Nitrogen plays a vital role in numerous industrial applications, both traditional and relatively latest, one of them being nitrogen infusion in beer production. This article answers key questions about the use of nitrogen in brewing, covering its benefits, required purity levels, consumption, and cost-effectiveness compared to other gases.
What is Brewing?
Brewing is the process of producing beer by fermenting starch-rich grains. While fermentation is common to all alcohol production processes (such as winemaking), the main difference lies in the raw materials: winemaking uses fruits, whereas beer brewing relies on grains.
Why is Nitrogen Used in Brewing?
Nitrogen is ideal for brewing applications because of its inert, dry, and oxygen-free properties. These characteristics help preserve the taste, aroma, and overall quality of beer by preventing oxidation and contamination.
Key Benefits of Nitrogen in Brewing:
- Prevents Oxidation: As an inert gas without oxygen, nitrogen eliminates oxidation, thus preventing off-flavours or foul aromas.
- Tank Purging: Nitrogen is used to purge tanks and vessels before usage to eliminate oxygen and moisture, ensuring a contamination-free environment.
- Shelf Life Extension: Nitrogen displaces oxygen during packaging to extend the shelf life of the beer.
- Nitrogen Infusion (Nitro Beer): A modern technique that infuses nitrogen into beer to create a creamy, smooth texture with finer bubbles. This results in a product commonly called Nitro Beer.
- Cost-Effective and Abundant: With nitrogen making up 78% of the atmosphere, it is far more economical than other inert gases like argon or helium.
What Nitrogen Purity is Required for Brewing?
Nitrogen used in brewing typically requires purity levels between 99.5% and 99.9%, depending on the application. These purity levels ensure the gas remains inert and does not introduce any unwanted reactions during the process. To learn more, refer to our blog titled Understanding Nitrogen Purity in PSA Nitrogen Generators (1).
How Much Nitrogen is Required for Brewing?
Most nitrogen is used for purging tanks, and a general rule of thumb is: Nitrogen Required (Nm³) = Internal Volume of Tank × 5 Example: If a tank has a volume of 5 m³: 5 × 5 = 25 Nm³ of nitrogen required for purging. What is the Required Nitrogen Pressure for Brewing? The typical operating pressure of nitrogen in brewing ranges from 0.5 to 2 Barg, suitable for purging, blanketing, and infusion operations. Sources of Nitrogen for Brewing Breweries traditionally used nitrogen cylinders or liquid nitrogen tanks, but on-site PSA nitrogen generators are now preferred due to cost and convenience.
Cost Comparison by Source
| Source | Cost (₹/Nm³) | Max N₂ Pressure |
| Nitrogen Cylinders | 75–100 | Up to 200 Barg |
| Liquid Nitrogen | 15–30 | Up to 20 Barg |
| PSA Nitrogen Generator | 2.65 | Up to 250 Barg |
Read more in our blog, How to calculate the ROI (Return on Investment) of PSA Nitrogen Generator compared to Liquid Nitrogen or Nitrogen Cylinders (2)
Can High-Purity Nitrogen (99.99% or Higher) Be Used for Brewing?
Although possible, nitrogen purity levels beyond 99.9% are usually not required for brewing. Higher purities significantly increase energy consumption and operational cost due to the extra effort required to remove oxygen traces.
Cost vs. Purity Comparison
The table below shows how the increase in electricity consumption affects the cost of production of nitrogen at different purity levels, assuming the cost of electricity as ₹8/- per unit, as per our blog titled Understanding Nitrogen Purity in PSA Nitrogen Generators (1).
| Nitrogen Purity | Power (kW/Nm³) | Cost (₹/Nm³) |
| 95.0000% | 0.22 | 1.76 |
| 99.0000% | 0.30 | 2.40 |
| 99.9000% | 0.33 | 2.64 |
| 99.9900% | 0.60 | 4.80 |
| 99.9950% | 0.80 | 6.40 |
| 99.9990% | 1.06 | 8.48 |
| 99.9995% | 1.32 | 10.56 |
As the purity increases, the cost rises steeply. Matching the nitrogen grade to the brewing requirement for cost-effectiveness is important.
Why Are PSA Nitrogen Generators the Best Choice for Brewing?
Compared to traditional sources, PSA Nitrogen Generators offer several advantages:
- Compact Size: Takes up less space than bulk tanks.
- Fully Automatic: Features like auto-start/stop and IDLE mode make it ideal for inconsistent usage patterns.
- In-House Production: Removes dependency on third-party refills and irregular deliveries.
- Low Carbon Emissions: Eliminates logistics-related emissions.
- Lowest Cost per Nm³: Generates nitrogen at a fraction of the cost of cylinders or tanks.
More on this in our blog: Comparison of the Cost of Nitrogen Gas from Different Sources
Conclusion
Nitrogen is the gas of choice in brewing due to its inert characteristics, availability, and affordability. While cylinders and liquid nitrogen are still used, PSA nitrogen generators offer better cost-efficiency, autonomy, and environmental sustainability, making them the modern brewer’s best friend.
Consult Us
Need help choosing the right nitrogen system for your brewery? Our experts are here to assist.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1800 3010 3394
- Website: www.absstem.com
References
- Absstem Technologies. (2024). Understanding Nitrogen Purity in PSA Nitrogen Generators
- Absstem Technologies. (2024). How to calculate the ROI (Return on Investment) of PSA Nitrogen Generator compared to Liquid Nitrogen or Nitrogen Cylinders
