Truck Terminal Combined Instrument Air / Nitrogen Generation Package
Central Air Equipment (CAE) designed an integrated instrument air and nitrogen generation package for an industrial facility, combining two originally separate systems into one turnkey building package. The engineered solution met the project’s compressed air and nitrogen requirements while identifying approximately $40,000 CAD in potential project savings.
Project Specifications
Application: Industrial Instrument Air & Nitrogen Generation
Instrument Air: 112.7 SCFM at 110–120 PSIG
Air Quality: -70°C Pressure Dew Point
Nitrogen Capacity & Purity: 7.7 SCFM at 99.90% purity
Nitrogen Pressure: 80 PSIG
Configuration: Integrated Turnkey Building Package
The Challenge
The original project design called for separate instrument air and nitrogen generation skids, along with a custom 1,200 USG low-MDMT air receiver.
This receiver would have required a dedicated concrete foundation, separate freight, crane equipment, and additional on-site installation costs.
CAE identified an opportunity to simplify the system design while maintaining the required air storage capacity and meeting the facility’s operating specifications.
CAE’s Solution
Rather than supplying two separate skids, CAE proposed a combined instrument air and nitrogen generation package, with the compressed air system sized to support both plant air demand and nitrogen generator feed air requirements.
CAE also recommended replacing the custom 1,200 USG receiver with three commercially available 400 USG vertical receivers connected in series.
This alternative storage configuration offered approximately $40,000 CAD in estimated savings by avoiding the costs associated with the custom vessel, foundation work, freight, crane requirements, and installation.
Equipment & System Configuration
The completed package included:
- Air Compressors: Two Kaishan KRSD40-125 rotary screw compressors in lead/standby configuration.
- Wet Air Storage: One 240 USG receiver sized for dryer purge air demand.
- Air Treatment: Walker PD0220 heatless desiccant dryer with pre-filtration and after-filtration, delivering a -70°C pressure dew point.
- Dry Air Storage: Three 400 USG vertical receivers connected in series (1,200 USG total).
- Nitrogen Generation: Noxerior Nitroswing NS-14 PSA nitrogen generator supplied by the instrument air system.
- Nitrogen Storage: One 60 USG buffer vessel for off-spec gas recirculation and one 400 USG nitrogen receiver.
The Result
CAE delivered an integrated system design that combined instrument air production, drying, storage, and nitrogen generation into a single turnkey package.
By evaluating the original specifications and recommending a more practical storage configuration, CAE helped reduce projected installation costs while maintaining the required system capacity and operating parameters.
Need an Engineered Compressed Air or Nitrogen System?
From standalone equipment packages to fully integrated turnkey systems, CAE can help evaluate your requirements and develop a solution for your application.