Factories that consume nitrogen or oxygen in volume have a choice: keep buying cylinders or liquid, or generate the gas on site. On-site generation removes delivery dependence and can cut gas cost dramatically, but it requires the right purity and an honest look at utilisation.
How on-site generation works
Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) separates nitrogen or oxygen from compressed air using carbon molecular sieve or zeolite beds. Membrane systems separate nitrogen by selective permeation. Both start with a clean, dry compressed air supply, so the air treatment train is part of the generator package.
Purity and flow
- Nitrogen — 95–99.999% depending on the application, from blanketing to food packaging
- Oxygen — 90–95% typical for combustion, aeration and medical-grade with further treatment
When the switch makes sense
Calculate annual gas spend including cylinder rental, delivery and administration. Above roughly 20–30 cylinders per month, on-site generation usually reaches payback within one to three years. Also weigh supply security: remote sites and continuous processes benefit most from independence from deliveries.