What Is Compressed Nitrogen Used For?

Compressed nitrogen is used in industries for purging pipelines, inflating aircraft and vehicle tires, pressurizing systems, and preserving perishable products. It’s also essential in laboratories for sample preparation and in manufacturing for creating inert atmospheres during chemical processes.

In this guide, we’ll explore the major applications of compressed nitrogen across sectors, from food preservation to manufacturing and beyond.

WestAir supplies nitrogen across California and Arizona.

Food Preservation and Packaging

Compressed nitrogen plays a key role in extending the shelf life of packaged foods through a process called Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). By replacing oxygen with nitrogen in food packaging, manufacturers can significantly reduce oxidation and inhibit the growth of aerobic bacteria.

Potato chip bags and other snack packages are typically filled with nitrogen instead of air. This prevents the chips from becoming stale and protects them from crushing during transportation.

Nitrogen is also extensively used in beverage production. In beer and wine industries, it helps displace oxygen during bottling and kegging processes, preserving flavor profiles and preventing premature aging.

Finally, food manufacturers – including those in California’s agricultural heartland – rely on nitrogen systems to keep produce fresh during processing and distribution across the country.

Pharmaceutical and Medical Applications

The pharmaceutical industry depends heavily on compressed nitrogen for various critical applications. For example, drug manufacturers use it to create inert environments during production and packaging of oxygen-sensitive medications.

Nitrogen gas also helps extend the shelf life of pharmaceuticals by preventing degradation through oxidation. For sensitive compounds, this can mean the difference between a product lasting months versus years.

Medical device manufacturers use nitrogen during production to ensure components stay contaminant-free. This is especially important for implantable devices where even microscopic impurities could cause complications and put patients’ health at risk.

Manufacturing and Industrial Processes

In metal fabrication, compressed nitrogen serves as an assist gas for laser cutting applications. When cutting stainless steel or aluminum, nitrogen prevents oxidation on the cut edges, resulting in higher quality finished products.

Electronics manufacturers also use nitrogen atmospheres during soldering processes to prevent oxidation of components. This results in stronger, more reliable connections in circuit boards and electronic assemblies.

Nitrogen is essential in the production of light bulbs. By filling bulbs with nitrogen instead of oxygen, manufacturers prevent the filament from burning out prematurely.

In chemical processing facilities, nitrogen is used to purge systems and create inert atmospheres in tanks and pipelines. This prevents potentially dangerous reactions with oxygen, which is especially important when handling flammable materials.

Transportation and Specialty Applications

Many aircraft and performance vehicle tires are inflated with nitrogen instead of air. Nitrogen-filled tires maintain more consistent pressure due to nitrogen’s lower permeation rate through rubber and lack of moisture content.

Commercial aircraft flying in and out of California’s major airports rely on nitrogen-filled tires. They maintain more consistent pressure during takeoff and landing, enhancing safety and tire longevity.

Fire suppression systems often use nitrogen to effectively displace oxygen without leaving residue or causing environmental harm. Such systems are ideal for protecting sensitive equipment in data centers and server rooms.

Finally, nitrogen is used in enhanced oil recovery operations. By injecting compressed nitrogen into oil reservoirs, extraction companies can maintain pressure and displace oil toward production wells.

Explore Nitrogen’s Many Uses

Compressed nitrogen’s versatility makes it indispensable across industries. From preserving food freshness to enabling precision manufacturing, the gas keeps finding new applications as technology advances.

Understanding these diverse applications helps businesses identify opportunities to improve their processes through the strategic use of compressed nitrogen. As industrial technologies evolve, the demand for this essential gas will likely continue to grow.

Further Reading: 4 Interesting Facts about Nitrogen

Tyler O'Brien

Tyler is a results-driven marketing professional specializing in the industrial gases and equipment industry, bringing his 10 years of technical expertise and digital marketing acumen to the complex industrial gas B2B environment.