PSA nitrogen generator for chemical industry is a device that uses the principle of pressure swing adsorption to produce nitrogen. Its working principle is based on the difference in adsorption performance of adsorbents (such as carbon molecular sieves) for different gases under pressure changes. Under pressure, the adsorbent will adsorb impurity gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor in the air, while allowing nitrogen to pass through, thereby separating nitrogen from other gases. When the adsorbent is saturated with adsorption, the adsorbent will desorb the adsorbed impurity gases by reducing the pressure, and then the next round of adsorption process can be carried out, and this cycle will be repeated to continuously produce high-purity nitrogen.
Application scenarios in chemical reactions
Oxidation-sensitive reactions: In the field of fine chemicals, many organic synthesis reactions are highly sensitive to oxygen. For example, in the process of drug synthesis, some active intermediates are easily oxidized. Taking the synthesis process of vitamin C as an example, some steps involve reducing intermediates. If oxygen is present, the intermediates will be oxidized, reducing the yield and quality of the product. The high-purity nitrogen (up to 99.999%) provided by the NEWTEK PSA nitrogen generator can be used as a protective gas to form an inert atmosphere above the reactor, effectively isolating oxygen and ensuring that the reaction proceeds as expected.
Polymerization reaction: In polymer chemicals, the conditions for polymerization reactions are relatively strict. For example, when producing plastics such as polyethylene, nitrogen can be used to remove oxygen from the reaction system. Because oxygen may trigger chain transfer reactions or make the initiator ineffective, thereby affecting the molecular weight distribution and performance of the polymer. By using the nitrogen provided by the PSA nitrogen generator, the reaction environment can be precisely controlled to obtain polymer products with stable performance and excellent quality.
Uses in chemical material storage and transportation
Liquid material storage: For some volatile and flammable chemical liquids, such as benzene, toluene and other organic solvents, nitrogen can be filled in the gas phase space of the storage tank during storage. This is because the vapor of these organic solvents may form an explosive mixture within a certain concentration range after mixing with air. Filling with nitrogen can reduce the oxygen content and prevent the risk of explosion. The PSA nitrogen generator can continuously supply nitrogen to ensure that the storage tank is always in a safe inert environment.
Solid material transportation: In the chemical industry, pneumatic conveying is sometimes used for the transportation of powdered or granular solid materials. For example, when transporting polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin powder, nitrogen is used as the conveying medium. Compared with air, nitrogen avoids oxidation of materials during transportation and also reduces the risk of static electricity, because the chemical inertness of nitrogen helps maintain the stability of materials and reduces the possibility of fire or explosion caused by oxidation or static electricity.
Role in equipment maintenance and safety assurance
Equipment purging: After the installation and maintenance of chemical equipment, or when the equipment is reactivated after a long period of inactivity, it is necessary to purge the inside of the equipment. For example, in chemical pipeline systems, impurities such as rust, welding slag, and oil stains may remain. Using nitrogen generated by a PSA nitrogen generator for purging can effectively remove these impurities. The high-speed flow of nitrogen can carry impurities out of the pipeline, and nitrogen will not react chemically with the materials in the equipment, ensuring the cleanliness of the equipment.
Replacement of flammable or toxic gases: In some chemical processes involving flammable gases (such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide) or toxic gases (such as chlorine, hydrogen sulfide), when it is necessary to replace process gases or perform equipment maintenance, the dangerous gases in the equipment must be replaced first. The nitrogen generated by the PSA nitrogen generator can safely replace these dangerous gases. By filling the equipment with nitrogen, the dangerous gases are gradually discharged, so that the gas environment in the equipment meets safety standards and prevents combustion, explosion or poisoning accidents during operation.