This Makes Nitrogen Production More Sustainable

Innovative Solutions Enable Environmental Protection and Economic Efficiency at the Same Time
In addition to economic performance, companies are increasingly focusing on sustainability. Energy-saving processes are finding their way into business practice more frequently in order to protect the environment and the climate. But the use of sustainable processes also offers economic advantages. By using energy-saving hydrogen and heat recovery technologies in the context of in-house production of nitrogen (N2), not only can operating costs be saved to a significant extent. This also enables the use of federal grants.

Nitrogen is used as an inert and process gas in numerous industries to prevent oxidation, fires and explosions. The production of the gas directly on site is a very inexpensive and environmentally friendly option. It allows any desired amount of N2 to be supplied 24/7 and protects companies from delivery bottlenecks. The nitrogen generators used for this separate the N2 molecules from the ambient air from the oxygen molecules with the help of the PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) process and only consume a very small amount of electricity (150 W). However, compressed air is required for N2 production. This is generated by compressed air compressors, which compress the air and pass it on to the generator. The process of generating compressed air is fraught with losses because a large part of the energy supplied is given off as heat. Although the process already has significant cost advantages compared to the delivery of liquids, this is a suitable starting point for further optimizing production and increasing the efficiency of energy use.