The use of nitrogen in a cleanroom is very common. The choice of nitrogen gas is ideal as it is a dry, inert gas that can be used to dry equipment, components, and surfaces. The choice of nitrogen has the added benefit of avoiding any additional humidity or contaminants to the room. This is not the case with the use of compressed air, which is often used for the same purposes in other types of applications.
To provide a controlled, directed spray of the nitrogen gas on to a specific surface or part, a customize nitrogen spray gun is used. These can have several different designs, but typically have a flexible and extendable tube with a fast connector to hook up the gun to the nitrogen supply, and a small handheld gun that is controlled with a level or trigger type of handle. The direction of the spray with the gun can be forward with a traditional gun type of style, or it can be designed to spray from the end, more like that of a garden hose.
Basic Care and Maintenance
To prevent damage to the nitrogen spray gun due to the corrosive nature of the gas, specific types of materials should be used in the manufacturing. PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as Teflon, is an ideal material. This is highly resistant to any type of corrosion from the gas, and it is also durable and can stand up to heat, impact, and typical use.
To maintain the gun, ensure the nitrogen is dispersed at the end of use. These guns should be kept out of general use and traffic areas to decrease the risk of damage due to impact.
