Products
Nitrogen Generator York: On-Site Gas Generation for Industry
When bought-in nitrogen starts controlling your production schedule, on-site generation deserves a proper assessment. Search Air, Atlas Copco Premier Distributor, specifies, installs and maintains nitrogen generator systems for industrial sites in York and the surrounding area.
We match the equipment to your required gas quality, flow, pressure and operating pattern. Search Air has been an Atlas Copco Premier Distributor since 2002.
A Nitrogen Generator Specified for Your York Site
The generator must fit the process. An oversized system ties up capital and compressed-air capacity. An undersized system can fall short when demand peaks.
York’s economic strategy identifies rail technology, biotechnology and related innovation as important parts of the local economy, according to York’s economic strategy. That context does not determine a nitrogen specification. The actual process requirement does.
Our range of nitrogen and oxygen generators supports different flow and gas-quality requirements. We assess the complete system rather than selecting a generator from a headline output figure.
What Our Assessment Covers
Both membrane and pressure swing adsorption systems require a suitable supply of clean, dry compressed air. We therefore check the compressed-air installation alongside the nitrogen demand.
The assessment covers:
- Required nitrogen purity or residual-oxygen limit
- Continuous flow and short-duration peak demand
- Required outlet pressure
- Hours per shift and operating days
- Existing compressor capacity and air treatment
- Installation space, ventilation and distribution pipework
These details also determine whether on-site generation offers a practical advantage over cylinders, dewars or bulk supply. Our guide to the benefits of on-site nitrogen generation explains the operational case in more detail.
Choosing Between PSA and Membrane Generation
Membrane generation is generally considered for moderate-purity duties. Pressure swing adsorption, or PSA, is considered where the process needs higher purity or a tighter residual-oxygen limit. Atlas Copco’s nitrogen-generation guidance explains that PSA uses alternating vessels filled with carbon molecular sieve, while membrane systems separate gases through hollow fibres.
That is a first-pass distinction, not a final equipment recommendation. Flow profile, inlet-air condition, operating pressure and the measured gas specification can change the answer. A membrane system that suits one production line may be unsuitable for another line handling a different product.
We set out the reasoning behind our recommendation so production, engineering and procurement teams can assess the same specification.
Installation, Air Treatment and Safety
A nitrogen generator cannot correct poor inlet air. Moisture, contamination or insufficient compressed-air capacity must be addressed before the generator can deliver the agreed output consistently.
We can provide the compressed-air assessment, air treatment, generator installation and ongoing service as one coordinated project. Our wider air compressor services in York allow us to check the equipment feeding the generator rather than treating it as a separate utility. Our factory-trained engineers use genuine Atlas Copco parts where required.
Nitrogen also needs careful handling. The HSE’s guidance on asphyxiation hazards warns that nitrogen can displace oxygen and create an asphyxiation risk. Ventilation, monitoring and other controls must follow the site risk assessment and reflect where nitrogen could escape or accumulate.
Is On-Site Generation the Right Fit?
On-site generation is most relevant where nitrogen use is regular enough to justify dedicated equipment and the site can provide suitable compressed air. It can reduce dependence on scheduled deliveries and give the production team direct control over availability.
Delivered gas may remain the better option for low or irregular demand. The decision can also change when future production volumes, peak flow or purity requirements are uncertain. We will identify those points before recommending equipment.
Request a Nitrogen Generator Assessment in York
Send us your current nitrogen specification, flow rate, operating hours, outlet pressure, supply method and compressor details. We will assess the requirement and prepare a proposal covering the generator, air treatment, installation and maintenance.
Our proposal uses clear, agreed pricing. Any work outside the agreed scope will be identified and quoted separately. Contact Search Air to arrange a nitrogen generator assessment for your York site.
Do you want to create your own nitrogen?
Contact us

