Many businesses across many industries need a reliable way to extract pure oxygen from the air around us in a fast, reliable, and cost-effective manner. In fact, it’s likely if you’re reading this article that you are connected to one of those industries. The good news for you is that there exists a growing base of technology that is facilitating oxygen extraction more effectively than ever. In this piece, we’ll compare VPSA vs. PSA to help you determine which one is right for your business.

1. What Is a VPSA Oxygen Generator?

A vacuum pressure swing absorption or VPSA oxygen generator is one of the more effective tools at extracting oxygen from the atmosphere around us.

The VPSA can extract oxygen from the ambient air stream by absorbing one of the most common elements in the air around us—nitrogen—thus producing a flow of purified oxygen. For higher volumes, the VPSA is very effective.

2. How Does a VPSA Oxygen Generator Work?

As one of the leading technologies in the oxygen generating space, VSPA technology is energy efficient and reliable.

VSPA deploys a molecular sieve called zeolite to extract the oxygen and does so at lower pressures.

It leverages vacuum pressures (differential between atmospheric pressure and absolute pressure generated by the vacuum blower) to induce oxygen and nitrogen (alongside other elements) separation.

Advantages of VPSA-Based Oxygen Generator Systems

As an onsite oxygen generator, a VSPA can often pay for itself within a year. It does this by being uniquely energy efficient, helping to keep your power bills low.

It also has a reputation for being reliable and robust, and it is less likely to experience downtime compared to other technologies. It’s also a user-friendly system, as it is easy to install and relocate as needed.

VPSA oxygen generators are an effective means of supplying high volumes of oxygen for large aquaculture, mining, and water treatment operations.

VSPA oxygen generators also have the following benefits for businesses:

• It starts up instantly and is highly efficient in meeting oxygen flow requirements
• Independent supply onsite of oxygen, freeing your business from dealing with third-party suppliers
• Runs automatically with remote monitoring, controlling, and communication capabilities, necessitating little oversight or management burden
• Provides purities of 93%
• Economically sized (easy to fit where needed)
• No need for transporting oxygen; on-site system for daily continuous use on demand
• Increased safety for employees
• Capacities from one metric ton per day to 100 tons per day
• Low cost of maintenance
• Safe
• Adjustable to you pressure and purity needs
• Lower operating costs compared to PSA type oxygen generators.

3. What Is a PSA Oxygen Generator Systems?

When it comes to the VPSA vs PSA debate, it’s important to note that the two systems operate in generally the same way, with a key difference: the vacuum stage of the process.

PSAs operate at much higher pressure points, which allows them to forgo the vacuum stage of the process.

VPSA, by contrast, don’t need that amount of pressure, compensating for its absence with the creation of a vacuum.

4. How Does a PSA Oxygen Generator Work?

As described above, it similarly uses a zeolite molecular sieve to separate oxygen out from nitrogen and other gases. Again, the difference here being that it does so at extremely high pressure, obviating the need for a vacuum.

As zeolite adsorbs nitrogen, a relatively pure stream of oxygen gas is left over as an end product, which can be used for process purposes. Oxygen purities as high as 95% can be attained.

5. Advantages of PSA-Based Oxygen Generator Systems

For VPSA vs. PSA comparisons, understand that both offer a similar variety of benefits. But specifically with PSA oxygen generators, you’ll get access to:

• An independent onsite supply of oxygen, which means freedom from the industrial gas supplier and their long-term contracts and ever escalating oxygen costs
• Fully automatic for on-demand operation
• Highly reliable
• Easy, low-cost maintenance
• Minimal space requirements
• Fast return on investment, with a typical ROI within 6 to 24 months
• Oxygen purities from 93% to 99%
• Oxygen flow capacities from 40 SCFH (1 m3/hr) to 4,000 SCFH (105 m3/hr)
• Oxygen discharge pressures to 75 psig (5.2 bar) without booster compressors
• High pressure systems to 2,500 psig (170 bar) available
• Turnkey systems engineered, assembled and installed to specification
• Touchscreen controllers with the following capabilities:
  • Oxygen analyzer
  • Air in pressure
  • Oxygen discharge pressure
  • Low oxygen purity alarm
  • Low oxygen pressure alarm
  • Maintenance advisory
  • Optional remote monitoring, controlling and communications capability
  • Optional oxygen flow monitoring
  • Optional off spec. gas vent

6. Applications of VPSA and PSA Oxygen Generators

There are many different applications for both VPSA and PSA oxygen generators, including:

Chemical manufacturing

• Gold mining
• Fish hatching/farming
• Aquaculture
• Wastewater treatment
• Aquaculture
• Brazing
• Ethanol production
• Ozone generation
• Sewage treatment
• Biogas production
• Glass furnaces
• Mining and smelting facilities
• Centralized oxygen supply for hospitals or veterinary clinics
• Room oxygen enrichment
• And more...

At Bangwingas, we specialize in the export of high-quality gas equipment, offering comprehensive one-stop solutions tailored to meet your unique requirements. Our commitment to excellence ensures that you receive reliable, efficient, and innovative products designed to enhance your operations. With a dedicated team of experts, we strive to provide exceptional customer service and support at every step. We invite you to reach out with any inquiries or requests for quotes, and experience the Bangwingas difference. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we look forward to serving your gas equipment needs.