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In this article we will answer how is nitrogen is produced for industrial chemical process? Nitrogen
production from air.
Nitrogen is produced from dry air as we know by volume the air is composed of 78.09% nitrogen,
20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases.
Three types of unit or nitrogen plant can be used to obtain pure nitrogen:
Ezoic
The nitrogen Membrane units used also to produce nitrogen production from air.
The compressed air, which has been filtered beforehand and from which oil has been removed, is
sent through thousands of hollow fibres (membranes) consisting of a support and a fine layer of
special polymer allowing different gases to be diffused through the membrane.
Certain gases possess a rapid diffusion speed (oxygen, water vapour, H2S), whilst others have a slow
diffusion speed (nitrogen).
As it travels through the fibres, the air loses oxygen until it only contains nitrogen.
The longer the contact time, the purer the nitrogen will be, but the production costs will also be
higher.
Since some of the nitrogen molecules are also diffused through the membrane, the system will
consume more compressed air.
Ezoic
An oxygen analyser measures the purity of the nitrogen produced at the output point of a membrane
string.
If the purity of the nitrogen decreases, an automatic system will increase the number of membranes
in service.
A membrane unit consists of
Air Compressor.
Membranes.
Distribution network.
Auxiliary equipment.
The membranes are damaged by the presence of oil in the air or water on liquid phase.
Since the air compression is carried out by lubricated compressors, it is necessary to add a filtration
stage upstream of the membranes.
Two 100 % oil removing active carbon filters are installed in parallel (1 in operation + 1 backup). The
backup filter is isolated manually at the input and output points.
Particle filters,
As it passes through the active carbon filter, the air is liable to accumulate dust. Since these particles
are noxious for the membranes, they need to be removed.
Two filters are installed in parallel (1 in operation + 1 backup) downstream of the oil
removing filters.
The head loss in each filter, oil remover and particle is measured and indicated locally.
Membranes,
The nitrogen production membranes (through the permeation of air) are installed in
parallel.
They are grouped together in one set of two membranes and one set of six.
Irrespective of the instrument air pressure between 7 and 10 bars at the input point of the unit, the
membranes are supplied at a constant pressure thanks to the
The flow of nitrogen produced is measured in Nm3/h at the output point of the unit whilst the O2
content is measured at the output point of the membranes.
Nitrogen storage drum,The storage drum is situated downstream of the membranes and is supplied
by their output manifold.
The drum is vertical and is protected against fire by a delivery valve which discharges in a secure
zone.
Distribution network The distribution network consists of sub-manifolds ¾” utility sockets are
installed on each sub-manifold.
This process uses the adsorption technique with carbon molecular sieves to separate the compressed
air into nitrogen and oxygen which lead to the nitrogen production from the air.
The theory of adsorption – the process by which molecules momentarily adhere to the surface of
materials they are in contact with. The speeds at which the nitrogen and oxygen pass through the
carbon micro pores are different; oxygen travels faster than nitrogen.
The process generally comprises 2 capacities; one for adsorption and the other for depressurisation.
The bed will be called saturated when oxygen molecules completely cover the surface of the pores
and there is no more room available for adoption process to happen. The production units are
generally supplied ready for use (skids) and are equipped with filters and automatic controls for
commissioning and cycle lengths between adsorption and regeneration.
Adsorption N2 Generation
2. Absorption of oxygen.
4. Equalization of pressure.
1. Air compressor.
2. Air receiver.
3. Chiller.
4. Air purification unit.
5. Main Heat exchanger.
6. Condenser.
7. Column.
8. Expender.
9. Liquide nitrogen tank.
10. Vaporiser.
11. Gas analyser.