What is Nitrogen in Food Packaging?

One of the most common inert gases applied in the food packaging sector is nitrogen. It is essential in avoiding oxidation, microbial, and flavor spoilage. In modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), nitrogen is used to remove oxygen within the package to increase the shelf life of the product. Nitrogen generator for food packaging that create high-purity nitrogen as needed, which will lead to the elimination of reliance on gas cylinders and cost reduction in total operations.

Applications include:

• Packaging of snack foods (biscuits, nuts, and chips).
• Meat and poultry preservation and processing.
• Coffee and tea packaging
• Dairy foods, bakery, and ready-to-eat.
• Bottling and processing of beverages.

The principle of working of PSA Nitrogen Generator Technology

Most industrial nitrogen generators, which are applied in food packaging, rely on the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology.

Nitrogen production process by PSA

Supply of Compressed Air: Compressed air is filtered to eliminate oil, dust, and moisture.

Adsorption Phase: The treated air undergoes the twin adsorption vessel with carbon molecular sieves (CMS), which selectively adsorb oxygen and leave nitrogen through.

Desorption Phase: This is the stage in which one of the towers gives out the adsorbed oxygen as the other maintains the production of nitrogen, making it operate continuously.

Nitrogen Discharge: Nitrogen gas escapes at a purity level ranging between 95 and 99.999 percent based on the system set-up.

The process is maintenance-free and does not require batteries to produce nitrogen, which has guaranteed stability in the packaging of food products, particularly where a 24/7 production process is in effect.

The reason Nitrogen is a Necessity in Food Packaging

Nitrogen has been identified to have several key roles in food preservation technology, and therefore, it is a necessity in the modern packaging lines.

Inhibition of Rancidity and Color Changes: Oxygen is removed to inhibit rancidity and color changes.

Preservation Aroma and Flavor: Maintains the natural aroma and flavor of food products.

Long Shelf Life: Provides a regulated environment of long-term freshness.

Moisture Guard: Eliminates moisture spoilage.

Safe Transportation: Incorporates a cushion within the packaging and preserves the structure of the products.

Nitrogen is used in the packaging of snack foods as a protective coating, and it keeps the chips fresh. In coffee packaging, it seals the aroma by stopping the oxidation of oils.

The benefits of On-Site Nitrogen Generation

On-site nitrogen generator installation as a food packaging method has both economic and operational benefits as compared to nitrogen cylinders.

Key Benefits:

Purity Consistency, Nitrogen purity should remain at 99-99.999.

Cost Efficiency: Save 50 percent of cylinders gas refilling.

Sustainability: Minimize CO2 emissions through phasing out cylinder transport.

Unbroken Supply: The constant supply of gas means that there is no downtime.

Safety: No high-pressure cylinder handling and logistic problems.

The nitrogen generators available on-site at Vibrant are aimed at production over long-term requirements and operate in an energy-efficient fashion with minimal maintenance requirements and automatic purity checks.

Greenness and sustainability

The contemporary food industry is very concerned about energy conservation. Energy-efficient nitrogen generators are much more efficient in saving power through the use of intelligent system design.

Low Energy Consumption: Compressor integration is optimized to minimize the operating costs.

Green Packaging Technology: Boosts carbon reduction by means of the elimination of cylinder transportation.

On-Demand Production: Nitrogen is manufactured only when needed, and they are not wasted.

Renewable Integration: It is possible to use renewable sources of electricity to power the systems.

The features are in line with the global sustainability objectives of the food processing industry, and they assist the manufacturers in sustaining environmentally friendly operations.

Safety, Compliance, and Hygiene Standards

Vibrant nitrogen systems comply with the strict food safety compliance requirements, such as the ISO 22000, CE, and the FDA recommendations.

Each nitrogen generator of food grade:

• Design hygienic stainless steel.
• Piping and fittings that are leak-proof.
• Food-grade filtration units
• Automatic purity of nitrogen control.
• Low maintenance operation

These certifications will guarantee manufacturers that the nitrogen supply is in accordance with the international food packaging safety standards.

Food Packaging Vibrant Nitrogen Generator Systems

Vibrant is a designer and supplier of industrial Nitrogen generator for food packaging, meeting various packaging requirements in the beverage and food industry.

Our Key Product Line:

• PSA Nitrogen Generator Food Packaging.
• Nitrogen Generator System in Membranes.
• On-site Generating Skid of Nitrogen.
• Nitrogen Flushing Systems: Food Grade.
• Nitrogen Solutions that are custom to packaging automation.

All the systems are characterized by energy-efficient technology, PLC control panel, and a built-in oxygen gas analyzer to work optimally. Nitrogen generation skids can be used in small-scale food plants and also in large-scale production units.

VFD Air Compressor with Energy-Saving Technology

In order to supplement our nitrogen generation systems, Vibrant uses the VFD Air Compressor (JX-270AS-WEG) in the food packaging plants to enhance efficiency. Air Compressor VFD Energy Saving - JX-270AS-WEG has been designed to deliver the highest performance through the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) technology. This is an intelligent system that regulates the motor speed based on the demand in the air, thus giving an optimum power consumption and a long life span of the compressor.

Key Highlights:

Motor: WEG motor with a high level of efficiency and heavy-duty motors.

Control: Speed modulation intelligent VFD system.

Energy Saving: 30 percent of energy savings.

Application: Suited in the case of nitrogen generators during continuous food packing. Using JX-270AS-WEG compressors in combination with PSA nitrogen systems of Vibrant, manufacturers create the optimal performance, durability, and energy-saving balance.

Conclusion

With a competitive food manufacturing environment, the change to on-site nitrogen production has altered the manner in which companies approach the issues of preservation and packaging. Vibrant remains to provide sustainable, cost-effective, and compliant solutions to the food and beverage industry with PSA nitrogen generator technology, energy-efficient compressors, and fully automated systems. With the implementation of a combination of the latest nitrogen generator models and the use of VFD-induced air compressors, food producers obtain not only improved shelf life along with the quality of products, but also tremendous savings of energy and efficient work of the given equipment.