Filling the Model 615 or Model 1515D Portable Tank
The preferred gas for pressure chamber use is welding grade nitrogen
(N2) which is an inert gas and does not react with the plant
sample.
This
has been the standard since the early 1960s. If you do not already have
nitrogen,
a large "Supply Tank" can normally be bought or rented from a welding
or gas supply store at minimal cost.
* IMPORTANT - if you do not have a Model 615
but instead have a Model 610 click here
for different instructions. For a Portable
Tank click here for instructions.
Filling the Internal Tank of the Model 615 is easy but care must be
taken while trans-filling high pressure nitrogen. First, you need to
have
3 items in order to make a successful fill of the Portable Tank.
You need:
1. Model 615 Pressure Chamber Instrument
2. Supply Tank (Large filling tank)
3. 6 Foot Filling Hose
Supply Tank (left), Filling Hose (bottom left)
Model 615 (right)
First, connect the 6-Foot Filling Hose to the Supply Tank
(Hand tight)
Next, disconnect the instrument tank hose connection.
(pull back on female coupler)
Connect the end of the Filling Hose to the Portable Tank hose.
(Give the two hoses a gentle tug to ensure proper fitting)
Your system should now look like this
Ensure that the the following valves are shut before proceeding
Supply Tank Valve, Purge Valve, Portable Tank
Valve
Now you are ready to start filling
Start by opening up the Supply Tank Valve completely.
This will allow pressure down to the Portable Tank
It will also allow you to preview how much pressure is in the Supply
Tank
++++ IMPORTANT ++++
***** BARELY OPEN THE INTERNAL TANK
VALVE
*****
JUST CRACK IT OPEN
Allow the nitrogen to slowly fill the Portable
Tank
You will hear the nitrogen as it fills the tank. You should take
about 1-2 minutes to fill the tank. As the pressure equalizes,
continue
to open up the valve a little bit more. Continue this process
until
the pressure has equalized completely. If you open the valve up
too
quickly and let too much gas into the tank - the valve will become
HEATED
and may have problems or fail. This is due to the gas
compressing
into the empty tank.
When the pressure has equalized, seal the Portable Tank first, then
seal the Nurse Tank. The purge valve will allow you to let the
pressure escape from the
hose.
Now you can disconnect your filling hose and reconnect the 6 inch tank
hose to hose connection port. Ensure that you have a good
connection. You are now ready to
take measurements.
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