A nitrogen generation system includes a heat exchanger for receiving supply air and cooling air and providing temperature conditioned supply air, a flow control valve for controlling a flow of the cooling air through the heat exchanger, and an air separation module for receiving the temperature conditioned supply air and generating nitrogen-enriched air. The nitrogen generation system also includes a sensor for measuring a parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a flow rate, an oxygen concentration, and combinations thereof, and a controller connected to the sensor and the flow control valve for controlling the flow of the cooling air through the heat exchanger based on the parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air measured by the sensor.