110 Industrial Nitrogen Gas Generation www.parker.com/gsfe Industrial Nitrogen Gas Applications There are thousands of applications for industrial gases. Nitrogen is generally used for three main functions: • It prevents microbial growth or acts as a filler gas in food applications • It prevents slow oxidization of products such as chemicals and metals during processing or heating • It prevents rapid oxidization of products that are flammable or explosive Pharmaceutical Whether in primary or secondary pharmaceutical product manufacture or as a centralised QA laboratory supply; within research establishments or universities and colleges, Parker can offer a solution to suit the critical demands of this industry sector. For blanketing of pharmaceutical product ingredients and pressure transfer within reactor vessels, to micronising powders to prevent oxidisation or explosion, Parker nitrogen generators can cut costs, reduce risk and improve productivity. Centralised laboratory systems remove the need to have high pressure cylinders within the working environment and the possibility of running out of gas during a QA analysis procedure. Parker nitrogen gas generators are typically used for analytical equipment such as LC/MS, GC, reaction blanketing within fume cupboards, solvent evaporation, ICP, ELSD, NMR and circular dichroism. Food and Beverage Most food products start to deteriorate from the moment they are harvested or prepared for packaging, being under attack from a multitude of spoilage mechanisms. By flushing, storing and/or packing with nitrogen, oxygen that many of these micro-organisms need in order to survive and multiply, is removed and the spoilage process is significantly reduced. Prepared salads and vegetables, fresh chilled ready meals, meat, poultry, fish, dairy produce (including cheese), breads, coffee as well as snack foods such as potato chips and nuts can all benefit from ‘modified atmosphere packaging’ (or MAP as it is often referred to). By using nitrogen gas from a Parker generator, the product shelf life is increased and the appearance and quite often taste, is also improved. Nitrogen is also used for ‘controlled atmosphere storage’ of fresh fruits and vegetables, sparging and blanketing food oils as well as bulk powders, cereals and liquid ingredients. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and ingredients can suffer similar spoilage mechanisms to food, however one of the most significant threats to product quality is oxidisation which adversely affects product taste. Beer and wine can absorb unwanted dissolved oxygen throughout the production process. Oxygen can also reduce the effectiveness of natural or added vitamin C which maybe used in fruit juices. Nitrogen gas generators provide an ideal cost effective solution for all of the processes involved in beverage production. Lasers Laser Cutting By far the largest use of nitrogen gas within this industry sector is for laser cutting. Nitrogen gas is used as an ‘assist gas’ to prevent oxidisation or discolouration and to blow away the molten material from the cut edge. It is also used in certain types of laser cutting machine as a ‘purge gas’ to ensure the laser beam guide path from the resonator (where the beam is generated), to the cutting head, is free of contamination that could otherwise affect the power or alter the shape of the beam. Laser Sintering Laser sintering or rapid prototyping uses a laser to form a solid 3D structure within a plastic powder material. Complex shapes and patterns can be constructed and modelled with ease. Nitrogen is used to blanket and prevent oxidisation of the powder material while it melts and solidifies to shape under the heat generated by the laser beam. Laser Ablation Nitrogen is used to expel fumes and blanket delicate electronic circuits where a laser beam is used to erode pathways on micro printed circuit boards. Laser Eye Surgery Nitrogen is used as a beam purge and pneumatics gas on Eximer laser machines which are used in the corrective treatment of eyesight defects. Heat Treatment Nitrogen gas is commonly used to exclude oxygen from heat treatment furnaces and ovens. Parker can supply nitrogen gas generation systems to replace expensive bulk vessel liquid supplies for many heat treatment processes. Fire Prevention and Archive Protection From the preservation of treasures for the generations after us, to preventing essential data destruction due to fire, Parker nitrogen generators provide a unique solution. Oxygen depleted air can be pumped into buildings that house treasures and archives or computer stored data to help prevent total loss caused by fire. Museum pieces, paintings, artefacts, furniture and valuable fabrics can all be protected. In general, only a modest reduction in normal ambient oxygen levels is enough to prevent fire. At 16% oxygen content, archives are protected whilst intermittent human exposure to these levels will have no adverse effects. • Belt furnaces • Batch furnaces • Vacuum ovens • Brazing • Carburising • Tempering • Annealing • Gas quenching • Neutral hardening • Normalising • Sintering Typical applications include:
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