Laboratory research demands precision, efficiency, and consistency. Behind every groundbreaking discovery are researchers who depend on reliable access to essential resources like nitrogen gas. Yet one persistent challenge continues to plague labs across universities and research institutions: managing nitrogen cylinders. Based on interviews with experienced laboratory professionals, we've uncovered why nitrogen generators are becoming the preferred solution for forward-thinking research facilities.
The Unforeseen Costs of Nitrogen Cylinders
The traditional approach to nitrogen supply in laboratories involves heavy, cumbersome gas cylinders that require regular replacement and create significant logistical challenges. While seemingly straightforward, this method introduces numerous inefficiencies and hidden costs that impact research productivity.
The Physical Burden of Cylinder Transportation
"At Purdue I had to push the tanks from one building to another building, which was not very close to each other. And Purdue is in Indiana, so in summer it is very hot. In the winter, you can have a lot of snow and it's very cold," shares one researcher, highlighting the physical demands of cylinder transportation. This firsthand account illustrates the often-overlooked physical labor required to maintain nitrogen supply. Research professionals, regardless of their physical capabilities, must move these heavy cylinders across campuses in all weather conditions, creating safety risks and consuming valuable research time.
For many labs, this transportation challenge isn't merely an inconvenience—it's a significant operational hurdle. The physical movement of cylinders requires specialized material handling equipment and proper training to prevent injuries. When elevators malfunction or weather conditions deteriorate, research activities can come to a complete standstill, directly impacting project timelines and scientific progress.
Inventory Management Nightmares
Beyond the physical challenges, nitrogen cylinder management creates administrative burdens that drain resources and create frustration. "We had the sign in and sign out sheet...The issues I find are sometimes our material handling equipment...they forget, or they don't think about their neighbor and we only have so many pieces of material handling equipment," explains another lab professional. This comment reveals the constant struggle to track equipment and maintain accurate records in busy laboratory environments.
The inventory challenges extend beyond internal tracking. As cylinders move between buildings and departments, accurate accounting becomes nearly impossible. "I found out...some of these compressed cylinders...would go on these fabulously smooth sidewalks from one building to another...they got counted towards the other buildings inventory," notes one interviewee. This cross-departmental movement leads to billing discrepancies and requires time-consuming physical inventories that can "lose about a day and a half" of productive time.
Interruptions to Research Continuity
Perhaps most concerning for researchers is how cylinder-based nitrogen supply can unexpectedly halt scientific progress. "When the elevator broke, then there is no research or if need to refill the liquid nitrogen there, you have to put a pause in the research," explains one scientist. These unplanned interruptions create cascade effects, potentially compromising experiments, delaying results, and wasting prepared samples or reagents.
For labs with continuous processes or time-sensitive experiments, these interruptions represent more than inconvenience—they can jeopardize research outcomes and waste valuable resources. The dependency on external delivery schedules further compounds this problem, leaving researchers at the mercy of suppliers for this essential laboratory resource.
The Nitrogen Generator Solution
The challenges of cylinder-based nitrogen supply have driven innovation toward more efficient, sustainable alternatives. On-demand nitrogen generators are emerging as the preferred solution for modern laboratories seeking to eliminate these persistent headaches.
On-Demand Gas Production
Nitrogen generators produce laboratory-grade nitrogen gas on site, precisely when needed. This on-demand approach eliminates dependency on external deliveries and provides consistent, reliable access to nitrogen regardless of weather conditions, supplier schedules, or equipment failures elsewhere in the facility. "The gas on demand. I just...I have a picture of it. This I love...this to me is the picture of serenity and peace," shares one enthusiastic laboratory professional.
This continuous availability ensures research continuity without interruptions. Experiments can proceed as planned, sensitive processes remain unaffected by supply issues, and researchers can confidently schedule their work without concern for nitrogen availability. This predictability alone delivers significant value to laboratory operations.
Elimination of Transportation Challenges
By generating nitrogen on site, laboratories completely eliminate the need to transport heavy cylinders between buildings. This immediately removes safety risks, reduces labor requirements, and eliminates weather-related complications. The physical space previously occupied by cylinder storage becomes available for more productive purposes, and the equipment used for cylinder transportation can be reallocated or eliminated.
For multi-building campuses or facilities with challenging layouts, this benefit is particularly significant. Researchers no longer need to coordinate cylinder movements, maintain handling equipment, or navigate weather challenges to maintain their nitrogen supply. The physical burden is completely eliminated, allowing researchers to focus on their scientific work.
Simplified Inventory Management
Perhaps the most appreciated benefit for laboratory managers is the elimination of complex inventory tracking systems. With on-site generation, there are no cylinders to count, no rental fees to track, and no cross-departmental confusion about equipment location. "I just want to put a plug in people write this into your write this into your research grants, ask for it in your startup package, do whatever you got to do," advises one laboratory manager who has experienced the benefits firsthand.
This simplification reduces administrative overhead, eliminates time-consuming physical inventories, and removes the frustration of searching for missing equipment. Laboratory managers can redirect this time and energy toward more valuable activities that support research objectives rather than managing gas supplies.
Environmental and Economic Sustainability
On-demand nitrogen generation represents a more sustainable approach both environmentally and economically. By eliminating the transportation and logistics associated with cylinder delivery, laboratories reduce their carbon footprint while simultaneously reducing long-term operational costs. "So yes, this was the goal was really to be little bit more sustainable and to cut all of these other stuff," notes one researcher.
While the initial investment in a nitrogen generator may exceed the cost of several cylinders, the long-term savings accumulate quickly. Laboratories eliminate cylinder rental fees, delivery charges, and the hidden costs of administrative time spent managing inventory. For many facilities, the return on investment becomes apparent within months of installation.
Implementing Nitrogen Generators in Your Laboratory
The compelling benefits of nitrogen generators make them an attractive solution for laboratories of all sizes. For research institutions considering this technology, several implementation approaches have proven successful.
Securing Funding and Support
As one experienced laboratory professional advises: "write this into your research grants, ask for it in your startup package, do whatever you got to do." This practical guidance recognizes that while nitrogen generators deliver long-term savings, they do require initial capital investment. Incorporating this equipment into grant proposals, startup packages, or capital improvement budgets allows laboratories to access the benefits without straining operational budgets.
Many institutions find that framing nitrogen generators as infrastructure improvements rather than consumable expenses helps secure administrative support. The long-term cost savings, safety improvements, and research continuity benefits present a compelling case for institutional investment in this technology.
Find out if you're paying too much for your nitrogen:
Selecting the Right System
Nitrogen generators are available in various configurations designed to meet different laboratory requirements. Key considerations include:
- Required flow rate and purity for your specific application
- Available space for installation
- Integration with existing gas distribution systems
- Service and maintenance requirements
- Backup options for critical applications
Find out which nitrogen generator is right for you:
Consulting with experienced providers like Organomation helps laboratories identify the optimal configuration based on their unique requirements. A properly sized system ensures reliable performance while avoiding unnecessary costs for capacity that exceeds actual needs.
Planning for Transition
Transitioning from cylinders to generators typically requires minimal disruption when properly planned. Most laboratories maintain some cylinder inventory during the transition period to ensure continuous operations. Once the generator system is installed and validated, cylinders can be gradually phased out as they are depleted.
This transition period also provides an opportunity to update laboratory procedures, train personnel on the new system, and develop maintenance protocols. Comprehensive training ensures that researchers can fully leverage the benefits of on-demand nitrogen generation while maintaining system performance.
Conclusion
The testimonials from experienced laboratory professionals make a compelling case for nitrogen generators as a superior alternative to traditional cylinder-based supply. By eliminating transportation challenges, simplifying inventory management, ensuring research continuity, and improving sustainability, these systems deliver both immediate and long-term benefits to research facilities.
As one laboratory manager described their nitrogen generator: "this to me is the picture of serenity and peace." This sentiment captures the transformative impact of replacing cylinder-related headaches with reliable, on-demand nitrogen generation. For modern research laboratories seeking to optimize operations, enhance safety, and improve research productivity, nitrogen generators represent a wise investment that quickly pays dividends in both tangible and intangible benefits.
Organomation's nitrogen generator systems are designed to deliver these benefits with reliability and efficiency. Contact our team today to discuss how on-demand nitrogen generation can transform your laboratory operations and eliminate the persistent challenges of cylinder management.