Nitrogen blanket

Nitrogen blanketing, also known as tank blanketing or tank padding, is a process in which the vapor space above a liquid in a tank is filled with nitrogen gas. By replacing oxygen with nitrogen, an inert (non-flammable) atmosphere is created that protects the stored product from oxidation, degradation, and contamination, while also eliminating the risk of fire or explosion. This blanketing system is widely used across industries such as oil & gas, chemical, food, and pharmaceuticals to ensure safety, maintain product quality, and extend shelf life.

What is nitrogen tank blanketing?

Nitrogen blanketing involves covering the liquid surface inside a tank with a layer of blanketing gas. Instead of ambient air (which contains around 21% oxygen), the vapor space is filled with high-purity nitrogen, an inert gas that does not react with the stored product. This protective atmosphere:

In short, tank blanketing is n inert gas system that ensures the product remains in a stable, oxygen-free environment from storage to delivery.

How does Nitrogen blanketing work?

Modern nitrogen blanketing systems are designed to maintain a stable layer of nitrogen gas within the vapor space of a storage tank, ensuring that the product inside remains protected from oxygen and moisture. These systems combine a pressure reducing valve, sensors, and control valves to keep the internal environment consistent. The pressure inside the tank is kept slightly higher than the surrounding atmosphere using positive pressure from nitrogen.

When product is withdrawn, the pressure drops, triggering the valve to add more blanketing gas until the pressure reaches the set point. Conversely, when the tank is being filled and the vapor space is displaced, excess gas is vented to avoid overpressure.

The process creates a continuous inert atmosphere, where nitrogen forms a barrier between the stored product and the surrounding environment. In our installations, monitoring equipment measures oxygen levels in the vapor space to ensure they remain below safe limits. The flow of nitrogen is carefully adjusted to maintain sufficient pressure without causing leaks or over-pressurization.

Benefits of using tank blanketing

Tank blanketing provides multiple safety, quality, and environmental benefits:

Enhanced product safety: Reduces the risk of fires, explosions, and hazardous chemical reactions by removing oxygen from the storage environment.
Improved product quality: Prevents oxidation, discoloration, spoilage, and polymerization, preserving the product’s quality, purity, and appearance.
Extended shelf life: Keeps products stable for longer, reducing waste and minimizing the need for costly reprocessing or disposal.
Cost savings: Lowers product loss due to degradation and extends the lifespan of storage tanks and components.
Environmental benefits: Minimizes evaporation and reduces the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere.
Corrosion prevention: Dry nitrogen prevents rust and deterioration of tank walls and pipelines, extending equipment life.

Purpose of nitrogen blanketing

The primary purpose of nitrogen blanketing is to create a protective, oxygen-free environment in the vapor space of a storage tank. Because nitrogen is an inert gas, it displaces oxygen and prevents it from reacting with the stored product. This is essential to avoid degradation, discoloration, and spoilage over time. At the same time, nitrogen tank blanketing reduces fire and explosion hazards by pushing out flammable gases and vapors, lowering the risk of ignition within the tank. By preventing oxidation and other unwanted chemical reactions, it also preserves the product’s quality, purity, and stability, ultimately extending its shelf life and ensuring consistent performance.

Industries using a blanketing system

Tank blanketing is a versatile safety and preservation method applied in multiple sectors where oxygen control is essential.

Oil and gas

Applied in refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines to displace oxygen, prevent corrosion of metal surfaces, halt oxidation of stored fuels, and remove the oxygen needed for combustion, thereby significantly reducing the risk of fires and explosions.

Chemical processing

Protects a wide range of chemicals from degradation and unwanted reactions with oxygen or moisture. By maintaining an inert atmosphere, sensitive or reactive substances remain stable, ensuring both product integrity and safe handling.

Food processing

Prevents oxidation, rancidity, and microbial spoilage in products such as edible oils, beverages, and other oxygen-sensitive foods. This extends shelf life, preserves taste and color, and supports food safety compliance during bulk storage.

Pharmaceuticals

Maintains the purity and stability of active ingredients and finished medicines. An inert nitrogen environment protects compounds that are sensitive to oxygen and humidity, keeping them effective and uncontaminated until use.

Ethanol refineries

Used in tanks and process vessels to eliminate oxygen, suppress flammable vapor-air mixtures, and prevent fires and explosions when handling highly combustible liquids.

What’s the best way to get nitrogen for nitrogen blanketing?

For companies that rely on nitrogen blanketing, the most efficient and cost-effective approach is on-site nitrogen generation. Instead of depending on nitrogen cylinders or bulk storage deliveries, which involve ongoing rental, refilling, and logistical costs, Presscon offers a smarter alternative: the N-Gen nitrogen generator, powered by HP-PSA (High Performance Pressure Swing Adsorption) technology. This advanced design uses optimized airflow and a patented compression system to deliver:

Up to 40–50% lower energy consumption compared to conventional PSA or membrane generators.
High purity nitrogen (95-99.999%) tailored to the application.
Modular design for redundancy and scalability, ensuring zero downtime during maintenance.
Stable performance with consistent nitrogen flow and purity.

Presscon: Your partner in tank blanketing technology

Presscon is a Dutch-based specialist in nitrogen generation and inerting solutions with over 25 years of experience. All systems are designed and manufactured in-house, ensuring full control over quality and the ability to deliver custom-engineered solutions for any application. If you want to know more about tank blanketing systems, we can help. With decades of expertise, cutting-edge nitrogen generation technology, and round-the-clock service, we deliver reliable, relatively low cost, energy-efficient solutions that protect your product and your bottom line. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation or a tailored quote.

Why choose Presscon?

Custom-built systems: designed to your specifications and fully assembled in our own factory.
Energy-efficient operation: HP-PSA technology delivers significant cost savings and sustainability benefits.
24/7 service: Dedicated support and fast on-site response to minimize downtime.
Global supply capability: Serving customers worldwide, from local SMEs to multinational corporations.