The challenge
In a winery, nitrogen is used at two critical points: filling the headspace above the wine in the tank so oxygen never touches it, and purging the bottle on the filling line. In both cases the supply has to be uninterrupted, because any interruption shows up directly in the quality of the wine.
Rtvelisi Winery chose to produce its own nitrogen instead of depending on cylinders.
The solution
- Nitrogen generator — 15 m³/h, purity 99.95%
- Screw air compressor
- Air dryer
- Air and nitrogen receivers
- Aluminium pipework
Why 99.95%, and why aluminium
What matters for winemaking is the residual oxygen content. A purity of 99.95% means 500 ppm of oxygen, which is sufficient for tank blanketing and line purging. Higher purity demands more compressed air and more energy while giving wine no additional benefit, so purity is chosen to match the process rather than set to maximum.
The pipework is aluminium. Black steel corrodes from the inside over time and rust particles end up in the process together with the nitrogen. Aluminium eliminates that, and its smooth internal surface also reduces pressure drop, which means less energy spent by the compressor.
The result
The plant produces its own nitrogen, including at harvest peak, with no schedules and no cylinder stock. The cost per cubic metre is many times lower than cylinder gas, and the investment typically pays back within one to three years.
A similar solution for you
We calculate flow and purity from your tank volumes and consumption pattern. See our nitrogen generators, air dryers and service.
📞 032 206 01 00 · Avchala 52, Tbilisi
Our project involved the installation of:
Nitrogen generator (15 m³/h, 99.95% purity);
Air screw compressor;
Air dryer;
Air and nitrogen gas reservoirs;
To prevent losses and pressure drops, the project was implemented with aluminum piping.
A new breath for your enterprise – IESCO
