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Membrane vs PSA nitrogen generators: Which one is right for you?

If you're considering on-site nitrogen generation, one of the first questions you'll face is: Should I choose a membrane or a PSA nitrogen generator. Both technologies offer the convenience of producing nitrogen on demand, but they differ in purity levels, performance, and ideal applications. In this guide, we’ll break down how each system works, what makes them unique, and how to decide which nitrogen generator best fits your needs.

What’s the difference between membrane and PSA nitrogen generators?

Membrane nitrogen generators use a bundle of hollow fibre membranes to separate nitrogen from other gases in compressed air. These fibres allow certain molecules—like oxygen, water vapour, and carbon dioxide—to pass through faster than nitrogen. As a result, nitrogen is left behind and collected.

 

  • Purity range: 95% to 99.5%
  • Benefits: Compact, quiet, low maintenance
  • Drawbacks: Limited to lower purity levels
  • Ideal for: Fire prevention, tyre inflation, tank blanketing, and some packaging processes

 

PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) nitrogen generators use adsorption towers filled with carbon molecular sieves to separate nitrogen from oxygen. While one tower filters the air, the other regenerates, allowing for continuous operation at high purity.

 

  • Purity range: Up to 99.999%
  • Benefits: High-purity nitrogen, consistent flow
  • Drawbacks: Slightly larger footprint and more complex operation
  • Ideal for: Laser cutting, electronics manufacturing, food and beverage packaging, and pharmaceutical applications
Membrane versus PSA

Which nitrogen generator should you choose?

Here’s how to decide between membrane and PSA systems based on key factors:

 

Factor

Membrane

PSA

Nitrogen purity

Up to 99.5%

Up to 99.999%

Footprint

Compact

Larger (dual tower system)

Maintenance

Low

Moderate (valves and adsorbers)

Energy efficiency

High for lower purity needs

More efficient at higher purity

Ideal applications

Tank blanketing, tyres, fire safety

Laser cutting, pharma, food, electronics

 

If your application requires high-purity nitrogen, such as for laser cutting or food-grade packaging, a PSA nitrogen generator is likely the better fit. But if you’re working with lower purity requirements, need a more compact setup, or want a plug-and-play system, membrane technology might be the right choice.

Consider your application first

Different industries have different nitrogen demands:

 

 

If you’re unsure about your required purity level, flow rate, or pressure, start by considering the criticality of the application and whether nitrogen will come in direct contact with your product or process.

Get in touch

Membrane and PSA generators both offer the freedom and efficiency of on-site nitrogen generation—but they’re built for different demands. The right choice depends on what you’re producing, how pure your nitrogen needs to be, and how your system is set up. Not sure which direction to go? Let us take a closer look at your application and recommend the setup that makes the most sense—practically, technically, and economically.