Filling tyres with nitrogen is known to have several benefits, such as improved safety because of reduced risk of fire if tyres rupture – an important safety factor in large off-highway trucks where the huge wheels are positioned directly under the driver’s seat.

Nitrogen-filled tyres also run cooler in extreme temperatures and remain inflated for longer. Unlike compressed air, nitrogen is an inert gas that does not react with other materials, making it resistant to corrosion.

Specialists in gas generation equipment, Oxair says that a constant supply of nitrogen at mining sites is essential to ensure that truck tyres can be fully inflated, reducing the risk of air leaks and rapid deflation, especially when vehicles are heavily loaded.

Oxair chief engineer David Cheeseman says: “Being at the mercy of the supply chain for nitrogen cylinders in extreme locations, where conditions are challenging, is risky and costly. Nitrogen can be difficult to transport, not to mention the additional carbon footprint of delivery miles and safety hazards for staff manually moving cylinders from one place to another.”

He added: “Companies can avoid the hassle of having to outsource their gas by switching to an on-tap supply. A compact nitrogen membrane or Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) nitrogen generator on-site is the ideal alternative to manhandling cylinders for heavy-duty equipment where precise or constant pressure is vital.”

Nitrogen membranes and PSA nitrogen generators are said to be efficient, offering a continuous flow of gas extracted from the atmosphere. They are also an environment-friendly method of delivery, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transporting cylinders to and from an off-site facility. On-site generators can also assist miners to produce nitrogen for other site operations as needed.

Producing high purity nitrogen of up to 99.9%, from the air, makes the technology low cost, with minimum maintenance required. On-site generators are said to provide mines with a turnkey solution for a constant, reliable source of high-quality nitrogen where it is needed.