrogen generators separate nitrogen from the air already surrounding your facility.
Compressed air is first filtered and dried. It then enters the generator, where nitrogen is separated from oxygen and other gases. The nitrogen is collected in a receiver and supplied to your process at the required purity, pressure, and flow.
The result is a continuous nitrogen supply produced directly at your facility.
PSA or Membrane Nitrogen Generation?
Lewis Systems supplies Gardner Denver nitrogen generation equipment in configurations designed to support different flow and purity requirements.
PSA Nitrogen Generators
Pressure swing adsorption generators are commonly used for applications requiring higher nitrogen purity and consistent production.
Membrane Nitrogen Generators
Membrane generators offer a compact, straightforward option for applications that do not require ultra-high purity.
The best technology depends on your process, available compressed air, operating schedule, required purity, and energy goals.
Lewis Systems also helps identify the correct purity so your system is sized for performance and isn’t oversized.
Where Are Nitrogen Generators Used?
On-site nitrogen generation can support processes that require an inert, dry, or oxygen-controlled environment.
Common applications include:
- Food and beverage packaging and preservation
- Laser cutting and metal processing
- Tank blanketing and process inerting
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging
- Electronics and soldering processes
- Chemical processing and product transfer
- Pipeline and equipment purging
- General industrial manufacturing
Is On-Site Nitrogen Generation Right for Your Facility?
An on-site generator is not automatically the best option for every operation.
It is often worth evaluating when your facility:
- Uses nitrogen consistently
- Receives frequent cylinder or bulk deliveries
- Pays recurring delivery and rental charges
- Has limited nitrogen storage space
- Has experienced supply delays
- Expects nitrogen demand to increase
- Wants greater control over purity and availability
Lewis Systems can compare your current nitrogen use and delivered gas costs against the equipment, compressed air, energy, and maintenance requirements of an on-site system.
Nitrogen Generation Support from Lewis Systems
As an authorized Gardner Denver distributor, Lewis Systems provides more than nitrogen generation equipment.
Our team supports the complete system with:
- Application evaluation
- Equipment selection and sizing
- Compressed air system assessments
- Dryers, filters, receivers, and piping
- Turnkey installation
- Startup and commissioning
- Preventative maintenance
- Parts and repair
- Emergency compressed air service
You get a nitrogen system designed around your process and supported by a team that understands the compressed air infrastructure behind it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nitrogen Generators
An on-site nitrogen generator produces nitrogen from compressed air at the facility where it will be used. The system separates nitrogen from oxygen and other gases, allowing an operation to produce its own nitrogen rather than relying entirely on cylinders or bulk deliveries.
It can be for facilities with consistent nitrogen demand. Savings depend on usage, purity, electricity costs, compressed air capacity, maintenance, and current delivery expenses.
Possibly. The compressor must have enough available capacity and provide properly treated air at the required pressure. Lewis Systems can evaluate your existing system.
PSA generators use carbon molecular sieve material and are commonly used for higher-purity nitrogen requirements. Membrane generators separate gases through hollow fibers and can provide a simpler solution for applications with lower purity requirements.
Maintenance needs depend on the generator technology, operating conditions, compressed air quality, and usage. Routine service generally includes inspecting filters, dryers, valves, controls, analyzers, and other supporting system components.
