Nitrogen is an essential requirement in a number of applications such as chemical manufacturing, food and beverage processing and packaging, electronics, pharmaceuticals and laser cutting, which are dependent on the industrial gas as an integral part of the production processes.

Nitrogen generators from Atlas Copco nitrogen generators have been designed to supply nitrogen on-site at up to 99.999% purity and deliver a potential 50% reduction in running costs.

“On-site industrial gas (nitrogen and oxygen) generation offers a much more sustainable and cost-efficient solution compared to cylinder or bulk liquid supply which require transport, handling, storage and administration,” notes Atlas Copco Compressor Technique’s Industrial Air division business line manager Zandra van der Westhuizen.

The company has extended its NGP+ nitrogen generator range to include nine energy-efficient, high capacity models. The NGP+ generators have been designed to protect the process application and users’ equipment investment, offering on-site nitrogen at flows ranging from 5.4 l/s (18 Nm³/h) to 867 l/s (2 870 Nm³/h). Operating with Pressure Swing Adsorption technology, the plug-and-play NGP+ nitrogen generators can be plugged into existing clean, dry compressed air installations to offer an independent, reliable, secure, flexible and cost-effective supply of nitrogen. Atlas Copco asserts that its augmented family of NGP+ nitrogen generators offers up to 50% reduction in running costs compared to other nitrogen supply methods.

The company explains that core to the NGP+ is the Carbon Molecular Sieve which allows small oxygen molecules to penetrate the pores while large nitrogen molecules by-pass the carbon molecular sieve. The NGP+ generators are equipped with an automatic “off-spec” purity control check that prevents nitrogen with a purity level less than the fixed threshold from reaching a sensitive application. Additionally, fail-safe sensors continuously monitor feed air conditions such as temperature, pressure and pressure dewpoint. “If the feed air does not match the generator’s specifications, it is automatically blown off prior to entering the machine to eradicate the risk of contamination and component damage,” explains Van der Westhuizen. “In addition, in some sectors like rubber, metal production and general industry, customers are able to refine the actual purity level required for any given application while benefitting from optimum economic operation.”

The design of the NGP+ generators includes the integration of SMARTLINK, which aligns the units with Industry 4.0 applications. The data monitoring program collects, compares and analyses data in real-time to deliver an intelligent assessment of generator system performance. Machine monitoring and assessment aims to enable customers to achieve increased reliability, reduced downtime and the identification of energy optimisation opportunities.

Atlas Copco Compressor Technique asserts that it offers a complete air solution which includes regular service and maintenance to ensure optimum, reliable and efficient performance of its equipment, offering turnkey service solutions which include industrial oil-free and oil-injected compressors, gas and process compressors and expanders, air and gas treatment equipment and air management systems.