The On-Site Alternative to Delivered Nitrogen
Stop Renting Nitrogen Cylinders, Dewars, and Bulk Tanks
An on-site nitrogen generator makes high-purity nitrogen from compressed air, so you stop paying for cylinders, dewars, bulk liquid, delivery fees, and rental. Most customers cut their nitrogen cost by up to 90% and reach full payback in 12 to 14 months.
Lower nitrogen cost vs delivered gas
Typical payback
System service life
USA-built, no import tariffs
What Nitrogen Actually Costs You
Cost per 100 cubic feet, by supply method
The way you buy nitrogen, not how much you use, sets your unit cost. Cylinders are the most expensive nitrogen on the market. Dewars are cheaper, bulk liquid cheaper still, and on-site generation is roughly ten times cheaper again. The figures below are per CCF (100 cubic feet).
| Supply method | Typical cost per CCF | How you pay for it |
|---|---|---|
| High-pressure cylinders | $6 to $10 | Cylinder rental, demurrage, delivery, and frequent swaps. The most expensive nitrogen you can buy. |
| Dewars (liquid) | $4 to $6 | You pay for the full dewar, but boil-off and venting mean you rarely use all of it. |
| Bulk liquid (LIN) | $0.50 to $1.50 | Lower unit price, but tank rental, monthly minimums, and tank boil-off still apply. |
| On-site generator | $0.05 to $0.15 | Mostly the electricity to run the compressor. No delivery, no rental, no minimums. |
CCF = 100 cubic feet of nitrogen gas. Ranges reflect typical United States industrial pricing and vary by region, volume, and contract. On-site cost is the operating cost (mainly electricity); the generator is a one-time purchase.
The gap is not small. Switching to on-site nitrogen is roughly a 50 to 100 times cost reduction versus cylinders, 30 to 50 times versus dewars, and 5 to 15 times versus bulk liquid. If you are on dewars or bulk and want to understand why you never get all the gas you pay for, see what you really pay for with bulk and liquid nitrogen.
What the Switch Looks Like
A worked payback example
Here is a typical dewar customer running two shifts. Your numbers will differ, but the shape of the math holds: the delivered bill is the problem, and the operating cost of generating on-site is a fraction of it.
Two-shift operation currently buying dewars
Beyond cost 01
Supply independence
No delivery windows, no running out between drops, no force majeure on the supplier's plant. You make nitrogen on demand from the compressed air you already have.
Beyond cost 02
You control the purity
Dial in exactly what your process needs, anywhere from 95% up to 99.9995%. A built-in oxygen analyzer reads buffer-tank purity so you always know what you are producing.
Beyond cost 03
No boil-off, no waste
Liquid nitrogen boils off whether you use it or not, so you pay for gas that vents to the air. An on-site generator only makes what you draw.
Common Questions
Nitrogen cylinder alternative FAQ
What is the best alternative to renting nitrogen cylinders?
An on-site nitrogen generator. It makes high-purity nitrogen from compressed air, so you stop paying cylinder rental, delivery, and swap fees. Cylinders cost roughly $6 to $10 per 100 cubic feet, while on-site generation runs about $0.05 to $0.15, a reduction of 50 to 100 times.
How much does on-site nitrogen cost compared to delivered gas?
On-site nitrogen costs about $0.05 to $0.15 per 100 cubic feet, mostly electricity. Cylinders run $6 to $10, dewars $4 to $6, and bulk liquid $0.50 to $1.50. Most customers cut their nitrogen cost by up to 90% compared to delivered gas.
How long until a nitrogen generator pays for itself?
Most customers reach full payback in 12 to 14 months compared to delivered gas. After that, the nitrogen is essentially the cost of electricity, and the system is built to run for 20 years or more.
Can an on-site generator match the purity I get from cylinders?
Yes. On-site generators produce nitrogen from 95% up to 99.9995%, dialed to your application. A built-in oxygen analyzer reads buffer-tank purity so you always know exactly what you are producing.
How do I know what size generator I need?
It comes down to your flow rate and required purity. If you do not know your current usage, we can send a flow meter at no cost to measure your real demand before we size a system. Call 760-505-1300 and we will go over your deliveries and usage.
See Your Real Number
Find out what you would save
If you do not know your current nitrogen usage, we will send a flow meter at no cost to measure your real demand, then size a system and show you the payback against what you pay now. No obligation.