The use of nitrogen to inflate tyres is becoming more popular with modern tyre shops and car dealerships.

For the supply of nitrogen, so far the choice has been limited to the use of cylinders that need to be refilled continuously, or to a separate, freestanding membrane unit, requiring space and additional installation, and resulting in sub-optimal performance.

"Atlas Copco is the first company to introduce dual output compressors, bringing nitrogen and compressed air simultaneously to the modern tyre shop," says product manager Radboud Blom.

The GN range will consist of eight models. At present, 4kW, 7kW and 18kW units are available with several levels of nitrogen output for each unit. Nitrogen flow will start at 0.3 l/s (0.6 cfm) and go up to 9 l/s (18 cfm) with a purity of 95 %.

The Atlas Copco GN range of dual output compressors offers dry compressed air for air-operated tools.

Having dried the air prior to use, excessive wear and corrosion of pipelines, receiver and air-operated tools are reduced.

Essential for the future tyre shop and car dealership is the easy and continuous availability of nitrogen.

It is more reliable to produce nitrogen in-house using membrane technology than to wait for cylinder deliveries.

Atlas Copco uses unique membranes with the most efficient performance. Additionally the membranes are integrated inside the compressor unit, enabling optimal setting and control of pressure and air temperature at the inlet of the membranes.

The result is a higher output flow of nitrogen; minimal compressed air use for the generation of nitrogen, which both reduces energy bills and leaves more regular compressed air available for tools; a stable and predictable nitrogen flow and nitrogen purity.

The Atlas Copco GN dual output compressors are characterised by an integrated heater package. As well, the alignment of compressor and membranes eliminates excessive fluctuation of both inlet temperature and inlet pressure to the membranes, resulting in best performance.

Finally, the GN range is built on a modern compressor platform, comprising a screw compressor, an integrated refrigerant dryer and a dual pre-filter combination at the inlet of the membranes. n