Industries

CGTThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires nitrogen in all commercial aircraft tires to eliminate the potential for water vapor (inherent in normal compressed air) from freezing at high altitudes. In addition, aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing use nitrogen membranes in their On-Board Inert Gas Generation Systems (OBIGGS) to "top" fuel tanks with nitrogen - an inert gas that does not support combustion. PSA or membrane systems can be used.

CGTAluminum extrusion is a method used to transform aluminum alloy into various objects that have a definitive cross-sectional profile for numerous uses. The process of aluminum extrusion consists of the following: After the shape of the die has been designed & created, a cylindrical billet of aluminum is heated. Once the billet is heated to 800 deg. F - 925 deg. F it is then moved to a loader. At this time a lubricant is applied to the aluminum billet which will prevent it from sticking to the ram; handle, or the die itself. Pressure is then added to a dummy block via a ram, which forces the aluminum billet through the die. Nitrogen is then introduced to prevent the formation of oxides, creating an inert atmosphere and increasing die life. Once the extruded part passes through the die opening it is then put on a cooling table which has fans to cool the aluminum extrusion. Once cooled, the aluminum extrusion is moved to a stretcher for straightening and hardening. The extrusion is now ready for the age ovens where it is heated, hardening the aluminum by speeding the aging process.

CGTMany manufacturers use Nitrogen to provide an inert atmosphere for pressurizing their large autoclaves. These autoclaves operate like huge pressure cookers, heating and curing the various composite parts fabricated by production personnel. These parts are baked in the autoclaves under a combination of heat, vacuum and pressure to ensure the layers of composite material successfully bond together to provide the necessary strength to form strong, and lightweight parts.

CGTDuring the past decade, utilizing a mixture of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Nitrogen (N2) gases for dispensing draft beer has become enormously popular at retail outlets such as bars, restaurants, pubs, and large venues. Driving this popularity is the dispensing of stout or nitrogenated beers. Guiness, Murphy Stout, Boddingtons and other craft brew require a CO2 and N2 mixture to achieve the correct presentation.

CGTNitrogen is used to blanket tanks of B100 biodiesel, methylate, & glycerin. The nitrogen prevents moisture contamination as well as oxygen degradation.

CGTPlastic bags, plastic wrap, shrink wrap are examples of plastics made from Blown Film Extrusion. The blown film extrusion process consists of an extruded tube of molten thermoplastic that is inflated to several times its initial diameter, forming a very thin tubular product which can be used as is or slit which forms a flat film. Nitrogen is often used for oxygen sensitive materials to prevent discoloration.

CGTDuring the winemaking process it is critical that wine be protected from contact with oxygen. The presence of oxygen promotes the growth of yeast and bacteria, which can cause spoilage and alter final product quality. For bottling wine industry, nitrogen can help to increase the longevity and decrease spoilage in wine. Nitrogen will help with preserving flavors and significantly improving shelf life. It is an essential tool in helping to alleviate the issues caused by the presence oxygen, and has become the preferred technology because it is economical and inert.

CGTNitrogen is commonly used for packaging of grated cheese. Nitrogen and CO2 are blended together to flush the packages keeping oxygen levels low while maintaining CO2 levels between 25-40%. Consider nitrogen generators for your cheese packaging.




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CGTImmediately after roasting, oxygen begins destroying coffee causing it to lose its flavor. Displacing oxygen with nitrogen "Nitrogen Flushing" during the coffee packaging process preserves the flavor of coffee.

CGTStorage of assemblies in a nitrogen atmosphere prevents contamination by moisture, oxygen and other foreign matter. This provision can be a valuable part of an assembler's overall effort to preserve the high quality of their finished products.

CGTStudies have shown that over the last 25 years, more and more accidents are being reported across the US, Canada and Europe involving combustible explosions involving dust collectors. Many safety regulations require dust collection inspections to prevent and protect against dust explosions. Nitrogen can be used for explosion prevention in a dust collection system that is part of a closed circuit process.

CGTEnhanced Oil Recovery, or tertiary recovery, involves extending the life of oil and gas reservoirs through a variety of fluid / chemical injections into existing reservoirs. Nitrogen injection is one of several fluids that can be used for EOR.

CGTFire Sprinkler Corrosion Prevention Systems are systems in which pipes are filled with pressurized nitrogen, rather than water. The nitrogen holds a remote valve, known as a dry pipe valve, in a closed position. Located in a heated space, the dry-pipe valve prevents water from entering the pipe until a fire causes one or more sprinklers to operate. Once this happens, the air escapes and the dry pipe valve releases. Water then enters the pipe, flowing through open sprinklers onto the fire. Nitrogen is used to prevent corrosion, more specifically, microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in the piping system.

CGTVarious snack foods including potato chips & peanuts rely on a source of nitrogen for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). MAP is a technique which helps maintain product freshness, quality and extend shelf-life. It uses nitrogen which is a clean, dry, inert gas, to reduce the oxygen content within food packaging to prevent product deterioration which may occur due to oxidative rancidity, moisture loss or gain, microbial, in addition to mould induced spoilage. Nitrogen can also be used as a filler gas to create a pressurized atmosphere that prevents 'package collapse' thus helping to protect the product.

CGTControlled Atmosphere Storage (CAS). Eating crisp apples year-round is possible due to controlled atmosphere storage. Known simply as "CA" in the industry, controlled atmosphere storage involves careful control of temperature, oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity. Apples take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide as starches in the flesh change to sugar. In the sealed rooms, this respiratory process reduced the oxygen, thus slowing the ripening process. The large, airtight CA rooms vary in size from 10,000 boxes to 100,000 boxes, depending on the volume of apples produced by the apple shipper and his marketing strategies. CA storage is a non-chemical process. Oxygen levels in the sealed rooms are reduced, usually by the infusion of nitrogen gas, from the approximate 21 percent in the air we breathe to 1 percent or 2 percent. 

Temperatures are kept at a constant 32 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity is maintained at 95 percent and carbon dioxide levels are also controlled. Exact conditions in the rooms are set according to the apple variety. Researchers develop specific regimens for each variety to achieve the best quality. Computers help keep conditions constant. Timing of harvest is critical to good storage results. Apples picked too early will not store well in CA nor will those that are past the proper maturity. Nitrogen can assist with the longevity of fruit storage.

CGTNitrogen is used for pressurizing dry gas seals on selected gas compressor and gas turbine installations that need inert gas for lubricating and pressurizing dry seals designed to contain flammable, toxic, or hazardous process gases from leaking into the atmosphere.

CGTNitrogen can be used for pest control. By flooding the grain silos with nitrogen and bringing the oxygen levels down, all pests will be killed in the oxygen depleted environment.

CGTThe principle of this process is that nitrogen gas is injected, during the molding cycle, either through the spruce or directly into the mould tool. At a controlled high pressure this has the benefit of overcoming sink marks or introducing a cavity without the requirement of a core.

CGTLaser cutting with nitrogen is intended for applications where oxidation is not wanted. For example, an oxide layer can cause paint to adhere less strongly on non-alloy steel. If non-alloy steel is painted after cutting, the cutting gas should be nitrogen. Weldable steel components laser cut with oxygen will not pass the bending test. Stainless steel loses its corrosion resistance when cut with oxygen, and aluminum pieces cut with oxygen have an uneven and burred cut surface.

When nitrogen is used as the cutting gas, the laser beam melts the material, and the nitrogen blows away the molten material from the cutting groove. Since no exothermic reaction takes place, the cutting speed is much slower than when cutting with oxygen. To ensure a burr-free cut edge, the laser beam must usually be focused on the bottom surface of the plate.

CGTLC/MS (Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) is defined as the marriage between liquid chromatography separation and mass spectrometric detection. By blending these two powerful techniques, chemical analysts have the ability to analyze almost any molecular species as well as thermally labile, non-volatile, and high molecular weight species.

CGTThe use of nitrogen assisted soldering equipment does mitigate some of the problems associated with using lead-free solders. Nitrogen helps on two fronts: first, it creates an inert environment around the soldering tip, reducing the potential for the tip to oxidize which would reduce its ability to transfer heat and hold solder. Second, it assists in the soldering process at the PC board level by purging oxygen from the immediate area which reduces the formation of oxidation on the work site. This helps to improve wetting/spreading and leaves a finish that is shinier and less grainy.

Nitrogen assisted soldering systems pass the nitrogen through or around the heater before it is directed to the work site which "pre-heats" the immediate area and can reduce thermal shock to component leads and to components themselves. Pre-heating also allows for the use of lower, safer and more effective soldering tip temperatures. Nitrogen compatible soldering systems are not significantly more costly than their standard counterparts and many manufacturers offer low cost add-on accessories to utilize N2 in the soldering process.

CGTNitrogen is often used to power medical industry tools for various medical procedures. 175 psig and higher is typically required to drive the instrument.

CGTThe objective in extinguishing a coal mine fire is to reduce the oxygen content of the combustive gases below the lower limit of explosion (LEL). Specialty foams are sometimes injected with the nitrogen to help seal off air ingress to the fire and help cool the surface of the coal embers after the LEL has been achieved. Continuous injection is required for days, even months in some situations, so on-site nitrogen generation is often more cost effective than hauling liquid nitrogen to the location and vaporizing it at the mine's surface.

CGTNitrogen is often used in the plastic resin industry in the extrusion hopper to prevent the adsorption atmospheric moisture in pre-dried resin.

CGTNitrogen is used for purging to clear lines and vessels of liquids or reduce oxygen levels. Several purge cycles may be required, depending on the purity and the desired oxygen content.

CGTHeat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG). One of the most effective means of ensuring plant longevity and reliability is to implement sound Lay-Up procedures on your HRSG(s) to limit corrosion by removing and preventing the introduction of oxygen. Many power companies are now using nitrogen generators for this application.

CGTSLS (Selective Laser Sintering). An additive layer-by-layer process, Selective Laser Sintering (rapid prototyping) technology uses a high-temperature laser to melt and fuse, or sinter, powdered plastics or metal into a three-dimensional part. Nitrogen is used to inert the chamber during the process. Membrane nitrogen generators are ideal for this application.

CGTReaction injection molding is a simple concept. As its name suggests, the process is based on a chemical reaction. A reactive liquid mixture (usually polyol and isocyanate) is injected or poured into a mold where a chemical reaction takes place. After an exothermic (heat generating) reaction occurs, the finished part is removed from the mold. Depending on the chemical formulation, the end product can take on a wide range of physical characteristics: foam or solid, highly rigid or very flexible. Nitrogen is used in the process to keep the chemicals dry and oxygen free.

CGTTank Blanketing, or padding, refers to applying a cover of gas over the surface of a stored commodity; usually a liquid. Its purpose is either to protect or contain the stored product or prevent it from harming personnel, equipment, or the environment. In most cases the blanketing gas is nitrogen, although other gases may be used. Blanketing may prevent liquid from vaporizing into the atmosphere. It can maintain the atmosphere above a flammable or combustible liquid to reduce ignition potential. It can make up the volume caused by cooling of the tank contents, preventing vacuum and the ingress of atmospheric air. Blanketing can simply prevent oxidation or contamination of the product by reducing its exposure to atmospheric air. It can also reduce the moisture content. Gas such as nitrogen is supplied in a very pure and dry state. The list of products blanketed is extensive - everything from adhesives, catalyst, chemicals, fats and oils, foods, fuels, inks, pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, soaps, and water.

CGTNitrogen in tires is becoming a very popular replacement for air, and for good reason. With proper inflation procedures and adequate purity nitrogen can provide amazing benefits. Converting to nitrogen in tires can improve your fuel economy by up to 5% and increase your tire life by 10% or more while dramatically increasing the safety of your vehicle. Nitrogen has been used for decades in Nascar, Formula One, the Tour de France, the US Military and many other applications where safety and economy are paramount concerns.