The company has joined hands with AIRCO to bring the German firm’s nitrogen generators – that work on the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology – to improve the efficiency of laser cutting machines.

 

The Bangalore based Magal Engineering Co India Pvt Ltd has partnered with AIRCO of Germany to bring its PSAL (Pressure Swing Adsorption for Lasers) technology, which produces high-purity nitrogen for laser cutting processes, to India. Magal provides the equipment after carefully studying the requirements of the customers and supports them all through with trained maintenance personnel. Nitrogen is a known and approved support gas for the laser cutting process. Nitrogen helps reduce oxidation of metal surfaces and provides for a faster, cleaner cut. This means the efficiency of the laser machine increases and therefore productivity. Laser manufacturers everywhere recommend using nitrogen gas at 4.5 level of purity for clean and fast cuts.

 

Laser cutting with Airco nitrogen generators

Using N2 during the laser cutting process can help in achieving precise, optimal cuts on metal, glass, and other materials as well. Nitrogen keeps oxygen away from the cut, preventing oxidation of the metal which leads to discoloration, scorching, and burning. This gives a clean cut reducing post cut process issues. If the post cutting operations include coating or painting, N2 assisted laser cut material will be better suited as they have no oxidation or burning.

 

Additionally, materials that are laser-cut with nitrogen are more likely to pass the bend test after welding.A continuous supply of consistently high purity N2 is required for continuous production and consistent quality of cuts. This is where N2 generators play a crucial role.

 

Benefits of using Airco nitrogen for laser cutting

Nitrogen being an inert gas is not flammable and doesn’t react with the laser beam or the cut surface. This makes it ideal for use with laser cutting machines as well as welding machines.

 

A few of the benefits of using a nitrogen generator during the laser cutting process:

Germany’s AIRCO has developed PSAL technology that can produce high purity nitrogen in an economical manner for addressing all the requirements of laser cutting. 

 

Magal joins hand with AIRCO to bring PSAL in India 

The nitrogen generators from AIRCO, brought to India and South East Asia by Magal, works on the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology. This technology results in output of very high purity nitrogen that is required for the efficiency of laser cutting machines.

PSAL is a green technology as it uses compressed air for producing high purity N2, and the by products are water vapour and oxygen gas. This technology is safe and robust and is very cost efficient when it comes to maintenance. No special raw materials are required either as it generates N2 from compressed air.

 

What is PSA technology?

Pressure swing adsorption technology is a safe and reliable method for generating high purity Nitrogen gas on location for a variety of industries requiring N2 in their applications. A PSA system is environmentally safe as it is a green system. 

Nitrogen makes up 79 per cent of the air we breathe, so there is an unlimited source right at the fingertips waiting to be tapped to save 80-90 per cent of the current annual nitrogen costs.

 

PSA technology driven nitrogen generators give the user the ability to achieve extremely high purities to 99.9995 per cent or 5 PPM. The PSA process is a physical process and uses no chemicals. The advantage is the annual consumables costs are low and minimal strain on the equipment and filter media ensuring a long life of the equipment with minimal cost. It is possible for a PSA nitrogen generator to function efficiently for many years. PSA generators can supply any amount of continuous nitrogen product, depending on the requirements and design.

 

How does this work?

PSA generators use a carbon molecular sieve (CMS) material inside a vessel that is pressurised with incoming air. The O2, CO2, CO and other gas molecules present in the supplied compressed air are captured or ‘adsorbed’ in the CMS while the N2 molecules are led into a nitrogen receiver tank. The O2, CO2, CO and other gas molecules are flushed from the CMS by reducing pressure in the sieve bed and the vessel is ready for new air to be introduced.

 

When two CMS vessels are used, one is pressurised with air while the other remains depressurised. Once the first tank is filled with air, the sieve bed is depressurised and the second CMS vessel is supplied with air. This way the second vessel is pressurised. This alternating swing in the vessel pressure keeps the N2 gas flowing into the receiver continuously.

 

The contents of air which is a mixture of gasses are separated when all gasses other than N2 adsorb to the CMS.AIRCO nitrogen generators from Germany are PSA technology generators which are both reliable and economical. Nitrogen generators are built to the highest quality standards that ensure long working lifespans with minimal service requirements. AIRCO systems are robust, efficient, consistent high quality performance and energy efficient. Additionally, the system and technology are totally environment friendly as no chemicals are used in the PSA process. By products are water vapour and oxygen which are let out to the atmosphere.