Why is blanketing with nitrogen reasonable in a thermal oil system?

Mainly in old systems, expansion tanks and collecting tanks are open to the atmosphere. Therefore, these tanks are filled with air. Depending on the temperature in the expansion tank, oxygen included in the air can react with the thermal oil. This oxidation of the thermal oil causes sludge and tarry products that can pollute and clog the whole system.

If now nitrogen blanketing is integrated in the thermal oil system, the air in the tank is replaced by nitrogen. Then, oxidation cannot take place anymore.

Additionally, due to inertisation in the expansion tank it is not possible anymore to form an explosive atmosphere caused by escaping light ends. In the collecting tank however, condensate does not arise anymore because there is no humid air.