COmPRESSEd AIR
BCAS URGES INdUSTRy TO CONSIdER NITROGEN AS AN AlTERNATIVE TO CO2
nitrogen generation, to help mitigate the risk T
ensure power is not being wasted. For example, integrating Brillopak cells with electronics up the line helps to pre-empt bottlenecks, address production lags and respond instantly. If no products are coming off the bagging machines down the line, idle conveyors stop. Sustainability is a never ending cycle of
improvements, notes the self-professed eco- engineer. “At Brillopak, every action makes a difference. We have a duty to examine all direct and indirect emissions. Applying the concept of the circular economy that everything has a value, we always use tried and tested energy-efficient components in every build,” says Newman. Conveyors used in Brillopak cells, for
example, are sourced from a company that only includes motors, inverters and mechatronic drives with optimised energy efficiency. likewise, the company optimises the payload/arm weight ratio to maximise efficiency. Automating tasks like case loading and palletising has long been presented as a solution to boost productivity and efficiency and address labour shortages. The same pressure is on for compressed
air systems. As an integral part of the manufacturing process they are unlikely to disappear any time soon. yet, as Brillopak has uncovered, there are more sustainable options to reduce the psi which in turn reduces energy consumption.
Brillopak
www.brillopak.co.uk
of CO2 gas shortages in the future. Recent news reports have focused on
the impact that the rise in wholesale gas prices is having on the production of carbon dioxide. This is an essential gas used in the drinks industry for soft drinks and some beers, and in packaging to extend the shelf life of fresh food products. Although the Government has introduced
emergency support measures to ensure ongoing production at CF Industries’ Teeside
and Cheshire fertiliser plants, where CO2 is produced as a by-product, supply chain issues remain, which are leading to some shortages in shops and a rise in food prices. However, in several applications, nitrogen
gas, which can be generated as part of an existing compressed air installation, can be used in place of carbon dioxide. Vanda Jones, executive director at BCAS explains why operators may want to consider alternatives to carbon dioxide, which can help to lower operating costs and ease supply chain issues. Jones says: “Our manufacturing members
have been promoting the benefits of on-site nitrogen generation for several years now - and the recent carbon dioxide supply issue, coupled with the numerous opportunities where nitrogen can be used safely in place of
CO2 make this an ideal time for food producers to look at alternative solutions. “As an inert gas, nitrogen can be used in
place of carbon dioxide in smaller breweries, to remove oxygen when purging tanks, thus preventing oxidation and contamination. It can also be used for clean in place (CIP) pipework and vessel purging, for assisted
he British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) is urging food producers to consider the benefits of on-site
filling to increase process speed and during bottling to help extend shelf life. “Elsewhere in the food processing industry,
modified atmosphere packaging is used to replace oxygen with nitrogen, significantly slowing down the process of decay by inhibiting oxidation and the growth of microbes. “Unlike carbon dioxide, nitrogen can be
produced cost-effectively as a by-product of the air compression process, which can reduce the cost of bought-in gas, in cylinders or in bulk, by as much as 90 per cent. Compatible with standard industrial compressor systems, many manufacturers now offer nitrogen generators, in which pre- treated air is filtered, and the oxygen, water and carbon dioxide removed. This leaves pure nitrogen, which can be captured at source, and reused for other processes. “With only minimal investment in an on-
site nitrogen generator, this process enables companies to match their production to help meet gas demand, providing greater control over the volume of gas required. “With some customers of BCAS members
quoting pay-back periods of as little as one year when replacing bough-in cylinders with an on-site nitrogen generator, it is certainly worth speaking to your supplier to discover whether nitrogen gas could offer an
alternative to an existing CO2 supply. “Not only could this help improve on-site
productivity and ease the logistics of gas storage, but with forecasters predicting that energy prices will continue to rise, it could help to mitigate against future supply-chain issues too.” Food producers keen to learn more about
on-site nitrogen generation can contact their BCAS supplier for further information.
BCAS
www.bcas.org.uk
FACTORy&HANdlINGSOlUTIONS | OCTOBER 2021 47
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
