Why Nitro? - Compressed Air vs. CO2
by Tony Sasso, Columnist

        Paintball is a continually changing industry. From markers to paint new products are always coming onto the market and changing the way we play, for instance gas. Paintball started out using 12-gram CO2 cartridges. Then the game evolved to larger CO2 twist valve tanks. After that the standard pin valve was introduced and constant air CO2 became almost standard. Yet not to far after that was compressed air /nitrogen. With kevlar fiber rapped bottles and high-pressure regulators nitro added a new twist to gas. So why do people use nitrogen? What are the advantages? Why do nitro systems cost so much? What the heck does that big gauge thingy do? Well I guess it is time you got the low down on the nitro revolution.

Why Nitro?

Why should I use nitro? Nitrogen or actually compressed air has a few key advantages over CO2. One of them is that fact that compressed air is already a gas in the tank and not a liquid. When you have a filled CO2 tank the CO2 inside is a liquid, and it is very cold. A problem that you can run into with CO2 when you play is your gun "going liquid". This happens when your marker siphons then liquid CO2 out of the tank and into the gun creating a very cold and high- pressure environment. When this happen your gun will most likely fire full auto until it warms up or the tank is removed. This is why many people have expansion chambers on their markers. That way the liquid can expand into a gas before entering the gun. When using compressed air though you never have to worry about such a problem. Once your tank is on and flowing all you have to do is adjust your regulators and your done. Another clear advantage is the fact that compressed air is not affected by temperature like CO2. During cold weather CO2 will have a harder time expanding into a gas before entering the gun. Compressed air on the other hand will stay at the constant input pressure set by the regulator.

Why does nitro cost so much?

Why does nitro cost so much? Most nitrogen systems cost so much because of two factors; the regulation system and what the bottle is made of. Most, if not all of the higher end systems will have a adjustable dual-regulator and a kevlar fiber rapped bottle. "Wait a sec….an adjustable dual-regu-what and a kevlar fiber "rapped" bottle?" Well what all that means is this. The regulator is what controls the output pressure of the tank. Most high-end nitro systems will have a dual-regulated system. Meaning that the gas is regulated down to the set output pressure and then it is regulated again. Now "fiber rapped" means that the aluminum internal bottle is rapped with a reinforcing fiber mostly fiberglass or kevlar. This allows the bottle to be lighter while still being the same size. A standard fiber rap bottle looks like the pic at the top. Yet not all systems are very expensive or dual-regulated or even fiber rapped. You can buy a new nitrogen system for as little as $99.99 now. These systems feature single non-adjustable regulation and aluminum bottles. Systems like the one picture on the left are great for a first nitro system. You don't have to fiddle with regulators or even have a special cradle all you do is screw it into any standard CO2 threads and rock and roll!

What does it all mean?

What does it all mean? Terms like 4500 psi, and 68ci/cc what do they mean. Well the labels of 4500 psi and 3000psi are the maximum tank fill pressures. This means that the nitro tank will only handle up to 3000 or 4500 psi (pounds per square inch) or pressure. The labels of 47ci, 68ci, and 144ci refer to the size of the tank in cubic inches (ci) or cubic centimeters (cc). "Ok, well what does that have to do with anything." Simple let me give you and example. Lets think of a 68ci tank as if it were a 20oz CO2 tank. Well you can only fit 20oz of CO2 into a 20oz tank, so about equivalent to a 68ci tank at 3000psi (for our purposes). Yet if you were to put 4500 psi in the same tank you would get more air. In this way nitrogen lets you fit more in less. So basically these labels are to help you refer to the tanks air capacity.

Nitrogen has made it's mark on the industry, it is here to stay. Do you need to have it? Probably not (unless you have an Angel), but it has clear advantages over CO2. My suggestion is to play and have fun first, worry about having tons of gear latter. Have fun and keep the game alive.

Tony Sasso
MPN Columnist
 
 

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