The benefits of on-site nitrogen generation – Can it help make your business more environmentally friendly?

The benefits of on-site nitrogen generation are vast, yet often overlooked. Whilst it is easy to find the initial outlay for a gas generator cost prohibitive, there are distinct benefits to implementing an on-site gas generator, particularly when you consider the negatives of having to purchase vast quantities of gases to use within your manufacturing or production facility.

Read on to find out more about how having your own nitrogen gas generator on site can not only save your business money but also reduce your carbon footprint.

The different ways to generate nitrogen gas

For nitrogen gas production, there are two key ways in which you can implement nitrogen gas in your manufacturing or production facility:

• Purchasing nitrogen gas from a central cryogenic plant
• Using an on-site nitrogen gas generator

Purchasing nitrogen gas from a central cryogenic plant

One popular way to implement nitrogen gas into your manufacturing or production facility is to purchase large quantities of nitrogen gas when it is required from a central cryogenic separation plant. However, this does come with its downsides.

Production plants such as these consume incredible amounts of energy in order to produce the vast quantities of nitrogen needed by businesses up and down the country. Plus, during this process, CO2 (carbon dioxide) is released into the atmosphere, ultimately contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Using an on-site nitrogen gas generator

For businesses that require vast amounts of nitrogen gas in order to produce a range of products, particularly those within chemical and food manufacturing, it could be a sensible solution to invest in membrane nitrogen generators or a PSA nitrogen generator to reduce reliance on third-party producers, whilst also reducing your carbon footprint.

It is important to remember that membrane nitrogen generators and PSA nitrogen generators do have a couple of vital differences. For example, a membrane nitrogen generator works by compressing atmospheric air, which is then passed through a hollow fiber membrane to filter out any gas that is not nitrogen. However, a PSA nitrogen generator, also known as a Pressure Swing Absorption nitrogen generator works by passing air through a carbon molecular sieve. This sieve allows the smaller nitrogen molecules to pass through, whilst any larger molecules, such as oxygen, will be absorbed.

Both of these nitrogen generators enable us to produce pure nitrogen gas that is safe for use in a range of production facilities, such as chemical or food manufacturing, all whilst reducing the need for costly storage of bought-in nitrogen, allowing you to generate nitrogen as and when it is needed, which in turns reduces not only your costs but also the associated CO2 production and energy expenditure.

The environmental benefits of on-site nitrogen generation

Whether you opt for a membrane nitrogen generator or a PSA nitrogen generator, both exemplify the benefits of on-site nitrogen generation clearly. Using either type of generator is likely to be far more environmentally friendly than purchasing a nitrogen cylinder from a third party. Not only that, but it can in the long term, be friendlier to your wallet too!

Added to the lower rates of energy consumption is the fact that you can produce the nitrogen you need, as and when you need it – saving you costly storage costs and needless overproduction. Plus, storing nitrogen in cylinders long-term isn’t exactly cost-effective. Not only is this a big waste of valuable storage space, but it also means that on average you will be losing around 10% of the nitrogen bottle amount whilst in storage. So this means that you’ll only be able to take advantage of around 90% of the nitrogen you have purchased, affecting your overall bottom line, and also wasting precious resources.

Reduce the number of miles your nitrogen has to travel

We all know that the amount of miles travelled by the goods we purchase is bad for our carbon footprint, with ‘food miles’ often cropping up in the press, and ‘buying local’ being touted as the best solution. Well, the same concept applies to nitrogen too!

If you purchase nitrogen from a large central production facility, this could be transported to you from the opposite side of the country, or even from a different country entirely! All of this adds to our carbon footprint and can have a damaging effect on the environment. However, the benefits of on-site nitrogen generation mean that it not only cuts the amount of energy that goes into creating the nitrogen in the first place, but also reduces the overall pollutants and energy that goes into transporting nitrogen all around the country.

Reduce the amount you send to landfill

The cylinders used for bottled nitrogen simply don’t last forever, and they often cannot be recycled. By using your own on-site nitrogen generators; you are not only reducing the need for this extra step in the process, but you’re also reducing the amount of waste you’re sending to landfill.

Does on-site nitrogen generation improve your carbon footprint?

It is clear, then, that not only do the benefits of on-site nitrogen generation encompass reduced costs and storage requirements, but a reduced impact on the environment thanks to the reduced mileage, reduced amount sent to landfill and the reduction in nitrogen wastage. Whether you opt for a membrane or a PSA nitrogen generator, by producing your own nitrogen as you need it you will be dramatically reducing your business’s carbon footprint overall.

Where to buy on-site nitrogen generators?

At Glaston, we offer nitrogen generators for businesses across the north west from our premises in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. Depending on the purity of nitrogen you require for your process, we offer membrane nitrogen generators which offer an optimal purity range between 90% to 99%. If you do require nitrogen to be above a purity of 99.99%, our PSA nitrogen generators are ideal for you. We also offer these for use as a skid package and can be constructed anywhere inside and out.

You can rest assured that if you require any assistance with your nitrogen generator, we offer a comprehensive range of services for nitrogen maintenance, design and installation and breakdown. 
If you’d like more information about getting started with on-site nitrogen generation, contact one of our experts at 01695 51010 or email info@glaston.com.