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N2-GEN TS, CS, and S Series — Start-Up, Commissioning & Shutdown

Updated
Applies to: N2-GEN TS, CS, and S Series PSA nitrogen generators (industrial systems)
⚠ Important — Contact South-Tek before commissioning Do not commission or place an industrial nitrogen system into service on your own. South-Tek requires a scheduled startup, either onsite or virtual, for all industrial systems, and your warranty start date is tied to that commissioning rather than the ship date. Contact us to schedule your startup before you operate the system.

This article explains how to schedule the required startup, how to prepare your site, what commissioning covers, and the routine start-up and shutdown procedures for ongoing operation. Because our industrial units are engineered to order, your system may or may not include items like a high-pressure booster, an air dryer, or a South-Tek compressor package, so some steps below apply only to certain configurations.

Schedule your startup first (required)

Every industrial nitrogen system requires a startup performed or directed by South-Tek before it goes into service:

  • Onsite or virtual. We offer an onsite startup with a South-Tek technician, or a virtual startup where we guide your personnel through the process remotely. Either satisfies the requirement.
  • Warranty. For industrial systems, the warranty start date is tied to the completed commissioning rather than the date the unit shipped, so scheduling promptly after installation protects your coverage.
  • How to schedule. Contact South-Tek using any method below and ask to schedule an onsite or virtual startup. Have your model and serial numbers ready.
    • Open a ticket online: from any page of the Help Center, click Submit a request at the top of the page, then fill in the form with your contact details, model and serial numbers, and a note that you want to schedule an onsite or virtual startup, and submit. You can also go straight to the request form.
    • By email: email support@southteksystems911.zendesk.com with the same details, and your email automatically opens a support ticket.
    • By phone: call (910) 415-1880.

Before your startup: site readiness

Have the installation complete and these items in order so your onsite or virtual startup goes smoothly. For full detail, see Installation and Site & Utility Requirements.

  • The generator is mounted securely indoors in a dry location within the specified ambient temperature range, away from high-moisture areas. If installed outside, it is NEMA 4 rated or protected from the elements.
  • The air compressor has at least 36 inches of clearance on all sides, with proper ventilation and space for service.
  • The generator, compressor, dryer, and booster (whichever apply to your system) have been visually inspected for damage and mounted per specification.
  • All connections are leak-checked and all plumbing is rated to the specified pressures.
  • Air storage tank auto-drains and manual drains are set up correctly, and the air safety relief valves are in place.
  • If you have an air dryer, it is installed where water will not splash or pool around the unit.
  • Your design criteria are on hand: compressed air pressure and flow in, nitrogen flow and pressure out, and required purity. These are recorded and verified during commissioning.

What commissioning covers

During the startup, the technician (onsite, or guiding you virtually) will:

  • Verify the installation and record system parameters, including model and serial numbers, compressor cut-in and cut-out pressures, and the air dryer dew point reading where applicable.
  • Simulate your nitrogen flow and tune the system to your application.
  • Confirm leak checks, drains, and safety relief valves.
  • Demonstrate how to monitor nitrogen purity, and train site personnel on routine maintenance, operation, safety, and how to retrieve run times from the compressor, booster, generator, and dryer.
  • Complete commissioning documentation and sign-off, which records that the installation is complete and starts your warranty.

Initial start-up sequence

This is the first-time start-up sequence performed during your scheduled commissioning, with a technician onsite or with South-Tek guiding your personnel during a virtual startup. It is not a do-it-yourself step.

  1. Verify the power connection is 110 VAC or 220 VAC / 1 PH / 50–60 Hz as labeled on the unit, and that the controller is in Stopped mode (the Start/Stop button in the upper left of the Home screen is red).
  2. Start the air compressor following its manufacturer's instructions. Once the air receiver is fully pressurized to the compressor's design pressure, open the air valve to the generator.
  3. Open the nitrogen supply to the storage tank and the gas sample valve from the tank to the generator. Keep the nitrogen-to-process valve closed for now.
  4. Toggle the Start/Stop button to green. The generator begins cycling through its valves and pressurizes the first bed.
  5. Watch the bed pressure gauges for about 10 minutes. The beds should swing every 50–90 seconds, the pressurized bed should reach within 3–5 PSIG of the incoming air supply pressure, and the exhausting bed should drop to 0–10 PSIG. Confirm the incoming air is at the design pressure and adjust if needed.
  6. Nitrogen begins flowing to the storage tank and building pressure. At the cut-out pressure the system enters standby.
  7. With the system in standby, open the nitrogen-to-process valve. Tank pressure falls, and at the cut-in pressure the system restarts automatically and refills the tank.
⚠ Warning — Leaks Check all pipe fittings and valves for leaks during start-up. Shut off the air supply valve and depressurize the system before repairing any leak.
ℹ Note — First cycles On first start, or after a prolonged shutdown, gases in the lines may have equalized, so the first few cycles delivered to the tank may be below the design purity specification. For applications with tight purity requirements, EverPure is recommended. See Purity, Pressure & Standby.

Normal start-up

Use this routine procedure to start the generator for normal operation once it has been commissioned.

  1. Open the air isolation valve.
  2. Toggle the Start/Stop button to start; it illuminates green to show the system has started.
  3. Open any shutoff valves in the product nitrogen line to your piping system. Allow the system purity to rise before using the product.
ℹ Note — Purge after opening to atmosphere If the generator or any part of the system has been opened to the atmosphere, the system must be purged of residual air before it will reach the design purity.

Shutdown

  • Normal shutdown: Valve off the nitrogen-to-process valve on the output of the nitrogen storage tank, then toggle the Start/Stop button to off on the Home screen.
  • Emergency shutdown: Turn off the main power switch to the generator, which stops all functions immediately. Nitrogen supply can be shut off by manually closing the nitrogen-to-process valve at the storage tank outlet.
⚠ Warning — Stored pressure The generator remains pressurized after shutdown. Always depressurize the system before performing maintenance or opening any piping. Failure to do so may result in injury.

After commissioning

Once your startup is signed off, your warranty is active and the system is ready for normal use. To keep it producing to spec:

Need help or ready to schedule your startup? South-Tek Systems Service — Phone: (910) 415-1880 · Open a support ticket at support@southteksystems911.zendesk.com or through the Help Center.

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