Zhonghuipu PSAN-5 PSA Nitrogen Generator for Nitrogen Evaporation Systems

Overview

The Zhonghuipu PSAN-5 PSA Nitrogen Generator is an engineered solution designed specifically to supply high-purity, on-demand nitrogen gas for laboratory nitrogen evaporation systems—including but not limited to the PSAN series nitrogen blow-down concentrators. It operates on the well-established principle of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA), utilizing selective adsorption of oxygen, moisture, and CO₂ by a nitrogen-selective zeolite molecular sieve under elevated pressure, followed by desorption during depressurization. This cyclic, dual-tower architecture ensures continuous nitrogen production without interruption—enabling immediate delivery of stable, high-purity gas upon startup. Unlike membrane-based or cryogenic alternatives, the PSAN-5 delivers consistent purity across its full flow range (0–5 L/min), with optional configurations supporting up to 10 L/min for higher-throughput evaporation workflows. Its integrated oil-free Thomas compressor eliminates hydrocarbon contamination risk, while stainless-steel construction of critical components—including adsorption towers and buffer tanks—ensures long-term corrosion resistance and compliance with ISO 8573-1 Class 2 air quality standards for instrument-grade gases.

Key Features

• Dual-tower PSA system with optimized cycle timing and real-time pressure balancing for high nitrogen recovery efficiency and extended molecular sieve service life
• Imported high-performance nitrogen-selective zeolite molecular sieve, engineered for large dynamic adsorption capacity, mechanical stability, and resistance to attrition—further enhanced by proprietary packing technology to minimize powdering
• Integrated Thomas oil-free reciprocating compressor delivering clean, dry compressed air feed without lubricant carryover or maintenance-intensive filtration
• Two-stage coalescing water separation and dual-stage precision pressure regulation ensure stable outlet pressure (0–0.4 MPa) and eliminate pulsation-induced flow instability in sensitive evaporation applications
• Final-stage 0.01 µm absolute-rated particulate filter and −40 °C dew point guarantee meet stringent requirements for GC carrier gas, LC-MS mobile phase sparging, and inert atmosphere sample preparation
• Microcontroller-based control system with intuitive Chinese-language HMI, programmable runtime scheduling, and built-in fault diagnostics—including pressure deviation alerts, temperature anomaly detection, and sieve saturation estimation
• Comprehensive safety architecture: ASME-certified pressure relief valves, thermal cut-off switches, and automatic shutdown logic triggered by overpressure, overheating, or airflow obstruction
• RS232 serial interface enables remote monitoring, parameter logging, and integration into centralized lab gas management platforms compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 audit trail requirements

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The PSAN-5 is validated for use with nitrogen-dependent sample preparation workflows requiring inert, low-moisture, particle-free gas—particularly nitrogen blow-down concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticide residues, pharmaceutical actives, and environmental extracts. Its output meets ASTM D6299 criteria for instrumental gas purity in trace analysis and aligns with USP recommendations for inert gas qualification in compendial testing. All wetted materials conform to USP Class VI biocompatibility standards; stainless-steel contact surfaces comply with ASTM A240/A240M for 316L grade passivation. The unit is CE-marked per Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU. No external purification modules are required to achieve 99.999% N₂ at 2 L/min—making it suitable for GLP- and GMP-regulated laboratories where documentation of gas source integrity is mandatory.

Software & Data Management

While the PSAN-5 does not include proprietary cloud software, its RS232 interface supports direct ASCII protocol communication with third-party lab information management systems (LIMS) or building automation controllers. Users may log operational parameters—including real-time flow, outlet pressure, internal temperature, and cumulative runtime—via standard terminal emulation or custom Python/Node-RED scripts. The embedded diagnostic mode outputs structured error codes (e.g., “E03: Low Feed Pressure”, “E07: Sieve Saturation Threshold Exceeded”) compatible with automated alerting via email or SMS gateways. Audit-ready event logs—including power-on timestamp, scheduled shutdown records, and safety interlock triggers—are retained in non-volatile memory for ≥12 months, satisfying basic data integrity requirements under ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 7.7.

Applications

• Nitrogen blow-down concentration of liquid samples prior to GC-FID, GC-MS, or LC-MS/MS analysis
• Inert blanketing during solvent evaporation, lyophilization, and solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge drying
• Carrier gas supply for portable or benchtop gas chromatographs requiring ≤5 mL/min ultra-high-purity N₂
• Blank preparation and reagent stabilization in clinical toxicology and forensic chemistry workflows
• Gas purging of autosampler vials, headspace samplers, and purge-and-trap concentrators
• On-site nitrogen supply for field-deployable environmental monitoring kits requiring reliable, maintenance-light gas generation

FAQ

What nitrogen purity can be achieved across the full flow range?
At 0–2 L/min, the PSAN-5 consistently delivers ≥99.999% N₂ (O₂ ≤1 ppm, H₂O ≤3 ppm). Purity decreases gradually to 99.5% at maximum rated flow (5 L/min); optional high-flow configurations (8–10 L/min) maintain ≥99.9% with appropriate inlet air dew point conditioning.
Is external air drying required before feeding the generator?
No—integrated dual-stage water separation and −40 °C dew point output eliminate the need for external refrigerated dryers. However, ambient intake air must remain below 85% RH and free of oil aerosols or particulates >5 µm.
How often does the molecular sieve require replacement?
Under typical lab usage (8 h/day, 5 days/week), the sieve retains >95% adsorption efficiency for ≥20,000 operating hours (≈5 years). Replacement intervals are tracked automatically via the diagnostic system and reported as E07 warnings.
Can the PSAN-5 be integrated into a multi-instrument nitrogen network?
Yes—its stable 0.4 MPa output pressure and low-pressure drop design allow daisy-chaining to up to three parallel nitrogen-consuming instruments, provided total demand remains within configured flow limits and piping complies with ISO 8573-1 Class 2 specifications.
Does the unit support 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic records?
The RS232 interface enables raw data export for external validation; however, full Part 11 compliance—including electronic signatures and audit trail encryption—requires integration with a validated LIMS or ELN platform that manages the data lifecycle.