Atlas Copco introduces the NPH nitrogen purifier

Hertfordshire-based Atlas Copco has launched the new Nitrogen Purifier through Hydrogen (NPH), its latest innovation in industrial gas solutions. The NPH delivers efficiency improvements in on-site nitrogen generation, enabling businesses to produce high-purity nitrogen with significant reductions in energy use and costs. It has been designed to complement new and existing nitrogen generation systems.

These systems typically consist of a compressor to supply the feed air and a nitrogen generator which removes oxygen from the air, leaving only nitrogen. One of the key advantages of on-site nitrogen generation is that users can select the exact purity to meet the specific requirements of their application, typically up to 99.999% purity for PSA generators.

However, producing higher levels of purity requires significantly more energy, which is where the NPH nitrogen purifier revolutionises the process. By introducing two-stage nitrogen generation, the NPH boosts lower-purity nitrogen produced by a generator to a purity of 99.999% or more. It does this with hydrogen, which reacts with the residual oxygen in the nitrogen.

One of the stand-out advantages of the NPH is its ability to significantly reduce energy consumption. To produce high-purity nitrogen directly, generators need substantial compressed air to remove the final traces of oxygen. The NPH allows the generator to produce lower-purity nitrogen. This requires 40% less feed air, enabling smaller compressor and generator setups, lowering operational costs, and contributing to CO2 emission reductions. The NPH also offers a practical solution for facilities with electrical system limitations. When added on to an existing system, the NPH can effectively double nitrogen production capacity.

Fully automated operation
The NPH is equipped with Atlas Copco’s advanced Elektronikon Touch control, which automates hydrogen dosing and monitoring. This avoids hydrogen overuse without requiring manual intervention. It also features advanced safeguards, such as the feed nitrogen check and restore and the outlet nitrogen check and restore features. The first ensures consistent and reliable purifier operation, while the latter allows no ‘off-spec gas’ to reach the application. Furthermore, the NPH comes with automatic start-up and standby modes as well as overflow protection.

Ben John, Atlas Copco Compressors UK business line manager (Industrial Air), highlighted the NPH’s transformative impact on industries requiring high-purity nitrogen, such as laser cutting, metals heat treatment and soldering. He said: “The NPH is a game-changer for industries that work with high-purity nitrogen. Many are interested in on-site generation but have not implemented it because of energy costs, space constraints or electrical system limitations. A system with the NPH provides all the benefits of producing its own nitrogen while delivering significant operational savings.”

The NPH is available in a wide range of capacities, from 20 to 400 Nm³/h, making it suitable for industries with diverse nitrogen requirements, and is compatible with most nitrogen generators.