On-Site Industrial Nitrogen
Industrial Nitrogen Generators
On-site nitrogen at 95% up to 99.9995% purity for any industrial process. PSA and membrane systems built for 24-hour operation in demanding environments.
Purity range
Technologies supplied
Typical payback
Service life
An industrial nitrogen generator produces nitrogen gas on-site from compressed air, replacing delivered cylinders, dewars, and bulk liquid nitrogen. Gas Generation Solutions designs industrial nitrogen systems for facilities that consume nitrogen continuously at flows from 40 SCFH to over 100,000 SCFH per unit, at purities from 95% up to 99.9995%.
Industrial-grade systems are built to a different standard than light-commercial equipment. Our systems use ASME-certified pressure vessels, sealed sieve beds with no top-off requirement, industrial-grade enclosed valves, and are available in stainless steel, explosion-proof (EX-rated), and containerized builds for outdoor or hazardous-area service. In business since 1979, we serve aerospace, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, electronics, and industrial manufacturing customers across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Below, we cover the industries we serve, what makes a nitrogen generator industrial-grade, the technology choice between PSA and membrane, system sizing, and payback economics.
Industries we serve
An industrial nitrogen generator fits any facility that consumes nitrogen on a regular cycle. Each link below opens a dedicated page covering purity, flow, sizing, and ROI for that industry.
Laser cutting
99.95% to 99.999% purity
Electronics soldering
99.9% to 99.999% purity
Heat treating & annealing
99.99% to 99.9995% purity
Vacuum heat treating
99.99% to 99.9995% purity
Metal 3D printing
99.99% to 99.9995% purity
Aluminum extrusion
99.5% to 99.99% purity
Aluminum degassing
99.5% to 99.99% purity
Autoclaves
99.99% purity, high pressure
Food & beverage
99.5% to 99.9% purity
Semiconductor
99.999% to 99.9995% purity
Pharmaceutical
99.99% to 99.999% purity
Oil & gas
95% to 99.5% purity, EX-rated
What makes a nitrogen generator industrial-grade
Not all nitrogen generators are built to the same standard. Industrial-grade systems run continuously in demanding environments and are specified differently from light-commercial equipment.
ASME-certified pressure vessels
Pressure vessels and sieve beds carry an ASME code stamp from the component manufacturer. Stamping is standard on every system, not reserved for the largest models.
Sealed sieve beds
Sealed beds do not require carbon molecular sieve top-off. Flanged designs typically require sieve replacement or top-off cycles every 8 to 10 years, which adds parts, labor, and downtime that sealed beds avoid.
Industrial-grade enclosed valves
All valves are enclosed and protected from contamination, physical damage, and inadvertent operator contact. This supports a longer service life in plant environments.
Stainless steel construction
Stainless builds are available for corrosive process environments, washdown areas, and food-grade or pharmaceutical sanitary spaces. Carbon steel is standard where stainless is not required.
Explosion-proof (EX-rated) builds
EX-rated systems are available for Class I Division 1 and Division 2 areas, oil and gas service, and any hazardous-area classification where standard electrical enclosures are not permitted.
Containerized systems
Containerized units are built into 20 ft or 40 ft ISO containers for outdoor installation, mining sites, remote operations, and rapid-deploy applications. Internal HVAC, lighting, and access ports are included.
PSA versus membrane: technology choice
We supply both technologies and recommend the one that matches your purity, flow, and operating-cost target. Above 99.5% purity, PSA wins on operating cost. Below 99.5%, membrane wins on simplicity.
| Specification | PSA | Membrane |
|---|---|---|
| Purity range | 95% up to 99.9995% | 95% up to ~99.5% |
| Air-to-nitrogen efficiency at 99.99% | Higher efficiency | Substantially higher air consumption |
| Footprint | Larger (sieve beds + buffer tank) | More compact (hollow-fiber module) |
| Moving parts in separation | Inlet / outlet / equalization valves | None (passive permeation) |
| Best applications | Heat treating, electronics, laser cutting, F&B, pharmaceutical | Tire inflation, fire suppression, marine, low-purity blanketing |
| Service life | 20 years or more (sealed beds) | Membrane bundle replacement at end of life |
Choose PSA when
Purity is 99% or higher
Most industrial applications above 99% purity favor PSA on both upfront and lifetime cost. Sealed sieve beds plus enclosed valves support a 20-year design life with low maintenance overhead.
Choose membrane when
Purity needs are modest
Tire shops, fire suppression panels, marine inerting, and low-purity blanketing run well at 95% to 99% purity. Membrane is compact, simple, and tolerates intermittent duty cycles where PSA would be over-specified.
System sizing and payback
Industrial systems range from 40 SCFH to over 100,000 SCFH per unit, with multiple units chained for higher flows. Three inputs drive sizing, and three numbers describe payback.
Sizing inputs
Flow rate
40 to 100,000+ SCFH
Continuous demand drives generator size. Multiple units chain for higher flows. Use a flow meter to capture actual demand rather than estimating from cylinder counts.
Purity
95% to 99.9995%
Higher purity uses more compressed air per unit of nitrogen. A 99% system is significantly more efficient than a 99.999% system. Match purity to the application, not the spec sheet.
Pressure
15 to 5,000+ PSIG
Most processes run at 80 to 150 PSIG. Laser cutting, autoclaves, and HP cylinder fill require booster compressors to lift to 200 to 5,000 PSIG.
Payback economics
Cost reduction
Up to 90%
Operating cost drops to compressed-air electricity plus filter changes. No tank rental, no delivery surcharges, no boil-off losses, no supply interruptions.
Typical payback
12 to 14 months
Most facilities recover the system investment in 12 to 14 months. Savings begin immediately when the system starts and delivered gas stops.
Service life
20+ years
Sealed sieve beds have no top-off requirement. After payback, the system delivers nitrogen for two decades or more on routine filter changes alone.
Free flow meter rental. Cellular data loggers transmit your actual nitrogen consumption to our server in real time. No WiFi required. We size from real data, not estimates.
Request a flow meterMaintenance schedule
Industrial nitrogen generators run on routine filter changes alone. The plant maintenance team handles all scheduled work; no service contract is required.
Every 3 months
Water and dirt filter
First-stage inlet filter on the compressed air line. Drops out condensate and particulate before the dryer.
Every 6 months
Oil coalescing filter
Removes residual compressor oil aerosol downstream of the dryer. Inspect valves and safety devices on the same interval.
Every 12 months
Charcoal final filter
Removes any remaining hydrocarbon vapor before the sieve beds. Annual filter cost runs a few hundred dollars depending on system size.
Optional
Oxygen analyzer calibration
Annual calibration of the in-line oxygen analyzer is recommended for purity-critical applications. Not required for general industrial service.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an industrial nitrogen generator cost?
Pricing scales with flow, purity, pressure, and any custom requirements such as stainless steel or explosion-proof construction. Small membrane units start near $15,000. Mid-flow PSA systems for laser cutting, electronics, or heat treating typically run $40,000 to $150,000. High-flow systems with HP boosters and stainless or EX-rated builds reach $250,000 to $500,000. Regardless of system size, payback is typically 12 to 14 months on facilities replacing delivered gas.
What purity can an industrial nitrogen generator produce?
PSA generators produce nitrogen from 95% up to 99.9995% purity. Membrane generators produce up to approximately 99.5%. Most industrial applications run between 99% and 99.99%. Semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and laboratory work uses 99.999% to 99.9995%. We size every system to meet or exceed the application's purity requirement with margin.
PSA or membrane technology for industrial use?
PSA wins above 99% purity on operating cost and lifetime efficiency. Membrane wins below 99.5% on simplicity and footprint. We supply both and recommend the technology that matches your application requirement. Above 99.5%, membrane systems consume substantially more compressed air per unit of nitrogen, which raises operating cost over the life of the equipment.
How long does an industrial nitrogen generator last?
Our systems are designed for 20 years or more of continuous service. Sealed sieve beds do not require top-off or replacement under normal operating conditions. Competitors using flanged sieve beds may require sieve replacement every 8 to 10 years, which adds significant cost over the life of the equipment.
Do I need a service contract for a nitrogen generator?
No. Our systems are designed for owner-serviceable maintenance. Filter changes are inexpensive and straightforward, and the plant maintenance team handles them. There is no required annual service contract. Some competing manufacturers include mandatory service agreements that significantly increase total cost of ownership over the life of the system. Always compare 5-year and 10-year TCO when reviewing nitrogen generator quotes.
Can an industrial nitrogen generator be installed outdoors or in a hazardous area?
Yes. Containerized 20 ft and 40 ft ISO units are available for outdoor installation, mining sites, and remote operations. Containerized systems include internal HVAC, lighting, and access ports. EX-rated builds are available for Class I Division 1 and Division 2 hazardous-area classifications, oil and gas service, and chemical processing.
What size nitrogen generator does my facility need?
System size is determined by required flow rate, purity, and delivery pressure. We provide free flow meter rental with cellular data loggers to measure actual nitrogen consumption over a representative cycle. The data logger transmits readings in real time to our server with no WiFi required at your facility. Email your application details, current consumption, and required purity for a same-day quotation. Call 760-505-1300.
Is on-site nitrogen generation better than delivered nitrogen?
For most industrial facilities consuming nitrogen on a regular cycle, yes. On-site generation eliminates delivery surcharges, tank rental fees, hazmat fees, boil-off losses, and supply interruptions. The operating cost reduces to compressed-air electricity and routine filter changes. Customers typically reduce nitrogen costs by up to 90% and recover the system investment within 12 to 14 months.