Nitrogen is an important consumable for industrial fiber laser and CO2 laser cutting work. Over the lifetime of a laser cutting system, it’s very probable that nitrogen supply costs will outweigh the capital cost of the laser system. A close focus on this very important business overhead cost is essential for all laser users if they wish to stay competitive.
Smaller quantities of nitrogen may also be used on fiber and CO2 laser cutting systems as a ‘head or beam purge gas’.
For CO2 lasers, nitrogen is used to ensure that the laser pathway from the CO2 resonator to the laser cutting head is free of oxygen contamination that might affect the beam shape and cause the lenses/mirrors to deteriorate. Generally, this beam purge gas requirement is low pressure, low flow rate and required continuously 24/7 regardless of laser operating time.
For fiber lasers the beam purge is used to purge the beam pathway local to the cutting head before cutting operations start and is not required continuously.
Nitrogen gas is often used as an ‘assist gas’ to prevent oxidisation or discolouration of the laser cut surface. and to blow away the molten material from the cut edge.
Most heat treatment furnaces are purged with low pressure high volumes of nitrogen prior to heat treatment cycles to prevent oxidation.
Nitrogen is used in very high pressures for mould blowing and to ‘aerate’ the media used to decrease its density and hence reduce product weight.
Most fresh food products start to deteriorate from the moment they are harvested or prepared for packaging as they are degraded by chemical and organic processes.
By flushing, storing and/or packing with nitrogen, the oxygen that fuels these processes is removed which reduces the degradation and extends shelf life.
Fresh salads, vegetables, chilled ready meals, meat, poultry, fish, dairy produce, breads, coffee as well as snack foods such as potato chips and nuts all have significantly improved shelf life from the use of nitrogen for ‘modified atmosphere packaging’ (MAP for short).
The use of MSS nitrogen generation technology increases shelf life, improves product appearance and quite often taste.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and ingredients can suffer similar degradation as food, 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 and bottling process. Oxygen can also reduce the effectiveness of natural or added vitamin C contained in fruit juices.
MSS nitrogen generators provide a convenient and cost effective solution for all processes involved in beverage production and dispensing including:
• Blanketing
• Sparging
• Pressure transfer
• Purging
• Bottling
• Kegging
• Packing
• Mixed Gas Dispense (MGD)
Whether in primary or secondary pharmaceutical product manufacture, QA laboratories, research establishments or universities and colleges. For blanketing of pharmaceutical product ingredients, reactor vessels pressure transfer or the prevention of oxidisation or explosion, MSS nitrogen generation systems can cut costs, reduce risk and improve productivity.
Nitrogen generation is used to enhance safety by preventing fires and explosions due to its inert properties. It displaces oxygen in critical systems and is essential for both aircraft operations and manufacturing processes.
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The UK & US market leader in on-site, high pressure nitrogen generation. The most efficient system available anywhere, the Nitrocube™ ECO combines the highest quality components housed in our unique cube enclosure with sophisticated MSS intelligent monitoring and controls.
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