Installing a Nitrogen PSA generator is the most reliable way to produce nitrogen, having a service lifespan in excess of 10 years before its’ carbon molecular sieve beds need replaced. However, like all equipment, regular checks and monitoring of processes will flag up any snags before they become an issue. Our installation and service engineers have put together their top tips to maximise performance and longevity of your purchase.
- Service the nitrogen generator at least annually and make sure you carry out any recommended daily/weekly/monthly checks. Ask your service provider to carry out a purity check if you are seeing signs that it is not meeting the specification.
- Compressed air supply is key. Clean, dry and oil-free is perfect whether from an external existing supply or from an integrated compressor. House air should have a minimum grade of ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 1.4.1. Add pre-filtration in-line e to achieve this grade prior to entry to the nitrogen generator.
- Check any fans or vents on both your compressor and generator are uncovered to allow air to circulate.
- Positioning the generator close to the power supply is helpful when power needs to be isolated to perform checks.
- Leave enough room around the generator to allow easy access for servicing and weekly checks.
- Make sure pipework and connections are leak-free. Leaks make the generator work harder, affect purity, increase power consumption and can accelerate wear and tear on components.
- The installation area should ideally be clean, dry and dust free. The N2 generator needs protected from frost and excess heat. The ambient temperature shouldn’t exceed 35°C.
- Check the compressor drain is working and collecting water in the drain bottle weekly. If there’s no water, it’s not working! Some external compressors may have manual drains. Check the operating manual if you are not sure. Moisture ingress into the generator is detrimental.
- Keep the nitrogen generator running within spec. Adding on more instruments or processes can cause problems if you exceed the recommended flow. Nitrogen purity is affected and wear and tear on the compressor motor and other components accelerated.
- All Air 2 Gas Tech nitrogen psa generators have a N2 Available LED. If the light goes out during normal operation, it may indicate a high flow requirements, a leak or low pressure within the generator. A call to your supplier will help to get you back up and running as soon as possible.
