How to improve your processes with a PSA Nitrogen Gas Plant

A PSA nitrogen gas generation plant is an easy and straightforward way to create nitrogen gas for a variety of industrial applications. Improve process control and streamline production with onsite nitrogen gas production, eliminating the need to order nitrogen gas cylinders and reducing the risk of costly downtime.

What is a PSA gas plant?

PSA nitrogen gas plants are used to create nitrogen gas on-site. By implementing a nitrogen gas generator, businesses can create the nitrogen gas they need as and when they need it; eliminating the need for expensive cylinder deliveries and the ever-present threat of running out.

Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) nitrogen gas plants are an economic and reliable method of separating a wide range of process gases and bringing them to the highest purity levels (99.99%) for use within industrial applications.

What is PSA or Pressure Swing Adsorption?

Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) is a process that separates single gases from a mixture of gases. In this application, the adsorption process is based on gas molecules binding to an absorbent material that is specifically selected depending on the gas that will be absorbed.

Only the gas that is supposed to be separated should be adsorbed, whilst all other gases in this mixture pass through the adsorbent bed. The purity of the adsorbed gas not only depends on the adsorbent used but also on the temperature at which adsorption takes place.

The Process Swing Adsorption process

The PSA process within a nitrogen gas plant consists of four main stages:

1. Adsorption – This process starts with pressurised pure gas. Feed gas, also known as impure gas, is fed into the bottom of the adsorber and the adsorption process takes place in the vessel.
2. Depressurisation – The adsorber vessel is depressurised to recover pure gas within the adsorber.
3. Regeneration – The adsorber is purged with high-purity gas at a constant off-gas pressure.
4. Repressurisation – The adsorber is repressurised with pure gas, ready to start the process again.

What are the typical applications of PSA nitrogen gas plants?

Nitrogen gas plants can be used to generate nitrogen in a range of applications, such as creating an inert atmosphere as a carrier gas, blanketing, packing, purging, filling and plastic moulding.

As the nitrogen generated by PSA generators generally contains small amounts of oxygen, some types of chemical processes lend themselves more to this type of supply. These include, but are not limited to:

• Heavy manufacturing, predominantly in the treatment of metals.
• Chemical manufacturing, in which nitrogen is used as an inert gas.
• Food manufacturing, where nitrogen is used during the sealing process for food packaging.
• Within laser cutting applications.

What are the advantages of using a PSA nitrogen gas plant?

Implementing a PSA nitrogen gas plant can improve processes across an industrial application through a range of benefits, including:

• Quality of nitrogen gas – Nitrogen gas plants and PSA nitrogen gas generators deliver up to 99.99% nitrogen.
• Reliability – Nitrogen gas plants allow for 24/7 operation.
• Flexibility of supply – The application of nitrogen gas can be diverse, and altered as necessary.
• Low cost of ownership – The cost of nitrogen gas produced by a nitrogen gas plant is significantly less than purchasing bottled or liquid nitrogen.
• Lasting supply – With proper maintenance, a PSA nitrogen generator can easily last a decade or more.

A lasting, consistent and reliable nitrogen supply reduces costs and the risk of running out of nitrogen, which would result in eventual downtime and a delay in production. The easiest way to negate these risks is to implement your own onsite PSA nitrogen gas plant solution from Glaston.

Buy PSA gas plants from Glaston Compressor Services

Glaston Compressor Services has the expertise to design and deliver high-quality PSA nitrogen gas plants. Our team of highly qualified engineers have the experience to design and install nitrogen generator systems for a variety of industries.

Onsite nitrogen gas plants replace conventional cylinder and bulk-liquid supplies by allowing industrial manufacturers to generate their own nitrogen supply simply and easily at their facilities – delivering vast cost savings.

The Glaston range of nitrogen gas plant generators produces ultra-clean and reliable gas that is suitable for use in many different industries.

At Glaston we pride ourselves on offering outstanding customer service, combined with industry experience and expertise. Our nitrogen generator design and installation services are tailored to the individual needs of each client to offer fully bespoke systems that are high-performance and cost-effective. We can deliver a bespoke service package and maintenance contract in conjunction with any PSA gas plant we provide.

Use our finance package calculator to find a nitrogen generator package to suit your application. Call our expert team on +44 (0)1695 510 10 or email info@glaston.com.