Membrane separation nitrogen generators rely on the selective permeation principle of polymer hollow fiber membranes to separate nitrogen and oxygen in compressed air, featuring simple structure, no moving parts, low noise, and fast gas production, and are widely used in mobile equipment, outdoor engineering, and low-power industrial nitrogen supply scenarios. The working performance of membrane separation nitrogen generators is highly dependent on ambient temperature, and low temperature is one of the key factors restricting their operating efficiency and service life. Different from PSA nitrogen generators with strong environmental adaptability, the hollow fiber membrane core components of membrane separation equipment are sensitive to low-temperature environments, and ultra-low temperature will cause structural changes of the membrane material, affecting gas separation efficiency and even causing permanent damage to the membrane module.

The industry-standard minimum working ambient temperature of conventional membrane separation nitrogen generators is -10°C. Within the temperature range of -10°C to 45°C, the equipment can maintain stable nitrogen separation efficiency and standard nitrogen purity and flow. When the ambient temperature is higher than -10°C, the molecular activity of compressed air is moderate, the permeability difference of oxygen and nitrogen molecules on the membrane surface is stable, and the membrane module will not have embrittlement, shrinkage, or performance attenuation. Conventional civilian and industrial-grade membrane nitrogen generators are all designed according to this temperature standard, which can meet the environmental temperature requirements of most indoor and ordinary outdoor working scenarios in temperate regions.

For special low-temperature resistant membrane separation nitrogen generators optimized for cold regions, the minimum working ambient temperature can reach -30°C. This type of low-temperature resistant equipment adopts specially modified polymer membrane materials, which have excellent low-temperature toughness and structural stability, and will not embrittle or deform in ultra-low temperature environments. At the same time, the equipment is equipped with an automatic heating and thermal insulation system for the gas circuit and membrane module, which can preheat the inlet compressed air and maintain the constant temperature operation of the membrane core, ensuring that the nitrogen production flow and purity will not drop sharply in low-temperature environments. It is widely used in outdoor engineering, petroleum exploration, and field operation scenarios in high-latitude cold regions.

When the ambient temperature is lower than the minimum working temperature of the equipment, a series of failures will occur in the membrane separation nitrogen generator. Low temperature will cause the water vapor in the compressed air to condense and freeze, blocking the membrane fiber pores, resulting in reduced gas production and decreased nitrogen purity. Long-term ultra-low temperature operation will also cause aging and cracking of the membrane material, permanently reducing the separation performance of the membrane module and greatly shortening the service life of the equipment. Therefore, in low-temperature environment construction, it is necessary to select low-temperature resistant models according to the local minimum temperature, or configure thermal insulation and heating auxiliary systems to ensure the normal and stable operation of the equipment.