Beverage plants use nitrogen to keep oxygen away from the product: in bottles and cans, in storage tanks, in pipelines between batches, and in nitro beers and coffees. Most uses need 95–99.9% purity at only 2–3 barg. An on-site PSA nitrogen generator makes this for about ₹2.6 per Nm³ at 99.9%, against ₹15–30 for liquid nitrogen and ₹75–100 for cylinders.
This guide covers where nitrogen is used in beverage production, the purity and pressure each use needs, and how to supply it at the lowest cost.
Where nitrogen is used in beverage production
- Packaging and headspace flushing: nitrogen pushes oxygen and moisture out of bottles and cans before sealing. This stops oxidation and microbial growth, so taste and shelf life hold. Liquid nitrogen dosing also pressurises still drinks in thin-walled cans.
- Blanketing: a layer of nitrogen over wine, juice or beer in tanks and barrels keeps air away during storage.
- Purging: nitrogen clears pipelines, fillers and vessels of air, moisture and residual product before a new batch. See nitrogen in purging.
- Nitrogen infusion: nitrogen, alone or with CO₂, gives nitro beers and coffees their smooth, creamy head. See nitrogen in beer brewing.
- Dispensing: nitrogen or nitrogen–CO₂ mixes push draught beer and wine from keg to tap.
Why nitrogen and not another inert gas?
Argon and helium are also inert, but they cost far more to produce because they are rare in air. Nitrogen is 78% of the air, so it is by far the cheapest inert gas, and it can be made on site.
What purity and pressure do you need?
Food-grade nitrogen guidance (EIGA Doc 941) sets the standard for nitrogen in direct contact with food and drink, and 99.5% suits most beverage uses. Read food-grade nitrogen and EIGA Doc 941.
| Application | Typical purity | Typical pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Blanketing | 95–99% | 0.2–2 barg |
| Purging | 99–99.5% | 2–3 barg |
| Packaging and headspace flushing | 99.5–99.9% | 2–3 barg |
| Nitrogen infusion | 99.5–99.9% | 2–3 barg |
Nitrogen volume depends on the equipment, so always confirm it with the machine maker before sizing a generator.
Higher purity costs more
Ultra-high purity (99.99% or 99.999%) can be used, but beverage plants rarely need it. Every extra “9” needs more compressed air, and so more power:
| Nitrogen purity | Power (kWh per Nm³) | Cost per Nm³ at ₹8/unit |
|---|---|---|
| 95% | 0.22 | ₹1.76 |
| 99% | 0.30 | ₹2.40 |
| 99.9% | 0.33 | ₹2.64 |
| 99.99% | 0.60 | ₹4.80 |
| 99.995% | 0.80 | ₹6.40 |
| 99.999% | 1.06 | ₹8.48 |
| 99.9995% | 1.32 | ₹10.56 |
Specifying 99.9% instead of 99.999% cuts the cost of every Nm³ by more than two-thirds. Read understanding nitrogen purity in PSA nitrogen generators.
Nitrogen supply options compared
| Source | Cost per Nm³ |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen cylinders | ₹75–100 |
| Liquid nitrogen | ₹15–30 |
| PSA nitrogen generator (99.9%) | about ₹2.65 |
Why beverage plants choose PSA nitrogen generators
- At least five times cheaper than cylinders or liquid nitrogen.
- On-site supply: no deliveries, refills or vendor delays.
- Idle mode: beverage demand changes through the day, and the generator saves power when demand drops.
- Compact: takes less space than liquid nitrogen tanks.
- Food-grade gas: with proper filtration and dryers, PSA nitrogen meets the CO (≤10 ppm) and CO₂ (≤300 ppm) limits for food-grade nitrogen.
- Lower carbon footprint: no transport.
For payback against your current supply, read how to calculate the ROI of a PSA nitrogen generator or use the free ROI calculator.
Talk to us about your plant
See nitrogen generators for food and beverage or the compact nGENX. Email info@absstem.com or call 1800 547 0506.