What is a PSA Nitrogen Generation System?

PSA nitrogen generators (Pressure Swing Adsorption) 

When compressing atmospheric air using an air compressor, a PSA nitrogen generator (Pressure Swing Adsorption) functions similarly to a membrane nitrogen generator. Air from a PSA nitrogen generator will be passed through a Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS), a column of densely packed carbon material, instead of a membrane. Only the smaller nitrogen molecules can travel through the CMS, which absorbs the larger oxygen and other molecules, leaving high-purity nitrogen behind. For a PSA nitrogen generator, two CMS columns are needed; the name Pressure Swing Adsorption comes from the fact that while one column is pressurizing or producing nitrogen, the other is depressurizing. 

The industrial PSA nitrogen generator will also have prefiltration stages to remove dust particles and residual moisture from the air before entering the CMS, much like the membrane nitrogen generator. A PSA nitrogen generator will have the longest life compared to a membrane. The PSA will typically run for 15 to 20+ years, depending on the manufacturer and the system’s quality.

For more information on how Membrane Nitrogen generators work, click here.