Proportioning the Compressed Air Dryer
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Controlling your nitrogen purity made easy
One of the many advantages of producing your own nitrogen is that you can set the purity level to what your application requires. That is a major difference to purchased nitrogen, which is always of the highest purity โ even though most jobs don't need it. So what affects nitrogen purity? And why does it matter?
The second question is easy to answer: High-purity nitrogen costs more because it consumes more energy. Therefore, you want to make sure that you get the purity just right for your application. This is especially true because increasing it beyond what is necessary yields no additional benefits.
In other words, using nitrogen with a purity of 99.99% for a job that calls for a purity of 99.5% wastes energy and money.
To answer the first question, we first have to look at how nitrogen gas is generated.
Types of nitrogen generators
Two
different technologies are used for the on-site production of nitrogen: pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and membrane. The key ingredient
in each case is compressed air, which contains 78% nitrogen. In the generator, that nitrogen is separated from the rest of the air.
In a PSA generator, this happens through adsorption. The generator consists of two separate pressure vessels. One of them is used to filter out the nitrogen while the other is regenerating.
As the name indicates, a membrane generator contains a membrane filled with small, hollow polymer fibers. Not all gases, vapors and contaminants can pass through the membrane fiber wall with the same ease. This allows the nitrogen gas to be separated from the compressed air. This is called โpermeation.โ
A PSA generator allows you to produce a nitrogen with a purity of up to 99.999%. It also requires less compressed air. However, the intake air for the compressor has to be very clean and dry.
The purity a membrane generator can achieve is a bit lower. However, as noted above, most applications do not require the highest purity. One of the benefits of this technology is that the intake air can contain water vapor.
Factors that impact your nitrogen purity
There are range of factors that could affect purity, some of which depend on the type of generator you use.
The amount of air that flows through the generator is the most important factor. If that intake air volume is too high, it will impact the nitrogen purity because the pressure in the generator rises too fast. That means that the separating technology of the generator can no longer keep up. As a rule of thumb, you want to keep you adsorption pressure between 0.6-0.8 Mpa.
An easy solution is to adjust the amount of air that comes from the compressor.
Another factor could be that the intake air contains too many contaminants. This could clog up the molecular sieve, which would have to be replaced. To prevent this from happening, you can install air treatment equipment such as filters.
However, at some point, the performance of the molecular sieve will diminish, so you should always follow a maintenance schedule.
PSA generators feature a piece of equipment called a solenoid valve. Its failure is most frequently responsible for a decline in nitrogen purity. When you notice that this purity drops, this is one of the first things you should check.
Where does nitrogen purity matter most?
The purity of your nitrogen is especially important when the nitrogen gas comes into contact with an end product. It matters less if you are using it for fire suppression or inflating tires. On the other hand, the gas has to be very pure in the food industry or the pharmaceutical sector. For these and other industrial applications, you need high purity nitrogen.
Many applications are subject to standards that will define the required purity. For example, there are specific requirements for food grade nitrogen.
Ask the expert
As the expert in air treatment and gas generation, Ash Air knows all about nitrogen purity. If you have any question on how to achieve the right purity, contact us today. Our experts are happy to help.
Oxygen Generators
Pneumatech gives oxygen to your business. With the PPOG series, Pneumatech offers an attractive replacement for traditional oxygen supply with very interesting returns on investment.
The PPOG1-120 series uses Pressure Swing Adsorption technology to extract oxygen from compressed air, resulting in oxygen purity levels up to 95%.
The PPOG 2-18 HE series is a true game changer in on-site oxygen generation. 30% more efficient than traditional oxygen generators, the PPOG HE gives you the oxygen volume, purity and reliability you need at a massively reduced cost and a smaller environmental footprint.
PSA Oxygen Generators
With the PPOG series, Pneumatech offers an attractive replacement for traditional oxygen supply with very interesting returns on investment.
Nitrogen Generators
Discover the inner workings, versatile applications, and numerous benefits of an N2 generator. This revolutionary machine effectively separates nitrogen from compressed air, comprised of 78% N2 and 21% O2. A gas generator stands out as the easiest, most flexible, and economically viable method for securing your own nitrogen supply. Elevate your professional approach and embrace the efficiency and sustainability offered by on-site nitrogen generation, exclusively available in New Zealand.
Sub Categories
Ash Air has been around in New Zealand since 1979, and weโve grown into a nationwide company with international support and a
reputation for quality and reliability.We look after all things compressed air for your business!
Ash Air's range of Chicago Pneumatic, ALUP, Pneumatech, and Atlas Copco products are used extensively around the world in
industries ranging from oil and gas to food, automotive and farming, and we bring you these world-class compressors here in the land of
the long white cloud.Our technicians are compressed air equipment experts and are dedicated to addressing customer needs. Supported with
nationwide coverage, Ash Air offers one of the widest selections of compressed air, vacuum pump, and industrial gas equipment and parts
available today in New Zealand.
With Ash Air, you can count on reliability and high performance for even the most demanding applications. We focus our efforts
on the following:
Talk to the team today:
Maintenance budget: 8 factors to consider
Just like any other equipment, a compressed air installation also requires the necessary maintenance work during its entire
lifespan. Even though maintenance costs are only about 5 to 10% of a machine's annual operating costs, failure to budget for
maintenance can have potentially disastrous consequences.
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The air dyer is one of the most ignored cooler in the system. A dirty condenser will cause water in the lines, or worse it will cause
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Why Replace CO2 with Nitrogen in your Brewery
Using nitrogen is not about fully replacing CO2, but it can reduce their consumption of CO2 by close to 70%. Using nitrogen is about
sustainability. Creating your own nitrogen is easy and will reduce the use of a greenhouse gas, which is better for the environment. It will
also save you money as early as month one adding that savings to your bottom line.
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ICONS: Intelligent Connectivity System: The insight into your compressed air system, wherever you are. Learn More about ICONS in this article here!
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product costs involved with compressed air, as well as minimising the energy cost of compressors and cost allocation. When looking at these
factors, we need to realise what causes dropped efficiency of your compressor, leading to increased costs of compressed air.
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How to avoid falling objects when working at heights
You may have great fall protection measures in place to keep employees safe when working at height, but what about their co-workers below?
Dropped tools and other falling objects are a major hazard โ and one that isnโt always fully addressed.ย
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Providing a safe working environment for operators is essential, especially when using pneumatic tools and compressed air. If there is a
failure in the air network and the hose is not adequately clamped, the resulting whiplash could be devastating. Failure to follow best
practice can result in injuries, associated production downtime and decreased productivity.
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Why do I need a dryer for my compressor?
A common questions asked is why do I need an air dryer for my compressor? Typically, air compressors produce water, and although the
water can be drained, there can still be aerosol and vapour droplets that are present. This is because water cannoet be compressed. Water
can damage your compressor by corroding the valves, pipes and machinery controls, which will cost you time and money to resolve. In
the long run, the cost of a new compressor is a small price to pay compared to the loss of production that could potentially arise due
to water damage in your compressor.
What are some preventable causes of air compressor failure?
Air compressors can fail for an assortment of different reasons: Normal wear and tear, lifespan and age of the unit, poor maintenance, power surge, install issues are just a few the come to mind. Check out this blog to find out our top 7 tips to ensure your compressor is looked
after!
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Simple Ways to Reduce Your Compressed Air Costs?
Air compressors use considerable volumes of energy during a typical work cycle. When you add up all the expenses of operating a facility,
any savings can help you boost your bottom line.
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What Should You Know When Buying a Compressor for the First Time?
If you have never bought a rotary screw air compressor before; do the following. Add up the air consumption of all the equipment at your
shop. That will be the amount of air your desired compressor should provide.
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How to Know When Your Industrial Air Compressor Needs Servicing
Knowing the telltale signs of wear and tear, understanding your productโs specifications and usability guidelines, and knowing when itโs
prudent to call in repairs are skills that could save you a lot of time, effort, and money in the long term.
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One-stage vs Multi-stage Compressor
Find out the difference between a one-stage compressor and a multi-stage compressor.
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How do I winterise my air compressor?
That cold, rainy, and in some places icey New Zealand winter is upon us, and with the following air compressor tips, your air system will be
prepared with the preferred temperatures, despite the weather outside. Regardless of whether or not it actually snows or freezes up where
you live, most winterisation service recommendations are also basic, solid maintenance procedures that will help extend the life and
operational efficiencies of air compressors regardless of whether you live in Queenstown or Northland.
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us know!
Who we are and how Ash Air can help your business!
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