This article applies to South-Tek Systems industrial N2-GEN TS, CS, and S series PSA nitrogen generators.
These site and utility requirements must be met for the generator to perform to its design specifications. Deviation from these requirements may result in poor performance, equipment damage, personal injury, or voided warranty coverage.
Compressed air requirements
- Incoming air temperature must be between 40°F and 90°F (4°C to 32°C), unless the unit was specially designed for another range.
- Incoming air water dew point must be 38°F (3°C) or better. Some models may require -100°F (-73°C); refer to the unit-specific design documents.
- Incoming air pressure must be a minimum of 100 PSIG and must not exceed 150 PSIG.
- The unit must be set to its design incoming air pressure in order to meet the specified nitrogen purity and production rate.
Air outside the required temperature, moisture, or pressure range may reduce performance and may damage the media inside the adsorption beds.
Air piping requirements
- Air supply piping, hoses, and related components must be sized to deliver the required feed air pressure at the generator inlet.
- Maximum feed air flow can be up to 4 times the specified average feed air flow rate.
- If the piping run from the air receiver to the generator exceeds 50 feet, consult a piping contractor to confirm the line is properly sized.
- All piping must be clean and free of debris and foreign material before connection.
Electrical requirements
- Power supply must be 110 to 220 VAC, single phase, 50/60 Hz, as labeled on the unit.
- Operating current draw is less than 2 amps.
- The generator must be hard wired unless otherwise specified in the customer installation drawings.
- The internal control panel is a UL 508A Open Industrial Control Panel with a 7 amp time-delay fuse.
- Some optional features, such as heaters, may require specific voltages. Refer to the electrical schematic and project-specific documentation.
All final electrical work should be completed by a qualified electrician in accordance with local and site codes.
Installation environment
- Install the generator indoors in a non-hazardous area unless the unit was specifically designed for another environment.
- The installation area must remain above 33°F (0.5°C) and below 100°F (38°C).
- Provide adequate clearance around the generator for service access and routine maintenance.
- Ensure there is enough space for associated equipment such as the air receiver and product receiver skid.
Exhaust piping requirements
- The exhaust from the nitrogen generator may be vented outside.
- Any added exhaust piping must be the same size as, or larger than, the supplied exhaust piping.
- If the exhaust piping run exceeds 10 feet, consult a piping contractor to maintain less than 0.5 PSIG pressure drop.
- Exhaust piping should be as short and unrestricted as possible.
Outdoor package units
If the system was ordered with an outdoor package, refer to the project-specific documentation for limitations and design details. South-Tek recommends shielding the equipment from driving rain whenever possible.
Typical outdoor package upgrades may include:
- NEMA Type 4 cabinet construction for the electronics enclosure
- Nitrogen cabinet purge from the nitrogen storage tank to help maintain a low dew point inside the cabinet
- Cabinet heating and/or cooling to keep electronics within their operating range
Keep the cabinet closed to protect internal components.
Before commissioning
- Confirm compressed air quality, dew point, and pressure meet requirements.
- Confirm available power matches the unit nameplate and drawings.
- Verify all supply and exhaust piping is clean, correctly sized, and properly supported.
- Verify the installation location allows for safe operation and future maintenance access.
- Review the project General Arrangement drawing and electrical schematic before startup.