Mark is correct about both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria being responsible for MIC. The use of nitrogen alone will not prevent MIC. Nitrogen generators are about 95 percent nitrogen and 5 percent Oxygen. That is enough oxygen to support both types of bacteria.
Yes nitrogen is dryer than a typical air compressor but there are FM approved dryer/compressor assemblies that will provide the same level of dryness for probably less than half the price of a N2 generator. The use of bottles instead of a generator or a dryer/compressor could be a bad idea. We have used bottled nitrogen systems in the past for dry pipe systems and as a pressure source in place of an electric pump for small wet pipe systems. The problem was leaks in the system would deplete the N2 tanks. Customers were not happy about having to replace N2 bottles a few times a year. They blamed us saying they never had those problems when they used an air compressor. They couldn't comprehend the limited supply in a bottle vs the ability to generate more with a compressor. Regards, mike Mike Henke CET Sprinkler Product Manager Potter Electric Signal Co. www.pottersignal.com 1-800-325-3936 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Phelps, Mark Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:02 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Nitrogen compressors Some of the microbs responsible for the corrosion refered to as MIC are aerobic, meaning they require oxygen to exist, others are anarobic meaning they do not. Anarobic bacteria are some of the oldest lifeforms on earth and may live in entirely oxygen free enviroments. there ya havit. Mark at Aero -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of Thom McMahon Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:47 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Nitrogen compressors This is the system that is being recommended. NOT compressed Nitrogen bottles. The reductions they address are for oxygen induced corrosion. It would be interesting to know if MIC is still a problem in these systems. Thom McMahon, SET Firetech, Inc. 2560 Copper Ridge Dr P.O. Box 882136 Steamboat Springs, CO 80488 Tel: 970-879-7952 Fax: 970-879-7926 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:30 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Nitrogen compressors Everything you ever wanted to know about Nitrogen Generators: http://www.fpscmi.com/ Thanks, Ricky _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
