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2.4 Air Separation
Air separation takes place in two membrane modules. Each module consists of bundles of
hollow fiber membranes. As the air passes through these hollow fibers, oxygen and water
molecules pass through the membrane wall at a higher rate than nitrogen molecules. This
differential permeation results in a high purity, dry nitrogen gas stream exiting the membrane
module. The oxygen enriched permeate stream is exhausted through a port on the membrane
module, at a very low pressure.
2.5 Final Filtration
The final filter on the generator is a Balston® Grade GS membrane filter. The final membrane
filter removes particulate contamination to 0.01 micron (absolute), and assures the user a
clean, commercially sterile supply of high purity nitrogen.
2.6 Controls
The flow controls integral to the Parker Balston Nitrogen Generator are comprised of an
operating pressure gauge, a flowmeter, a flow control valve, an outlet pressure gauge, and an
outlet pressure regulator (see Figures 1 and 2). Proper use of these controls will assure the
user of a 96% to 99.5% purity nitrogen outlet stream. The pressure gauges mounted on the
front panel measure operating pressure and outlet pressure. The outlet pressure regulator
allows the user to set the pressure of the emergent nitrogen process stream. The flow control
valve sets the flow rate of nitrogen exiting the membrane module. The scale on the flowmeter
is dimensionless. The operating pressure can range from 80 psig (5.5 barg) to 120 psig (8.3
barg). The flowmeter adjustment table, found in section 4.3, is used to convert the
dimensionless flowmeter reading to standard liters per minute, based on inlet air pressure.
Figure 2: Flow Schematic
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