Importance of Nitrogen Generation in the Food & Beverage Industry

Have you ever wondered why packs of chips are half filled with air? That’s Nitrogen which comprises 78% of our atmospheric air to keep the inside packet of chips safe and fresh. So, if we discussed the specifications, Nitrogen generators are used on-site in various manufacturing applications beyond chips such as Mayonnaise, baked cakes, vegetables, and fruits.

For all these applications key decisions are having to be made about whether to use on-site nitrogen generators within the manufacturing facilities or have nitrogen bottles and tanks delivered to the facilities periodically.

Whether it's boxed, canned, bottled, shrink-wrapped, or vacuum-packed, most of the food we consume every day is packaged using nitrogen generation. The reason for this is simple: food spoilage begins almost immediately after it is harvested or prepared! To prevent this spoilage, food packaging is a necessity as it helps prevent contamination during shipping and purchase and provides a physical barrier to keep foreign objects out. Proper food packaging also helps keep products in optimal condition from distribution to point of use, ensuring consistently high quality. Sounds easy right? This is where it gets a bit more complex by going into more detail about nitrogen production.

Nowadays, companies are more strongly inclined towards on-site generators because they reduce manufacturing delays, equipment storage space needs, and overall costs while increasing safety, reliability, and efficiency.

The main benefits of using nitrogen gas in the food & beverage industry,

• Extends shelf life without the use of food additives
• Reduces oxygen levels to prevent food spoilage during distribution
• Food preservation for maximum freshness
• Reduces supply chain waste and carbon footprint of packaging

On-site nitrogen generators run 24-7 and give manufacturers access to nitrogen any time they need it. As such, manufacturers don’t have to wait for nitrogen bottle and liquid tank nitrogen deliveries, which can be delayed and sometimes canceled.

Generating your nitrogen is commercially viable and an easy Do-it-yourself option for the food and beverage industry. The broad technical requirements for varying gas flow rates are:

• Nitrogen Pressure: 4-5 bar
• Nitrogen purity: 99.5-99%

The current market trend for Nitrogen is more in the direction from traditional liquid and cylinder to becoming an independent supplier of nitrogen gas. The two predominant technologies include nitrogen separation using membrane technology (for low to medium purities) and pressure swing adsorption technology (for medium to high purities). The choice of technology depends on flow requirements and the need for the right purity for the lowest economic cost of generation. The opportunity these technologies present to customers include:

• Reducing gas costs (lowest cost of generation per m3)
• Become independent of the gas supplier (no dependency on third-party suppliers)
•  Non-stop availability:
• No safety hazard when handling high-pressure cylinders

The up-front costs to buy an on-site nitrogen generator could be a concern for some manufacturers. But in the long run, they are likely to accelerate manufacturing processes, reduce waste, and cut costs. By investing in an on-site generation, an F&B manufacturer could break even within the first two years of installation.

Would you like to know more? Get in touch with an Atlas Copco expert who will be happy to assist you!