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5 Safety Measures to ensure while working with a Nitrogen gas generator

Nitrogen gas generator

Nitrogen occupies the majority of volume in Earth’s atmosphere – 78%, it is a colourless, tasteless and odourless gas. This inert gas has a very sta­ble chemical structure – all Nitrogen molecules form a triple bond with each other. The triple bond is the strongest bond in existence which makes the mol­e­cules prac­ti­cal­ly unbreakable. Because of this stable structure, it does not easily react with other compounds making it a most-sough after choice for all industries.

Which industries need an in-house nitrogen generating gas plant?

Nitrogen gas generators are used in a myriad range of industry sectors like

  • Food Processing 
  • Packaging, 
  • Manufacturing, 
  • Steel processing & other meta industries,
  • Paper,
  • Electronics, etc.

Nitrogen gas generators Vs. Nitrogen tanks — which is preferable?

On-site nitrogen gas generators offer a steady supply of commercially sterile, 99.9% pure, nitrogen from a compressed air storage tank. These nitrogen generator plants are chosen over individual nitrogen cylinders since the former not only provides an incessant supply of nitrogen gas but are also cost-effective, gives the total quality control of gas and requires less floor space. 

Having said that implanting a nitrogen gas plant has its own set of drawbacks as well.

Nitrogen gas generator

Potential hazards of a Nitrogen gas plant

Since Nitrogen is a colourless and odourless gas it is difficult to detect it in the event of leakage from gas generators. A hazardous property of Nitrogen is that it causes an Oxygen depleted area, causing a hazard to the industry workers which thus, regardless to say has to be dealt with cautiously. 

Nitrogen gas plants are generally segregated in two types based on their functionality — PSA Nitrogen Plant (Pressure Swing Absorption) and VPSA Nitrogen Plant (Vaccum Pressure Swing Absorption). You can read about the difference between them here.

Nitrogen generator typically uses compressed air by removing the constituent atmospheric oxygen content to produce Nitrogen gas. This obviously has the potential to alter the ambient levels of Oxygen within your installation site in the following ways:

  • Nitrogen gas leakage could occur from buffer, vessels or pipe-work reducing the ambient levels of Oxygen.
  • Manual or automatic venting of “off-specification” Nitrogen gas during the process of purity control, may also lead to the reduced rate of ambient Oxygen levels.
  • During the case of over-pressure, safety pressure relief valves may vent out Nitrogen reducing the ambient levels of oxygen in your installation site.
  • While servicing or inspection of Nitrogen gas plant depressurisation may occur due to the venting nitrogen vessels also causes the reduction of normal Oxygen level in the air.

If you have a nitrogen gas plant installed in-house or are planning to install one, apart from finding the best nitrogen gas plant manufacturers in India, you shall take note of the following points to prevent all possible safety hazards.

1. Portable Oxygen Monitor 

According to the Safety Code for Iron and Steel Sector by the Ministry of Govt. of India, a person shall be allowed to enter the vessel or any area adjoined to a pipeline for work only after ensuring the presence of minimum 19.5% oxygen in air and after the written clearance of a supervisor like the head of department, division or plant. Furthermore, it is required for every worker in the working area to carry a portable oxygen monitor every time.

2. Leakage

Routinely audit the condition of pressure vessels, pipe-work, equipment and connections while installation and during subsequent service periods. Make sure that the system is completely leakproof.

3. Proper Exhaust venting

A general misconception is that the waste gas from a generator is 100% oxygen which is not the case then released have only up to 35% to 45% Oxygen, the rest is Nitrogen. Exhaust the gas to an outside open location with a vent pipe of wide diameter and as short as possible length to prevent any backpressure. Position the equipment as close to the outside wall as possible.

4. Safety valves

In some situations, it is required that safety pressure relief valves fitted to pressure vessels are piped outside. For this, it is advised to use threaded outlet port variants to make it simpler to attach pipe-work. Again, position the vessels as close as possible to an outside wall. 

5. Use proper colour codes, labelling and warning notices 

All gas pipelines should be distinctively marked with colour code as per relevant Indian Standard.

Warning signs must be put in vulnerable locations like plant rooms, equipment, vessels and pipe-work to inform workers of the presence of Nitrogen gas and the possibility of Oxygen depletion.  

Labels shall be printed on all types of equipment, vessels and pipe-work in a readable and easy to understand language, preventing wrongful conduct by the workers resulting in probable contamination, asphyxiation, fires, etc.  

We take care of your safety

Leave all your safety concerns to Trimech Engineering Pvt. Ltd. We are committed to quality, assurance and safety for your onsite nitrogen generators. Our dedicated quality control staff and a research department assure that there is no loophole in the safety and quality of the generators. A dedicated team member will regularly gas generators by conducting various tests to ensure that zero possibility of hazards for you. 

For any queries regarding PSA Nitrogen generator or VPSA Nitrogen generators mail us on info@trimechindia.com or call us on +91-79-29709445, we will gladly assist you.



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