Apr. 03, 2025
PSA is the most widely used method for industrial oxygen production. These generators separate nitrogen from ambient air using a pressurized tank filled with zeolite, a specialized material that acts as a molecular sieve to selectively absorb nitrogen while allowing oxygen to pass through.
How It Works:
1. Ambient air is compressed and passed through a zeolite-filled tank.
2. The larger nitrogen molecules are trapped by the zeolite, while the smaller oxygen molecules flow through for collection.
3. The system then releases pressure, venting nitrogen back into the atmosphere.
4. The cycle repeats, ensuring a continuous oxygen supply.
PSA generators typically produce 90–95% pure oxygen, though additional cycles can refine the concentration to over 99%.
Additional Applications:
- PSA technology can also be used to generate nitrogen by collecting the nitrogen molecules instead of oxygen.
- It plays a key role in hydrogen production for oil refining and ammonia synthesis in fertilizer manufacturing.
This method provides a cost-effective and efficient way to produce high-purity oxygen for industrial and medical applications.
Membrane oxygen generators use semi-permeable membranes to separate oxygen from compressed air. As the air is forced through the membrane under pressure, smaller oxygen molecules pass through and are collected, while larger nitrogen molecules continue flowing out the opposite end.
Key Features:
- Fewer moving parts, making them highly reliable and low-maintenance.
- Typically produce lower oxygen concentrations compared to PSA and cryogenic methods.
- Used in applications where moderate oxygen purity is sufficient, such as in industrial gas supply and wastewater treatment.
A chemical oxygen generator produces oxygen through a chemical reaction involving inorganic salts like superoxides or sodium chlorate. When ignited, these compounds generate heat and release oxygen until they are fully consumed.
Key Features & Applications:
- Compact and stable, with a long shelf life.
- Commonly used in commercial airliners, where each unit can supply oxygen to 2–3 masks for 10–20 minutes during emergencies.
- Similar devices, called oxygen candles, are used in mines, submarines, and space stations to provide emergency oxygen supplies.
These generators offer a reliable backup oxygen source in situations where traditional oxygen storage is impractical.
Industrial oxygen generators serve a wide range of applications. Some of the most common uses include:
Medical-grade oxygen, used in hospitals and home healthcare, must meet the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) XXII Oxygen 93% Monograph standards. These requirements specify that the oxygen concentration should be between 90% and 96%, with the remaining composition primarily consisting of argon and hydrogen. Additionally, the oxygen must contain no more than 300 ppm of CO₂ or any other impurities.
Oxygen generators play a critical role in supplying breathable air for environments such as the International Space Station, submarines, and SCUBA diving systems. Since these are closed systems, they integrate carbon dioxide “scrubbers” to remove CO₂ while maintaining the oxygen level at 20.9%, mimicking Earth's atmospheric composition.
Fish and other aquatic species require oxygen to survive, making oxygenation essential for aquaculture operations. In the past, fish farming was limited to fenced-off sections of natural water bodies. However, with the use of industrial oxygen generators, farmers can now cultivate fish in controlled, oxygen-enriched environments. This innovation allows for higher stock densities, improved survival rates, and accelerated fish growth, making large-scale aquaculture more efficient and sustainable.
In wastewater treatment plants, oxygen generators provide additional oxygen to bacteria that facilitate biodegradation. By increasing oxygen levels, these bacteria can break down sludge into carbon dioxide and water more efficiently, accelerating the treatment process.
Industrial oxygen generators play a crucial role in steel manufacturing. Oxygen is used in furnaces for decarburization, a process that reduces carbon content in molten metals. Additionally, oxygen enhances melting rates and minimizes scaling during the reheating process, improving overall production efficiency.
Large-scale gold extraction relies on oxygen generators during the cyanide leaching process. In this method, a sodium-cyanide solution, combined with oxygen, is introduced to crushed gold-bearing ore, facilitating the release of gold from the rock for further processing.
Oxyacetylene welding and cutting rely on a combination of liquid fuel and oxygen to generate high-temperature flames capable of melting metal at the welding tip. This controlled melting process is used to fuse metals together or to cut through them with precision.
Similar to welding, glass blowing requires intense heat to melt and shape glass. Oxygen is used to enhance flame temperatures in both ovens and torches, allowing artisans and manufacturers to achieve the necessary heat levels for molding glass into intricate designs.
Oxygen plays a crucial role in the pulp and paper industry, particularly in the delignification process, where lignin is extracted from plant materials to produce paper. Additionally, oxygen is used in various stages of pulp bleaching and wastewater treatment, improving efficiency and sustainability in paper production.
While elevated oxygen levels in enclosed spaces do not typically pose a direct medical hazard, they significantly increase the risk of fire. Even a 2–3% rise in oxygen concentration, when combined with a fuel source and an ignition spark, can lead to a rapid flash fire.
Industries utilizing oxygen generators depend on safety devices such as the Remote Oxygen Deficiency Safety Alarm to protect workers in environments where bulk liquid oxygen is stored or where oxygen generators are in operation. These applications include steel manufacturing, welding and cutting, cryogenics, hospitals, diving tanks, underwater facilities, and emergency air backup systems.
