Key Benefits of PSA Nitrogen Generators Cost-effective: Up to 50% savings over cylinder or bulk liquid nitrogen supply. High purity: Nitrogen purities from 95% to 99.99% — matched to your application. Compact & efficient: Minimal footprint for space-constrained installations. Low maintenance: Few moving parts; process valves last 6–8 years; actuators rated for 4 million cycles. Safe operation: Low-pressure gas eliminates hazards from high-pressure cylinders or cryogenic storage. Unattended operation: PLC microprocessor control with automatic economiser for low-demand periods. Quiet: Proprietary muffler design minimises noise on-site.
How Does a PSA Nitrogen Generator Work? Oxair nitrogen generators use Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology to produce inert gas continuously from compressed air: Compressed air enters the adsorber vessel. Oxygen molecules are captured in the pore structure of the adsorbent material. Nitrogen molecules pass freely through to the product outlet. During regeneration, adsorbed oxygen is vented to the atmosphere. The cycle repeats automatically, delivering a continuous high-purity nitrogen stream.
Also see membrane nitrogen generators as an alternative technology
Marine & Shipboard – fuel tank inerting, pipeline protection.
Electronics & Semiconductor – controlled atmospheres for manufacturing.
Food & Beverage – packaging, bottling, and preservation.
Metal Fabrication – laser cutting and welding atmospheres.
Pharmaceutical & Healthcare – controlled environments and processing.
Oil & Gas – refinery and plant applications requiring reliable nitrogen supply.
Flow Rates & Capacity PSA nitrogen generation from 1 to 10,000 SM³/hr — standard and custom configurations available. Low-pressure output for safe, straightforward on-site handling and storage. Standard models achieve up to 99.9% nitrogen purity; high-purity models reach 99.99%. Systems right-sized to your consumption — from compact lab units to large industrial installations.
Why Choose Oxair for Your PSA Nitrogen Generator? 36 years of experience: Oxair has been designing and manufacturing gas separation systems since 1990. Proven worldwide: PSA nitrogen systems delivered to clients across mining, oil & gas, food, pharmaceutical, marine, and electronics industries. Custom-engineered: Systems designed to your exact flow rate, purity, and pressure specifications. Operator-friendly: Minimal maintenance and simple operation — no specialist gas-handling skills required. Built to last: High-cycle valves and actuators rated for millions of cycles before maintenance. Compact footprint: Suited to ships, underground mines, processing plants, and confined spaces. Fully automated: PLC control with remote monitoring capability and unattended operation.
Notable Installations Oxair has delivered large-scale PSA nitrogen systems to clients across multiple industries worldwide, including two 650 SM³/hr systems for an oil and gas refinery in Iraq and nitrogen generators for mining operations across Australia.
Q: How does a PSA nitrogen generator work? A: A PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) nitrogen generator separates nitrogen from compressed air by passing it through an adsorber vessel filled with carbon molecular sieve. Oxygen molecules are adsorbed into the sieve material while nitrogen flows through to a storage buffer. Two vessels alternate automatically to provide a continuous nitrogen supply — no cylinders or liquid deliveries needed.
Q: What nitrogen purity levels can an Oxair PSA generator achieve? A: Oxair PSA nitrogen generators produce nitrogen at purities from 95% up to 99.99%, depending on the model and flow rate configuration. The required purity level is a key input when sizing a system — higher purity generally requires a larger unit or slower production rate.
Q: How much does it cost to run a PSA nitrogen generator compared to a cylinder supply? A: On-site PSA generation typically delivers savings of up to 50% over traditional cylinder or bulk liquid nitrogen supply. The main ongoing costs are electricity and compressed air — once the capital cost is recovered, nitrogen becomes extremely low-cost. Oxair can provide a site-specific payback analysis on request.
Q: What industries use PSA nitrogen generators? A: PSA nitrogen generators are used across mining (pipeline purging, fire suppression), oil and gas (tank inerting, blanketing), food and beverage (modified atmosphere packaging, bottling), electronics (soldering atmospheres), pharmaceutical manufacturing, and marine applications. Oxair has supplied systems for Australian mining operations and international oil refinery projects.
Q: How much maintenance does a PSA nitrogen generator require? A: PSA nitrogen generators have very few moving parts — the main service items are process valves and filters. In Oxair's smaller systems, process valves typically last 6–8 years before replacement; in larger systems, actuators are rated for 4 million cycles. Routine maintenance is minimal and can be performed by site personnel with appropriate training.
Ready to discuss your gas system requirements? Find out more or request a quote for an on-site oxygen or nitrogen gas generating system.
