Design AirNitrogen GeneratorsAir CompressorsLocation: GreenockIndustry: Food & BeverageCase StudyContact UsService: Energy AuditProduct: FiltersNew design preview

On-site gas generation

Atlas Copco nitrogen generators

Compared with delivered nitrogen bottles or bulk tank top-ups, on-site nitrogen generation can produce industrial gas at a fraction of the cost, using either spare capacity from your existing compressed air supply or a new standalone system.

Design Air helps you work out whether on-site generation is right for you, and how much you could save.

Contact an expertExplore the range
Atlas Copco nitrogen generation installation by Design Air
99.999%nitrogen purity available
up to 50%energy saving with VCS
3-60 mofinance options
~1.5yrtypical return on investment

Is it worth it?

How to tell if on-site nitrogen generation pays off

1. Work out your average nitrogen usage and flowrate
Total up the m³ of nitrogen used over a period (from your bills or bottle counts) and divide by the hours the gas was in use. For example, 2 x 146m³ bottle banks per week for a laser cutter, in use 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, equals 292m³ / (9hrs x 5 days) = 6.48m³/hr average usage.
2. Calculate your existing nitrogen supply costs

Review your supplier bills. The true cost usually includes more than the gas itself:

  • Nitrogen gas supply (cost per m³)
  • Rental of bottle banks or bulk storage
  • Delivery and transport fees
  • Order processing and environmental levies
  • Hidden waste, such as boil-off or returning cylinders with gas still in them

On the example above you could be looking at roughly £6,984 per month and £83,808 per year (accurate as of April 2024).

3. Specify a solution and find your return on investment
Send us your usage along with the purity and pressure your process needs, and we will specify and quote a suitable generator and estimate running costs. On the laser-cutting example at 99.99% purity we would recommend an Atlas Copco HPN2 Skid 7. Running costs of roughly £7,500 a year in electricity plus around £10,000 in service give £17,500 total, against an annual saving of about £66,308. That is a return on investment of around 1.5 years, or you can finance it and save from day one.

Why Design Air

Why choose us for on-site nitrogen

Feasibility study

We establish your average flowrate, whether a generator can hit your purity and pressure, your current spend, and how quickly you would see a return.

Pay monthly

Finance over 3 to 60 months. On suitable sites the monthly payment is lower than the cost saving, so you save from month one.

Expert installation and UK compliance

We make the whole installation, from compressor and treatment to generator and pipework, compliant with the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR), including the Written Scheme of Examination.

Service and maintenance plans

Comprehensive plans cover filter changes and sensor calibration with genuine Atlas Copco parts, preventing unplanned downtime and simplifying budgeting.

Lowest total cost of ownership

Atlas Copco generators have some of the lowest air-to-nitrogen ratios on the market, using less feed air than equivalents to produce the same flow.

The range

Our range of Atlas Copco gas generation solutions

Premium-efficiency and standard industrial units to match your flow, purity and budget.

Atlas Copco NGM membrane nitrogen generator

Membrane (NGM range)

Membrane nitrogen generation for steady industrial demand.

95-99.5% purity5.8-306.3 m³/hr
Key details
  • Purity range 95 to 99.5%
  • Flow range 5.8 to 306.3 m³/hr
  • Premium NGM+ series for higher efficiency
  • Compact NGMs series, ideal for replacing single cylinders

View brochures

Atlas Copco NGP PSA nitrogen generator

PSA (NGP range)

Pressure swing adsorption for high purity across a wide flow range.

95-99.999% purity5-1,499 m³/hr
Key details
  • Purity range 95 to 99.999%
  • Flow range 5 to 1,499 m³/hr
  • Industry-leading NGP+ with Variable Cycle Saver (VCS)
  • Up to 50% energy saving at reduced demand

View brochures

Atlas Copco HPN2 high pressure nitrogen skid

High pressure skids (HPN2)

All-in-one plug-and-play skids for high-pressure applications like laser cutting.

95-99.999% purity9.9-101 m³/hr40-300 bar
Key details
  • Purity range 95 to 99.999%
  • Flow range 9.9 to 101 m³/hr
  • Pressure up to 40-300 bar(g)
  • Compressor, dryer, filters, generator and booster in one skid

View brochures

Atlas Copco nitrogen generator with Elektronikon control24/7remote monitoring

Intelligent control

Automated control and remote monitoring

Atlas Copco generators are managed by the Elektronikon Touch controller, which optimises performance, monitors feed-air quality to protect the system, and verifies nitrogen purity in real time.

Every solution is compatible with SMARTLINK remote monitoring, so you (and us, with your permission) can check status 24/7 from any device. It enables proactive service and sends alerts before a fault leads to downtime.

Talk to an engineer
Atlas Copco nitrogen generation system

Free feasibility study

Find out what you could save

Tell us your nitrogen usage, purity and pressure. We will size a generator, estimate your running costs and show your return on investment, with no obligation.

Request a study01236 751922

Nitrogen generator FAQs

Common nitrogen generation questions

What are the benefits of on-site nitrogen generation?
  • Cost efficiency: produce gas on demand at a much lower cost per unit than bottles or liquid deliveries, with no rental or delivery contracts.
  • On-demand production: a constant, reliable supply with full control over flow and purity, no bulk storage and no risk of running out.
  • High-purity output: 95% to 99.999% purity to meet food, electronics and pharmaceutical standards.
  • Environmental sustainability: fewer deliveries and lower energy use than cryogenic separation cut your carbon footprint.
  • Space optimisation: compact units fit indoors or out, without dedicated cylinder storage.
  • Minimal maintenance: fewer moving parts and automated operation mean low upkeep, especially on a service plan.
What is a nitrogen generator and how does it work?
A nitrogen generator produces high-purity nitrogen from ambient air, an efficient and cost-effective alternative to cylinders or liquid nitrogen. Membrane and PSA systems separate nitrogen from the other gases in compressed air, delivering a continuous supply at the purity and pressure your process needs.
What is the life expectancy of a nitrogen generator?
A high-quality Atlas Copco nitrogen generator is built for long-term industrial use and, with proper service and maintenance, can last 15 to 20 years or more. Longevity depends on clean, dry feed air and sticking to a regular service schedule for filters and consumables.
What applications is a nitrogen generator used for?

Nitrogen is used across many industries, including:

  • Food packaging, to displace oxygen and create a modified atmosphere
  • Electronics manufacturing, as a shielding gas during soldering
  • Laser cutting, as an assist gas for clean cuts
  • Pharmaceutical, chemical and heat-treatment processes
What are the running costs of a nitrogen generator?

The main ongoing costs are:

  • Energy: electricity to run the air compressor, filtration and separation, the largest running cost.
  • Maintenance and service: periodic filter and consumable changes, kept low by efficient, reliable design.
  • Lifecycle cost: total cost of ownership over the lifespan, where Atlas Copco's low air-to-nitrogen ratio keeps energy use down.

Resources

Brochures and downloads

Membrane (NGM) brochures

NGM, NGM+ and NGMs

View brochures

PSA (NGP) brochures

NGP and NGP+ with VCS

View brochures

High pressure skids (HPN2)

Plug-and-play skid packages

View brochures

Request a free consultation

Ready to generate your own nitrogen?

Tell Design Air your usage, purity and pressure and we will specify the right generator, quote it and show your return on investment.

Contact us01236 751922