How nitrogen prevents fires, explosions, and product degradation in storage tanks containing flammable or oxygen-sensitive materials.
Tank blanketing (also called padding) is the process of maintaining a nitrogen atmosphere in the vapor space above a liquid in a storage tank. This inert nitrogen blanket prevents the formation of flammable vapor-air mixtures — eliminating fire and explosion risk.
Common applications:
Before commissioning, maintenance, or decommissioning of pipelines and vessels, nitrogen is used to purge (displace) hazardous or flammable gases. This is mandatory safety practice in the oil & gas industry.
Requirements: For Zone 1/2 hazardous areas, nitrogen generation equipment must be ATEX/IECEx certified. Mobile containerized PSA units allow field deployment directly at pipeline sites, replacing expensive cryogenic nitrogen truck rentals.
| Application | Storage Tank | Pipeline Purging | Reactor Inerting |
|---|---|---|---|
| N2 Purity | 98-99.5% | 98-99.9% | 99.5-99.9% |
| Flow | Based on tank volume and pump-out rate | 50-500+ Nm3/h (per purge) | Based on reactor volume |
| Key Cert | Standard CE | ATEX/IECEx (Ex) | Standard or GMP |