UHP nitrogen generator NITROBERG®

ultra high-purityhigh-puritylaboratory

Overview
NITROBERG® nitrogen generators produce nitrogen on site from compressed air for laboratory applications at grades from 97 % up to 99.999 % (grade 5.0). They are suitable for feeding LC-MS, GC, TGA, blowdown evaporators, gloveboxes, multigas incubators and blanketed sample storage. Typical outputs across the NITROBERG® range run from 1.2 to 1,709.1 Nm³/h.

Key performance figures

• Maximum purity: up to 99.999 % (grade 5.0), residual O2 from 10 ppm at grade 5.0
• Smallest NITROBERG® at grade 5.0: 20 L/min
• Nitrogen output across range: 1.2 to 1,709.1 Nm³/h
• PED conformity: PED 2014/68/EU (conformity assessed, notified body NB 2912)

What a laboratory nitrogen generator delivers
Nitrogen supply for multiple instrument types, with continuous output by PSA (pressure swing adsorption) technology using carbon molecular sieve. PSA separates nitrogen from compressed air: one sieve bed produces while the other regenerates, allowing continuous supply. PSA reaches up to 99.999 % in practice and is the technology for GC carrier gas, GC-MS, ICP-MS collision/reaction gas and TGA inert atmospheres. Membrane systems are compact and suitable where up to about 99.5 % is sufficient.

Which laboratory instruments need which nitrogen purity (table)
Instrument | Typical grade | What the nitrogen does | Drives
LC-MS | 99 % to 99.5 % | Nebuliser, drying and curtain gas | Volume
GC with FID (flame ionisation) | 99.999 % | Carrier and make-up gas | Purity
GC with ECD (electron capture) | 99.999 % and above | Carrier gas for an oxygen-sensitive detector | Purity
GC-MS | 99.999 % | Carrier gas | Purity
ICP-MS | 99.999 % | Collision and reaction gas, auxiliary gas | Purity
TGA | 99.999 % | Inert atmosphere in the balance chamber | Purity
Blowdown evaporators, sample prep | 95 % to 99 % | Solvent removal | Volume
Glovebox | 99.99 % and above | Protective atmosphere | Purity
Multigas incubator | 99.5 % | Displacing oxygen to a set concentration | Neither, low draw
Blanketed sample storage | 99.5 % | Headspace protection for standards and reagents | Neither, low draw

Air factor (compressed air required per m3 N2) by purity (table)
Purity | Air factor
97 % | 2.3
98 % | 2.3
99 % | 2.6
99.5 % | 2.9
99.9 % | 3.4
99.99 % | 4.6
99.995 % | 5.2
99.999 % | 6.4

NITROBERG® sizes for laboratory duty (typical figures at grade 5.0 and 99.9 %) (table)
Model | N2 at 99.999 % | Approx. | N2 at 99.9 % | Compressed air at 99.999 %
NITROBERG® 500 | 1.2 Nm³/h | 20 L/min | 4.1 Nm³/h | 7.7 Nm³/h
NITROBERG® 600 | 2.2 Nm³/h | 37 L/min | 7.4 Nm³/h | 13.8 Nm³/h
NITROBERG® 700 | 3.4 Nm³/h | 57 L/min | 11.5 Nm³/h | 21.5 Nm³/h
NITROBERG® 800 | 4.8 Nm³/h | 80 L/min | 16.4 Nm³/h | 30.7 Nm³/h
NITROBERG® 900 | 7.4 Nm³/h | 123 L/min | 25.3 Nm³/h | 47.3 Nm³/h
NITROBERG® 1000 | 10.1 Nm³/h | 168 L/min | 34.4 Nm³/h | 64.5 Nm³/h

Sizing guidance (practical steps)

• 1. List instruments and their consumption in litres per minute, taken from each instrument manual.
• 2. Set the purity to the highest requirement among the instruments that will share the supply.
• 3. Add simultaneity (which instruments run at the same time) and headroom for future analysers.
• 4. Check compressed air implications by multiplying nitrogen demand by the air factor for the chosen purity; if no building compressed air network exists, an integrated skid-mounted package provides compressor, treatment, storage and control.

Operational trade-offs and recommendations
Centralised single-source supply reduces multiple service visits and spare parts but means all users pay the compressed-air cost of the highest purity required and introduces a single point of failure; buffer vessels and reserve cylinders are common mitigations. A split supply (high-purity central line for analytical instruments and separate lower-purity line for high-volume consumers) is often economical.

Benefits / Advantages

• High N2 purity up to 99.999 % (grade 5.0) suitable for GC, GC-MS, ICP-MS and TGA
• Predictable running costs tied to electricity and compressed air consumption (air factor)
• Standardised, off-the-shelf wear parts (filters and consumables)
• Range covers bench to laboratory building (1.2 to 1,709.1 Nm³/h)
• Engineering and manufacturing: Made in Germany; PED conformity assessed (PED 2014/68/EU, NB 2912)

Technical specifications

• Product family: NITROBERG® nitrogen generators
• Purity range: 97 % to 99.999 % (grade 5.0, residual O2 from 10 ppm at 99.999 %)
• NITROBERG® range output: 1.2 to 1,709.1 Nm³/h
• Smallest unit (grade 5.0): 20 L/min
• Air factor (compressed air per m³ N2): 2.3 (97–98 %) up to 6.4 (99.999 %)
• Representative models and outputs at grade 5.0 and 99.9 %: NITROBERG® 500–1000 (see table above)
• Technology: PSA with carbon molecular sieve
• Pressure equipment conformity: PED 2014/68/EU (notified body NB 2912)
• Manufacturer / brand: BERG GaseTech
• Warranty: standard three years, up to five with service contract (documentary confirmation required)