Membrane nitrogen · Hollow-fibre, made in India
Membrane nitrogen generators
A membrane nitrogen generator separates compressed air in bundles of hollow fibres: oxygen and water vapour pass out through the fibre walls, and dry nitrogen at 95–99.5% purity leaves at pressure. Gastek builds membrane systems up to 5,000 Nm³/hr, and PSA plants too, so the recommendation follows your duty.
- 95–99.5% nitrogen, dry, at up to 13 bar(g)
- Nitrogen as soon as air flows: no adsorbent beds, no cycling valves
- Filtration engineered in, because clean air decides membrane life
- Purity
- 95–99.5%
- Capacity
- To 5,000 Nm³/hr
- Pressure
- To 13 bar(g)
Since 1993
Gas generation plants designed and built in India
Membrane and PSA
Gastek builds both, so the recommendation follows the duty
Exported from India
Membrane systems for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
D-U-N-S 91-686-7372
ISO 9001:2015 quality management
How it works
How does a membrane nitrogen generator work?
There are no adsorbent beds and no switching valves. The separation runs continuously inside the fibres for as long as clean compressed air flows through them.
Grey is air, red is nitrogen, blue is the oxygen-rich gas leaving through the fibre walls.
01
Clean the air
A filter train takes out oil, water and dust before the modules. Feed-air quality decides how long the fibres last, so the filtration is part of the package.
02
Separate in the fibres
Air flows along the inside of thousands of hollow fibres. Oxygen, water vapour and CO₂ pass through the fibre walls faster than nitrogen and leave through the vent port.
03
Deliver dry nitrogen
What stays in the fibres leaves at the far end as nitrogen, dry from the start. The slower it moves through the fibres, the purer it comes out, so one system can be set to different purities.
Specifications
Membrane nitrogen generator specifications
Product ranges, not simultaneous guarantees: flow, purity, pressure and dew point are agreed together for each project.
Membrane nitrogen generator · specificationsRanges, agreed per project
Nitrogen
- Purity
- 95–99.5%, set by flow: slower through the fibres means purer nitrogen
- Capacity
- 1–5,000 Nm³/hr, from one module to a bank in parallel
- Pressure
- Up to 13 bar(g), a little below the feed-air pressure
- Dew point
- −40 °C; the water leaves with the oxygen
Package
- Feed
- Clean, oil-free compressed air, from your compressor or one Gastek supplies
- Start-up
- Nitrogen as soon as air flows; purity settles within minutes
- Separation
- Hollow-fibre modules; no adsorbent, no switching valves
- Format
- Skid-mounted: filters, membrane modules, instruments and controls
Purity
Where does membrane nitrogen fit?
Membrane covers 95–99.5%. Above that, a PSA plant makes the nitrogen, with Deoxo for ppm-level oxygen. Drawn in nines, so each step to the right leaves ten times less oxygen.
Gastek routes
Membrane
Compact; nitrogen as soon as air flows
95–99.5%
PSA
Higher purity; less air per Nm³ on continuous duty
95–99.999%
PSA with Deoxo
ppm-level oxygen
to 99.9999%
Typical duties
Tank blanketing
Membrane or PSA
95–99.5%
Food packaging
Membrane or PSA
97–99.5%
Wave soldering
PSA, or membrane at the low end
99.5–99.9%
SMT reflow soldering
PSA
99.9–99.99%
API reactors
PSA
99.9–99.999%
Typical ranges from Gastek's industry pages. Where a duty sits near 99.5%, compare membrane and PSA at your flow, hours and power tariff.
Technology selection
Membrane or PSA nitrogen generator?
Membrane wins on simplicity where 95–99.5% is enough. PSA wins on purity, and on air per Nm³ for large, continuous duties. Gastek builds both.
Choose membrane when
95–99.5% · compact, instant start
- Nitrogen purity of 95–99.5% suits the application
- Installation space is limited or the site is remote
- Immediate start-up and stop-start operation are required
- Minimal maintenance and silent running are priorities
Choose PSA when
95–99.999% · 1–5,000 Nm³/hr
- High-purity nitrogen, up to 99.999%, is required
- Large or continuous flows must be supplied economically
- Energy cost per Nm³ at higher purity is a priority
- Consistent purity across long production runs is essential
- Nitrogen is a core utility that runs around the clock
Applications
Where is membrane nitrogen used?
Wherever 95–99.5% holds the oxygen limit and a compact, simple package matters. Each duty links to its own page.
Membrane fit · 97–99.5%
Food packaging and beverages
Flushing snack and coffee packs, and blanketing wine, juice and edible-oil tanks, where the oxygen limit allows 97–99.5% nitrogen.
Nitrogen for food and beverageMembrane fit · 95–99.5%
Chemical tank blanketing
Blanketing solvent and storage tanks, purging lines and pressure transfer, where each vessel's oxygen limit allows membrane purity.
Nitrogen for chemical plantsMembrane fit · compact
Oil, gas and marine
Inerting, purging and blanketing on ships, offshore and at remote sites, where a compact skid with no adsorbent beds suits the space.
Nitrogen for oil and gasMembrane fit · stop-start
Tyre inflation
Dry nitrogen for tyre inflation in automotive, fleet and aviation service, for steadier pressure and less oxidation of the liner and rim.
Ask about tyre inflationMembrane fit · inerting
Fire prevention
Oxygen-reduction systems that hold archives, stores and enclosed spaces below the oxygen level a fire needs.
Ask about fire preventionStorage on membrane · soldering on PSA
Electronics
Component storage at 99–99.5% can run on membrane nitrogen. Wave and reflow soldering, at 99.5–99.99%, usually need PSA.
Nitrogen for electronics
Marine and offshore
Membrane nitrogen generators for marine and offshore use
Ships and offshore units are where membrane systems are most often chosen: compact, no adsorbent beds, and nitrogen as soon as the air flows.
| Vessel or site | What the nitrogen does | Why membrane |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical and product tankers | Blankets and inerts cargo tanks, and purges cargo lines between grades | Fits the engine room or deck house; runs on ship's air |
| LNG and gas carriers | Purges insulation spaces, lines and equipment before and after gas | Steady low-flow duty with nothing to cycle |
| Offshore platforms and FPSOs | Purging, blanketing and pressurising process and utility systems | Compact, low maintenance, no beds to settle under vibration |
| Ship repair yards and ports | Purges tanks and lines before hot work, and blankets storage | Skid or container format that moves between jobs |
A marine enquiry should state
- Vessel or unit type, and the duty: blanketing, inerting or purging
- Nitrogen flow, pressure, and the purity or oxygen limit the rules set
- The air available: ship's compressor capacity and quality
- Space and location on board, power supply and area classification
- The class society, if the equipment must be class-approved
Sizing
What sets the size and running cost of a membrane system?
Compressed air. A membrane uses more air than the nitrogen it delivers, and the ratio climbs with purity, so the compressor sets most of what the system costs to buy and run.
Send us
- Nitrogen flow, with the peak and what runs at once
- Purity, or the oxygen limit at the use point
- Pressure and dew point at the use point
- Hours a day, duty cycle and any backup
- Your compressed air: spare flow, pressure and quality
- Site location and the hottest ambient temperature
Ask every offer to state
- Air flow needed at your purity, pressure and air temperature
- Compressor power, and who supplies the compressor
- Number of membrane modules, and the flow each carries
- Purity at part load and on the hottest day
- The filter train and its element-change schedule
Ask for the purity you need, not the highest on offer
Every step up in purity costs air. Specify the oxygen limit your process actually has; where a duty needs more than 99.5%, Gastek will quote PSA instead.
Membrane nitrogen FAQ
Membrane nitrogen generator questions
What is a membrane nitrogen generator?
A membrane nitrogen generator makes nitrogen on site from compressed air. The air flows through bundles of hollow fibres; oxygen, water vapour and CO₂ pass out through the fibre walls, and dry nitrogen at 95–99.5% purity leaves at pressure. There are no adsorbent beds or switching valves, so the system is compact and starts with the air.
How does a membrane nitrogen generator work?
Filtered, oil-free compressed air enters the bores of thousands of hollow fibres. A thin dense layer on each fibre lets oxygen, water vapour and CO₂ through faster than nitrogen, so they leave through the module's vent port while the gas left in the fibres grows richer in nitrogen. Slowing the flow through the fibres raises the purity.
What purity can a membrane nitrogen generator achieve?
Gastek specifies membrane systems from 95% to 99.5% nitrogen. Higher purity from the same modules means less nitrogen and more air per Nm³. Above 99.5%, a PSA nitrogen generator is the better route, with a Deoxo purifier for ppm-level oxygen.
Should I choose a membrane or a PSA nitrogen generator?
Choose membrane where 95–99.5% suits the duty and a compact, simple package that starts with the air matters. Choose PSA for higher purity, up to 99.999%, and for large continuous flows, where it uses less air per Nm³. Gastek builds both and quotes the one that fits your flow, purity, hours and power tariff.
How much compressed air does a membrane nitrogen generator need?
More than the nitrogen it delivers, and more again as purity rises; air temperature and pressure change it too. Gastek states the air flow for your purity, pressure and site temperature in the offer, so the compressor can be sized and the running cost compared with cylinders, liquid nitrogen or PSA.
Can I use my existing air compressor?
Possibly. The compressor needs enough spare flow and pressure at the required air quality, after its other users are served. Gastek reviews the air supply when sizing the system, and adds filtration or a dedicated compressor where the existing one falls short.
How much does a membrane nitrogen generator cost in India?
The price follows the duty: nitrogen flow, purity, pressure, the air supply, filtration, controls and the scope of supply. Higher purity at the same flow needs more modules and more air. Send the duty and operating hours for a configured quotation with its running cost.
What maintenance does a membrane system need, and how long do the modules last?
Routine work is on the air side: filter elements, drains and instrument checks. The fibres have no moving parts. Module life depends mostly on feed-air quality and temperature: oil and liquid water are what damage the fibres, which is why the filter train matters.
Can membrane nitrogen be used on ships and offshore?
Yes. Membrane systems suit inerting, purging and blanketing on ships, offshore and at remote sites because they are compact and have no adsorbent beds. The package, materials and documentation are set to the project's rules.
Does Gastek export membrane nitrogen generators?
Yes. Gastek exports membrane nitrogen generators from India to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt and Bangladesh, with sizing, documentation, export packing and commissioning support.
Next step
Send your duty. Get the right system sized to it.
Share the flow, purity, pressure and the air you have. Gastek replies with a membrane system and the air it needs, or a PSA plant if that serves the duty better.
Gastek contact hoursMon–Sat, 9:00 am–6:00 pm IST
- Nitrogen flow, and the peak
- Purity, or the oxygen limit at the use point
- Pressure and dew point at the use point
- Your compressed air: spare flow, pressure and quality
- Hours a day, site location and ambient temperature