ROI for 35 LPM (2.1 m3/hr)
A nitrogen cylinder delivery contract may seem like the easiest way to manage your laboratory budget, however, the purchase of a nitrogen gas generator is a more cost-effective way to secure ongoing nitrogen gas supply. While the initial outlay for cylinders is low, contracts are often subject to regular price increases, as well as hidden costs such as regulator maintenance, delivery, fuel and cylinder & pallet rental charges, which can soon add up. A gas generator offers a more economical solution, typically offering savings versus cylinder supply, within the first year of ownership.
One LC-MS instrument running 8 hours a day, 5 days a week that requires 32 L/min of nitrogen will consume around 4 million liters of nitrogen per year, that is equivalent to approximately 450 cylinders of nitrogen. The table below is a break down the costs associated with ordering 450 cylinders:
| Typical 3 year cylinder supply costs for one LC-MS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total | |
|
Cost of gas (450 cylinders) |
$22,500 |
$22,500 |
$22,500 |
$67,500 |
|
Cost of cylinder rental ($50/months) |
$600 |
$600 |
$600 |
$1,800 |
|
Delivery Cost ($75 per weekly delivery) |
$3,900 |
$3,900 |
$3,900 |
$11,700 |
| Total spend over 3 years |
$81,000 |
|||
Compare this with the cost of purchasing PEAK Scientific’s Genius XE 35 standalone nitrogen generator where you can save 50% over 3 years, and even more if your lab has more than one LC-MS.
| Typical 3 year Genius XE 35 generator supply costs for one LC-MS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total | |
|
generator, delivery, installation and user training |
$35,945 |
$0 |
$0 |
$35,945 |
|
Annual Service PM |
warranty Period |
$3,384 |
$3,384 |
$6,768 |
|
Power Consumption (8h per day @ 1.3 kWh for 5 days/ week) |
$811 |
$811 |
$811 |
$2,433 |
| Total spend over 3 years |
$45,146 |
|||
ROI for 70 LPM (0.07 m3/min)
For higher flow gas requirements such as higher-end LC-MS, NMR, turbo evaporators, fume hoods, small lab reticulated gas supply, wine making/bottling, micro-breweries & food packaging, liquid nitrogen is a common method for supplying nitrogen. However, consider the following, gas usage for a facility requiring gas on demand 24 hours per day, 7 days a week needing 70 LPM (0.07 m3/min) is equal to 36, 792,000 litres of gas per annum. This equates to 0.105 L N2/min of liquid N2 boil off requirement. Deliveries to the facility for adequate operation would mean a minimum of 63,387 L per year of liquid nitrogen to produce the boil off gaseous nitrogen to meet the facility’s nitrogen demand.
| Typical 3 year liquid nitrogen supply costs for 70 LPM (4.2 m3/h) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total | |
|
Cost of liquid nitrogen per year |
$63,387 |
$63,387 |
$63,387 |
$190,161 |
|
Cost of dewar rental per annum |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$15,000 |
|
Delivery cost ($75 per weekly delivery) |
$3,900 |
$3,900 |
$3,900 |
$11,700 |
| Total spend over 3 years |
$203,361 |
|||
NB: reticulation/ liquid N2 may require additional set up costs including dewar placement, oxygen analysers, pipework to application, OHS training and additional safety precautions.
Compare this with the cost of purchasing PEAK Scientific’s Genius XE 70 standalone nitrogen generator where you can save 60% over 3 years, and even more if your lab requires more than 70 LPM.
| Typical 3 year Genius XE 70 generator supply costs for 70 LPM (4.2 m3/h) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total | |
|
generator and installation |
$51,939 |
$0 |
$0 |
$51,939 |
|
Anual Service FPPM |
warranty Period |
$4,838 |
$4,838 |
$9,676 |
|
Power Consumption (24/7 day @ 2.53 kWh) |
$6,649 |
$6,649 |
$6,649 |
$19,946 |
| Total spend over 3 years |
$81,561 |
|||
The Genius XE comes supplied with sufficient tubing to supply directly to the application without additional set up costs – complete plug-and-play solution. (15 Amp power socket requirement). (Pricing in AUD ex GST calculations approximated based on average cylinder and liquid Nitrogen pricing quotations– can vary on state and location, energy calculated at 30.0 c/kWh).
