Applies to: N2-GEN TS, CS, and S Series PSA nitrogen generators
These requirements must be met for the nitrogen generator to perform to its design specifications. Always check your unit's specific design details and project documents, since some units are built for conditions outside the standard ranges below.
▲ Attention Deviating from these requirements can cause poor performance, injury to persons or machinery, and a voided warranty.
In this guide
Air supply
- Temperature: 40°F to 90°F (4°C to 32°C), unless your unit is specially designed (refer to its design details).
- Water dew point: 38°F (3°C) or better. Some models require -100°F (-73°C).
- Pressure: 100 PSIG minimum, 150 PSIG maximum, set to your unit's design incoming pressure to meet its purity and production specs. Running higher or lower shifts purity and production above or below design.
- Air consumption depends on nitrogen purity and flow rate; contact South-Tek for specifics.
- Auxiliary equipment (air dryer, air and nitrogen pressure vessels) must be sized correctly to the generator to meet full design specifications.
⚠ Warning Air supplied above or below the specified temperature range can cause damage not covered by warranty. Moisture content higher than specified can damage the adsorbent media and voids the warranty. Operating above 150 PSIG can damage the media inside the pressure beds.
For reference, the ISO 8573-1 air quality classes are:
| ISO Quality Class | Particle size (micron) | Dew point (°F) | Dew point (°C) | Oil (mg/m³) | Oil (PPM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | As specified by the equipment supplier and more stringent than Class 1 | ||||
| 1 | 0.1 | -94 | -70 | 0.01 | 0.008 |
| 2 | 1 | -40 | -40 | 0.1 | 0.08 |
| 3 | 5 | -4 | -20 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 4 | 15 | 38 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | 40 | 45 | 7 | 25 | 21 |
| 6 | — | 50 | 10 | — | — |
Additional piping and hoses
Air supply piping is supplied and installed by others. It must deliver the required maximum feed air at the required pressure, measured at the generator inlet connection.
- Assume maximum feed air flow can be up to 4 times the specified average feed air flow. All feed air flow figures in the documentation are average unless noted otherwise.
- If the piping run from the air receiver is longer than 50 feet, consult a piping contractor for the line size needed to still deliver the required flow and pressure.
- All piping must be clean of debris and foreign material to protect particle-sensitive components.
Electrical requirements
- Power supply: 110 VAC to 220 VAC / 1 phase / 50–60 Hz, as labeled on the unit. Optional items such as heaters may require specific voltages; see the wiring diagrams.
- Operating amp draw is less than 2 amps.
- The unit must be hard wired unless the customer installation drawings specify otherwise.
- The internal control panel is UL 508A Open Industrial Control Panel approved, with a 7 amp time-delay fuse.
- A hard copy of the electrical schematic ships with the system; an electronic copy is available on request.
Figure 1: Customer electrical connection to the nitrogen generator
ℹ Note Always obey local and site codes when finalizing the power connection to the equipment.
Site specifications
- Install in a non-hazardous area indoors (unless the unit was specifically designed for another environment), kept above 33°F (0.5°C) and below 100°F (38°C).
- Provide adequate space around the generator for access and routine maintenance, including room for the air receiver and product receiver skid next to the unit.
- Exhaust piping may be vented outside. Any added piping must be the same size or larger than the supplied exhaust piping. For exhaust runs longer than 10 feet, consult a piping contractor to keep pressure drop under 0.5 PSIG. Keep exhaust piping as short as possible with minimal restrictions.
Outdoor package units (optional)
The outdoor package allows installation outdoors within limits (refer to project specifications). A roof and/or walls to shield the unit from driving rain are highly recommended. Typical outdoor upgrades include:
- A NEMA Type 4 style cabinet for the electronics.
- A nitrogen purge from the storage tank that keeps the cabinet at a low dew point and dry. Always keep the cabinet closed to protect the internal components.
- A cooler and/or heater as needed to keep the electronics within 40°F to 104°F (5°C to 40°C) at 10% to 90% relative humidity, non-condensing.
Related Articles
- N2-GEN TS, CS, and S Series — Overview & Specifications
- N2-GEN TS, CS, and S Series — Receiving, Unpacking & Storage
- N2-GEN TS, CS, and S Series — Installation
- N2-GEN TS, CS, and S Series — Safety Guidelines
Need help? South-Tek Systems Service — Phone: (910) 415-1880 · Open a support ticket at support@southteksystems911.zendesk.com or through the Help Center.