A: Introduction to Nitrogen Generators in China
As one of the well-known domestic brands that began researching PSA nitrogen generators early on, RICH is a company engaged in the research and development of gas equipment and gas product applications. It is a premium brand and distinguished enterprise in China's ambient air separation field.
The company’s core business includes: gas equipment and gas products.
Founded in 1979, Shanghai RICH has more than 40 years of experience in ambient air separation applications. We consistently adhere to the principle of creating value for customers, providing unique products, services, technical consulting, and solutions in the global gas and gas equipment field. In China, RICH has more than 50 marketing branches and over 100 service points across more than 30 provinces and cities. Globally, RICH’s marketing extends to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and South America, with products sold in over 20 regions, widely used in industries such as petroleum, chemicals, coal mining, metallurgy, tires, pharmaceuticals, food, and aviation.
Characteristics of Chinese Nitrogen Generators
1.Low Failure Rate and High Nitrogen Yield: Chinese nitrogen generators feature a double-tower adsorption cylinder design, which greatly enhances the stability of the molecular sieve and ensures more uniform gas flow distribution, thereby increasing nitrogen yield.
2.Low Carbon Molecular Sieve Dusting Rate and Extended Service Life: Chinese nitrogen generators are designed with a modular approach, reducing the size of the adsorption cylinders and making it easier to compress the carbon molecular sieve. This reduces the likelihood of sieve dusting and extends its lifespan.
3.Energy Efficiency: Conventional nitrogen generators consume a constant amount of air regardless of the nitrogen flow rate, resulting in a fixed power consumption for the air compressor. In contrast, Chinese nitrogen generators can be designed with variable frequency energy-saving features and modular designs to save energy and reduce the load on the air compressor.
4.Simple Maintenance of Energy-Saving Variable Frequency Nitrogen Generators: For example, replacing the molecular sieve in a traditional nitrogen generator requires a shutdown, whereas in energy-saving variable frequency nitrogen generators, the molecular sieve can be replaced without stopping the machine.

A: Functions of Nitrogen
With the rapid development of industry, nitrogen has found widespread applications in various fields such as chemical engineering, electronics, metallurgy, food processing, and machinery. In China, the demand for nitrogen increases annually at a rate exceeding 8%. Nitrogen has low chemical reactivity and exhibits a high degree of inertness under normal conditions, making it less likely to react chemically with other substances. As a result, nitrogen is extensively used as a protective and sealing gas in industries such as metallurgy, electronics, and chemical engineering, with purity requirements generally at 99.99%, and in some cases, 99.998% or higher for high-purity nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen serves as a convenient cooling source and is increasingly used in the food industry, medical field, and livestock semen storage. Nitrogen, being a dry inert gas, is utilized in many commercial and industrial applications to improve quality or prevent oxygen from damaging products and processes.
Role of Nitrogen Generators in Various Industries
1.Coal Mining Industry: Nitrogen generators are used for fire prevention and extinguishing, as well as for diluting gas and coal dust in coal mining. They come in three types: fixed ground, mobile ground, and underground mobile, meeting nitrogen needs in various operating conditions.
2.Rubber and Tire Industry: In rubber and tire manufacturing, nitrogen generators are used for nitrogen protection and molding during the vulcanization process. They can also be used to inflate car tires with nitrogen, extending tire life and reducing noise.
3.Oil and Gas Industry: Nitrogen generators are utilized in oil and gas extraction for nitrogen protection, transportation, coverage, replacement, emergency response, maintenance, and nitrogen injection in oil extraction. They are characterized by high safety, strong adaptability, and continuous production capabilities.
4.Metallurgy Industry: In metallurgy, nitrogen generators are used for heat treatment, bright annealing, protective heating, powder metallurgy, processing of copper and aluminum materials, sintering of magnetic materials, precious metal processing, and bearing production. They are known for high purity and continuous production.
5.Chemical Industry: Nitrogen generators serve various sectors such as petrochemical, coal chemical, salt chemical, natural gas chemical, fine chemical, new materials, and their derivative processing industries. Nitrogen is mainly used for covering, purging, displacement, cleaning, pressure delivery, chemical reaction agitation, fiber production protection, and nitrogen protection.
6.Food Industry: In the food sector, nitrogen generators are used for green storage of grains, nitrogen packaging of food products, vegetable preservation, and alcohol sealing and preservation.
Function of Nitrogen Generators
Nitrogen generators use clean, dry compressed air as the raw material to produce high-purity nitrogen with a continuous supply. In a wide range of applications, nitrogen generation is a more economical and reliable method compared to using liquid nitrogen or bottled nitrogen. Since pure nitrogen cannot be directly extracted from nature, it is primarily produced through air separation methods, which include cryogenic separation, pressure swing adsorption (PSA), and membrane separation.
1. Cryogenic Separation:
This method involves compressing and cooling air until it liquefies. Using the different boiling points of oxygen and nitrogen (oxygen boils at 90K and nitrogen at 77K under atmospheric pressure), the air is separated into its components in a distillation column. Oxygen, having a higher boiling point, condenses into a liquid, while nitrogen, with a lower boiling point, remains in the vapor phase. This process increases the nitrogen concentration in the ascending vapor and the oxygen concentration in the descending liquid, effectively separating the two gases to obtain nitrogen or oxygen. This method operates at temperatures below 120K, hence it is referred to as cryogenic air separation.
2.Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA):
PSA is based on the selective adsorption of oxygen and nitrogen components from the air using adsorbents. When compressed air passes through the adsorbent layer in an adsorption tower, oxygen molecules are preferentially adsorbed, leaving nitrogen molecules in the gas phase. Once adsorption reaches equilibrium, the adsorbed oxygen molecules are removed by reducing the pressure, restoring the adsorbent's capacity, and enabling continuous nitrogen production. Typically, two or more adsorption towers are used; one tower adsorbs while the other regenerates, and they are switched alternately to ensure continuous nitrogen supply.
Membrane Separation:
3. Membrane separation utilizes organic polymer membranes with selective permeability to separate nitrogen-rich gases from gas mixtures. Ideal membrane materials have high selectivity and permeability. To achieve an economical process, very thin polymer separation membranes (0.1μm) are required, which need support structures. The separators are often plate-type or hollow fiber-type. Although membrane separation equipment is simple and easy to operate, the high cost of membrane material for large-scale production limits its widespread industrial use, and this method is not covered in detail here.

A: As technology advances, nitrogen generation methods are continually evolving. Currently, three primary methods are commonly used: cryogenic nitrogen generation, membrane nitrogen generation, and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) nitrogen generation. Today, let's explore the advantages and disadvantages of these three nitrogen generation methods.
1.Cryogenic nitrogen production
Cryogenic nitrogen generation is a traditional method that uses air as the raw material. The process involves compressing and purifying the air, followed by heat exchange to liquefy it into liquid air. Liquid air primarily consists of a mixture of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen. By taking advantage of the different boiling points of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, these components are separated through distillation to obtain nitrogen gas.
Advantages:
Does not produce harmful exhaust gases, protecting the environment to achieve green production;
Can obtain high-purity nitrogen, with a purity of up to 99.999% or more.
Disadvantages:
The nitrogen generation process consumes a significant amount of refrigerant and energy, leading to high production costs. The process is complex, involving numerous pieces of equipment, which results in high maintenance and upkeep expenses. Additionally, the startup time is lengthy, typically ranging from 15 to 40 hours, requiring continuous operation without interruptions.
2.Membrane separation nitrogen production
Membrane separation is a commonly used method for nitrogen generation. Its principle is based on the difference in permeation rates of different gas molecules through specific membrane materials to achieve the separation of oxygen and nitrogen.
Advantages:
The equipment has a compact structure and occupies a small footprint, making it suitable for facilities with limited space.
Disadvantages:
The membrane has a relatively short lifespan and requires regular replacement. Additionally, its permeability is affected by factors such as temperature and humidity.
3.Pressure Swing Adsorption Nitrogen Generation
At ambient temperature and pressure, the physical air separation method utilizes the differences in the adsorption capacities of carbon molecular sieves for oxygen and nitrogen to achieve the separation of oxygen and nitrogen.
Advantages:
The process is straightforward with a high degree of automation, resulting in rapid gas production and low energy consumption.
Short Startup Time, Typically less than 30 minutes, with the capability for both continuous and intermittent operation.
Low maintenance and operating costs due to the straightforward design.Requires minimal space, with no special requirements for factory floor area.Quick installation with low associated costs.
Disadvantages:
Purity Limitations: Typically achieves a purity range of 95% to 99.9995%. For higher purity nitrogen, additional processing or purification may be required.

A: Nitrogen (N2) is one of the most commonly used gases in industrial applications due to its wide range of uses and product characteristics. When selecting a nitrogen generator or nitrogen supply, users should consider the choice of delivery system, compliance with clean air standards, safety, and purity. By accurately selecting the optimal nitrogen parameters, significant cost savings can be achieved.
Process and Advantages of On-site Nitrogen Generators
Compared to high-pressure gas cylinders, on-site nitrogen generators are safer, easier to operate, and offer faster delivery speeds than evaporating liquid nitrogen from Dewar bottles and tankers. There are two primary methods for generating gaseous nitrogen on demand: Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and membrane system technology. The choice between these methods largely depends on the required nitrogen purity.
For applications requiring 95% to 98% nitrogen purity (with 5% to 2% oxygen), such as fire prevention and explosion protection, membrane nitrogen generators are suitable. For higher purity nitrogen, molecular sieve nitrogen generators are recommended.
Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) is an advanced gas separation technology that plays an irreplaceable role in on-site gas supply. The core component of PSA nitrogen equipment is the adsorbent (called carbon molecular sieve), which utilizes the difference in adsorption capacity of different gas components on the adsorbent. During the PSA process, the adsorbent selectively adsorbs gases under increased pressure and undergoes desorption and regeneration when the pressure is reduced. This cycle continues alternately, producing nitrogen continuously.
Compressed air first passes through a purification unit to remove oil, water, and solid impurities. It is then heated, and the clean, heated compressed air enters the membrane separator, where nitrogen is continuously produced. The membrane separator is composed of a polyester bundle of micro hollow fibers that separate oxygen and nitrogen in the air by their different permeation rates through the fibers. O2 and H2O molecules permeate through the membrane fibers quickly and are removed, while N2 molecules pass through the micro-pores of the hollow fibers to be bundled together. Under the control of the system, continuous and stable nitrogen output is achieved.
Specified Purity in Industrial Applications
While on-site nitrogen generation can produce N₂ with a purity of up to 99.999%, significant cost and energy savings can be achieved if users match the nitrogen purity to the specific requirements of their application. In reality, many applications do not require purity levels of 99.9% or higher.
Nitrogen is used to extend the shelf life and maintain the flavor, color, and aroma of food and beverage products, including snack food packaging, coffee packaging, and wine bottling. Most products specify a purity level between 98% and 99.5%. Many products are packed with nitrogen, which is a flavorless additive. When oxygen in the packaging is replaced with nitrogen, the product can withstand longer transport distances without losing flavor. Sometimes, nitrogen is mixed with CO₂ or small amounts of O₂ to create modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) that inhibits the growth of specific bacteria in meat, fish, or poultry. Other products, like edible oils, are blanketed with nitrogen to prevent oxidation-induced rancidity. In wine production, nitrogen is used to blanket fermentation materials and during bottling. Bottles are purged with nitrogen, filled with wine, and then topped with more nitrogen before sealing with a cork.
The metal industry values nitrogen for various applications. In aluminum degassing, nitrogen is injected into molten metal to expel hydrogen gas, which could otherwise lead to gaseous inclusions. During aluminum extrusion, inert nitrogen prevents the formation of oxides. Laser cutting uses nitrogen to blow away molten slag and minimize oxidation at the cut edge, while also purging laser bellows to remove dust from mirrors and eliminate H₂O and CO₂, preventing them from absorbing laser energy and blurring the cut. Heat treatment of metals requires an inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen. Purity ranges from 97% for aluminum degassing to 99.5% or higher for heat treatment and aluminum extrusion. For laser cutting, nitrogen purity can be as low as 99.95% or lower, depending on the material and thickness being cut.The oil, gas, and petrochemical industries face safety challenges, which are well met by nitrogen's inert characteristics. Purity levels in these industries typically range from 95% to 99%. Inerting for fire and explosion prevention is successfully achieved by introducing nitrogen to remove oxygen. Chemical tanks are often blanketed with nitrogen to prevent fires or explosions. In the upstream and midstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, nitrogen is used for various purposes, from pipeline cleaning and inspection to pressurizing riser tensioners that maintain stability on floating or moored drilling platforms. Within pipelines, gas seal turbines often use nitrogen blankets for sealing. Nitrogen prevents natural gas leaks and suppresses fire risks in case of minor leaks.
The pharmaceutical industry relies on nitrogen's inert characteristics to ensure the safety and sterility of chemicals and packaging, with average purity levels ranging from 97% to 99.99%. During product transfers, nitrogen is used to purge containers to eliminate contamination. Chemical blanketing with nitrogen helps stabilize the final pharmaceutical product. Sealed packaging is injected with nitrogen to maintain drug freshness. Deionized water used throughout the pharmaceutical process is blanketed to ensure a constant pH by preventing exposure to CO₂.
Plastic development requires nitrogen's low dew point drying and inert characteristics for molding and extrusion processes. Nitrogen purity in this industry ranges from 95% to 99.5%. In injection molding, purging granulate hoppers and preventing screw carburization is achieved by introducing nitrogen. In gas-assisted injection molding, pressurized nitrogen helps fill parts and eliminate shrinkage. Blown film extrusion uses nitrogen for purging and spray drying products.
The power generation industry has a high focus on safety and maintenance. Nitrogen helps remove oxygen and prevent corrosion. During boiler circulation, per ASME guidelines, proper lay-up of heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) involves nitrogen to avoid boiler corrosion and pitting. Boilers that have been shut down are blanketed and purged with nitrogen to prevent corrosion. Nitrogen is commonly used to blanket and purge soft water tanks to prevent contamination by CO₂. Nitrogen purging of natural gas lines allows for repairs or valve installations without fire concerns. Across the power generation sector, nitrogen purity typically ranges from 95% to 98%, reaching up to 99.6% for boiler lay-up.
In the electronics assembly industry, nitrogen is used to keep solder clean and free from oxidation, particularly in selective soldering and wave soldering processes. Purity in this industry can be as high as 99.999%.
Other applications of nitrogen include various fields requiring its inert and oxygen-removing properties. Coal mines or other mines can be sealed and filled with nitrogen to remove oxygen and prevent explosions. Automotive paint covering and spray painting with nitrogen accelerates drying and improves product finish. Museum artifacts and antiques are often stored in a nitrogen environment to preserve and protect their surfaces.

A: In contemporary industrial manufacturing, PSA nitrogen generators have become integral and eco-friendly equipment for nitrogen production across a multitude of sectors. Nonetheless, akin to other mechanical systems, these generators might experience operational malfunctions. This article aims to offer an in-depth exploration of five prevalent issues that PSA nitrogen generators may face, along with their respective remedies, enabling you to address these problems swiftly and restart production.
1.Leakage in the Check Valve
The check valve is an essential element of the PSA nitrogen generator, and its sealing integrity is pivotal to maintaining nitrogen purity and production efficiency. Should the check valve develop a leak, there is a risk of high-pressure gas reversing flow, which can compromise the purity of the nitrogen. In such instances, it is imperative to examine the check valve and its internal seals for signs of wear and to replace any compromised components without delay.
2.Excessive Opening of the Purge Valve
The purge valve within a PSA nitrogen generator facilitates the swift expulsion of nitrogen. Nevertheless, excessive opening of the purge valve could cause inadequate exhaust, thereby diminishing the purity of nitrogen. In such scenarios, it is imperative to adjust the purge valve's aperture appropriately to guarantee the precise volume of exhaust. Moreover, it is crucial to conduct routine inspections of the purge valve for signs of wear and to replace it promptly upon detection of any damage.
3.Electromagnetic Valve Fault
The electromagnetic valve is a key component that controls the flow of gases inside the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) nitrogen generator. When the electromagnetic valve fails, it can lead to incomplete exhaust of the tower. In such cases, you should check the operational status of the electromagnetic valve and promptly repair it if there are any faults. Additionally, ensure that the valve's connection wiring is intact and that the power supply is stable.
4.Nitrogen Purity Decline
Nitrogen purity is a critical indicator of the efficacy of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) nitrogen generator. A reduction in nitrogen purity can result from several factors:
Sudden Alteration in Gas Feedstock: A rapid shift in the oxygen content or humidity level of the gas feedstock can adversely affect the purity of the nitrogen produced by the generator.
Adsorbent Degradation: The adsorbent material within the system may gradually lose its efficiency over time. When the adsorbent fails to effectively separate gases, the purity of the generated nitrogen diminishes.
Equipment Malfunction: Various operational malfunctions, such as inconsistent pressure or leaks, can also compromise nitrogen purity.
To mitigate these issues, consider the following solutions:
Regulate the Gas Feedstock: In the event of abrupt changes in the gas feedstock, adjust the control valve or increase the pressure to stabilize the oxygen concentration and humidity levels.
Renew the Adsorbent: Should the adsorbent be identified as the culprit, replacing it with a fresh one can help restore nitrogen purity.
Examine and Repair Equipment: Inspect and rectify any equipment malfunctions to prevent them from affecting the nitrogen generator.
It is essential to recognize that resolving nitrogen purity issues may necessitate specialized expertise and skills. If the problem persists, it is advisable to seek a professional for a thorough inspection and maintenance.
5.No Display on Control Panel When Powering On
1.Begin by verifying that the power supply is properly connected and operational.
2.Ensure that all circuit plugs are firmly attached.
3.Examine the fuse to determine if it has blown. The fuse is situated within the power socket at the rear of the device (marked with a fuse symbol). Utilize a small flathead screwdriver or a pointed metallic tool to carefully remove it. The fuse is rated at 5A.
4.Access the side panel of the device and verify that the display board ribbon cable is securely fastened.
5.Inspect the indicator lights on the device's internal circuit board. If they are unlit, verify whether the circuit board's fuse has blown. Should the fuse be blown, substitute it with a 3A fuse. If the display persists in not functioning after the fuse replacement, the power supply unit may require replacement.
When the nitrogen generator encounters common issues during long-term high-load operation, there's no need to worry. By diagnosing the problem and applying the correct remedial measures, you can restore the nitrogen generator to normal operation.
Founded in 1979, RICH has consistently focused on independent research and development. Our product range includes PSA nitrogen generators, horizontal mobile nitrogen generators, sterile PSA nitrogen generators, cryogenic open-air nitrogen generators, and customized on-site gas generation systems. We are committed to providing high-quality gas equipment to meet the diverse production needs of various industries."

A: How to choose a suitable PSA nitrogen generator from a variety of brands and models on the market? What factors need to be considered? Here are 5 points that can help you make aa good choice:
1. Purity
Purity is a key parameter of a nitrogen generator. Under the same nitrogen production, higher purity means higher working efficiency of the nitrogen generator. Different industries have different needs for nitrogen purity. Before purchasing a nitrogen generator, users must clarify their real needs, like how much purity nitrogen is needed, what is the budget, and purchase according to the actual gas demand.
2.Nitrogen flow
Flow rate is a key parameter in evaluating the performance of a nitrogen generator. It indicates the volume of nitrogen it can produce per hour. To estimate the needed nitrogen flow rate, users can refer to the previous production data. For new projects, users can communicate with the design institute to select the appropriate nitrogen generator. Generally speaking, the larger the flow rate of the nitrogen generator, the stronger its gas production capacity, which can meet the needs of larger-scale production.
3.Outlet pressure
The outlet pressure of conventional nitrogen generators is generally between 0.1-0.8 MPa. Some industries and processes require higher pressures, so it is necessary to use a booster to get required pressure. When choosing a booster, it is important to consider the required nitrogen pressure range and energy consumption. Properly configured boosters can reduce unnecessary investment costs.
4.Carbon molecular sieve
The quality of carbon molecular sieves quality effects the gas production efficiency of the nitrogen generator. High-quality carbon molecular sieves can improve the purity of the nitrogen, reduce energy consumption and operating costs. When choosing carbon molecular sieves, the price and performance are both important. For example, the specific surface area of a molecular sieve, the pore size distribution, the number of micropores and submicropores, etc. Generally speaking, carbon molecular sieves with larger the specific surface area, more uniform pore size distribution, and more microporous/submicroporous have greater adsorption capacity and better gas separation effect.