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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">HMNTL installed a PSA system in 2024. The only purity issues we¡¯ve experienced occurred during periods with significant system leaks, where the PSA struggled to keep up with demand.
From our experience, proper system sizing is critical. Oversizing the PSA and providing an adequately sized storage reservoir are both important. Under sizing either component will force the PSA to chase volume and can reduce purity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Our PSA has been low maintenance. The only notable service item has been a scheduled replacement of the activated carbon at roughly 8,000 hours. There are also two small pneumatic
air filters that require periodic change, though these are brief tasks at approximately 2,000-hour intervals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Prior to this installation, we operated a DB-10 PSA solely for abatement purge gas. It ran flawlessly for approximately ten years before being reintegrated into our main system.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">I¡¯ve included manuals for both PSA units in use at HMNTL. The Holtec system has been robust, reliable, and straightforward to maintain. It should be noted that these systems are
large and require supporting equipment, including an oil-less air compressor and a dehumidifier. In many cases, the supporting equipment represents as much of an investment as the PSA itself.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Despite these infrastructure requirements and given our prior liquid nitrogen consumption the system provided a rapid financial return. For facilities consuming significant quantities
of LN©ü, transitioning to a PSA is a no brainer if you are looking for a ROI.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060;text-transform:uppercase">Deon D. Collins<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060;text-transform:uppercase"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060"><br>
<i>Director of Facilities<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060">The Grainger College Of Engineering UIUC</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060">Holonyak Micro & Nanotechnology Lab</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#13294B">208 N Wright St Rm. 1114 | MC-249</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#13294B">Urbana, IL 61801</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#13294B">217-300-7531 | </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:deonc69@illinois.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">deonc69@illinois.edu</span></a><br>
<br>
<br>
</span><a href="http://illinois.edu/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="119" height="21" style="width:1.2395in;height:.2187in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DC8149.C5D48FF0"></span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
<br>
</span><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#666666">Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.
</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#A3238B">Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#A3238B"> Propeck Amanda<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> labnetwork <labnetwork-bounces@mtl.mit.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Alizadeh, Hossein<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, January 8, 2026 1:43 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Network Fab <labnetwork@mtl.mit.edu><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [labnetwork] Nitrogen Generator for Cleanroom Operations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div style="margin-bottom:8.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Dear Lab Network,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div style="margin-bottom:8.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">We are looking into switching our cleanroom nitrogen supply from liquid dewars to on-site nitrogen generators. We don't have the option to install a bulk tank,
and the logistics of swapping dewars, plus the risk of running out during sensitive etch processes, are becoming a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div style="margin-bottom:8.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Do you have any experience using N2 generators for cleanroom applications?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div style="margin-bottom:8.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">I¡¯d appreciate any insights you have on the operational load compared to dewars. More specifically:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Have you had issues with purity stability?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Is the upkeep on the N2 generator and the feed air compressors manageable?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Are there any specific manufacturers you recommend (or would avoid)?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Warm Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Hossein<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">---------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Hossein Alizadeh, PhD.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Technical Director,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Photonics Center, Boston University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:halizade@bu.edu">halizade@bu.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">617-353-0632<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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