Working Principle and Comparison of PSA and Membrane Nitrogen Generators

We are a manufacturer of Nitrogen generators based on Membrane separation and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology. But, before getting a generator for your industrial purpose, it is necessary to understand both the technologies and decide which one is the best for your application.

Working principle of PSA Nitrogen Generator

Using compressed air, Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) generators produce an interrupted supply of nitrogen gas. These generators use pretreated compressed air that is filtered through a carbon molecular sieve (CMS). Oxygen and trace gases get absorbed through the CMS letting nitrogen to pass through. This filtration takes place in two towers both of which contain a CMS.

When the on-line tower vents the contaminants, it is known as the regenerative mode. In this process, Oxygen, having smaller molecules gets separated from the Nitrogen and the lining in the sieve adsorbs these smaller oxygen molecules. As Nitrogen molecules are larger in size, they are unable to pass through the CMS and the result will be the desired pure Nitrogen gas..

Working principle of Membrane Nitrogen Generator

In a Membrane Nitrogen generator, the air gets filtered and passes through various technically advanced membranes. These have hollow fibers that work like reverse fibers & through permeation, nitrogen gets separated.

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The purity of nitrogen varies with the number of membranes, the system has. By using different sizes of the membrane and by increasing or decreasing the pressure results in different degree of nitrogen purity levels. The purity level of nitrogen is slightly less than the level obtained with a PSA generator.

Point by Point comparison of PSA and Membrane Nitrogen Generator

Topic	Pressure Swing Adsorption	Membrane Technology
Purity Level	PSA Nitrogen generators have higher purity levels. MVS PSA N2 generator user can achieve a set purity level between 95% and 99.9995%.	Users of membrane technology generators can achieve the purity level between 95% and 99.9% only.
Reliability	PSA N2 generators are slightly complicated to maintain when compared with Membrane Generators. There are only a few moving parts in a PSA N2 generator. And, if proper maintenance is done, these types of generators can last for several years.	Membrane generators are easy to maintain and operate. There are no to only a few moving parts in a membrane generator and if it is properly maintained, it can work perfectly for many years.
Maintenance	PSA generators require zero to a little maintenance. The only maintenance required in PSA generator is simply changing filter cartridge. Molecular sieves, where most of the gas filtering process takes place, can last for more than 10 years.	Membrane generators require very little maintenance. Simply with dry & clean feed air, the only maintenance required is changing filter cartridges.
Consistency	PSA generators can deliver the same high volume of pure Nitrogen throughout the life of the generator.	The capacity reduces significantly as the demand for pure gas increases.

Conclusion:

If cost and efficiency are the most important factors for a user then PSA Nitrogen generators are the universal choice for them. But when we discuss about simple and easy operation and also low purity Nitrogen, users can choose Membrane technology generators. However, both technologies are suitable for larger nitrogen demands or higher purity.