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

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

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.

Different industries have different nitrogen demands:

• Laser cutting → PSA, 99.999% purity
• Food & beverage packaging → PSA, 99.9%+ purity
• Fire prevention systems → Membrane, 95–98% purity
• Tire inflation and inerting → Membrane
• Pharmaceutical or electronics production → PSA, high-purity and oil-free air

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.