15
2. Initial Start-up
Only refer to the start-up procedure outlined in this section if the previous Section III.1 leak test has
already been completed and you are now performing the initial start-up, the piping has been changed,
the vaporizer has just been cleaned, or in any other situation in which air/moisture has been allowed to
enter the system.
Warning: When performing this step, ensure that all protective equipment for handling chlorine
gas is available.
a. Ensure that piping is installed correctly and securely and the leak test from Section III.1 has
already been completed successfully.
b. Check to ensure that all the chlorine container valves are closed and that no chlorine is in the
piping.
c. Turn the vaporizer on (both single phase and three phase power). Immediately the low water alarm
will turn on and open the water solenoid valve to allow water into the water tank. At this point
also check to see that the low water temperature alarm, and the low superheat alarm are all on (if
applicable).
d. Once the water has reached operating level, check to see that the alarm condition has cleared and
the solenoid valve is completely closed (ensure that no water is coming out of the drain port).
e. Check to see that the heater is working by monitoring the water temperature. The factory set
operating water temperature of the vaporizer is 180˚F (82˚C). The vaporizer should take 30-
60 minutes to heat up, depending on incoming water temperature. Check that the low water
temperature alarm has turned off once the water temperature has risen to the appropriate set point
value.
f. Adjust the cathodic protection, using the potentiometer above the ammeter. Operating current
should be between 50-250 mA. Add ¼ lb (113 g) of sodium sulphate to increase the conductivity
if the requirement cannot be met.
NOTe: Due to the enamel painting of the chlorine pressure chamber, a low/no current reading
may appear during the first 6 months of operation. This is normal and the vaporizer is still being
protected.
g. Connect the manifold to the chlorine container gas valves via flexible connectors/isolation valves.
Open the isolation valves connected to each container. Open one chlorine container gas valve
and quickly close it again. Check for leaks one section at a time using a 26 Baume solution of
ammonia. If white smoke appears, there is a leak. If there is a leak, evacuate the system using
the ejector and correct the leak. Then retest the piping to ensure that there are no leaks before
proceeding to the next step.
h. With the chlorine gas valves closed, evacuate the system by operating the ejector until the pressure
transmitter on the vaporizer reads (and holds at) 0 psi (0 bar). Close the isolation valves and
connect them to the liquid chlorine header valves. Also close any valves that are in the liquid
manifold pipeline. If using multiple ton containers and a gas pressure equalization manifold, then
make the connections to this gas pressure equalization manifold and open those valves before
opening the liquid chlorine container valves. Open the liquid chlorine header valves, and slowly
introduce the liquid chlorine into the system by opening one chlorine container liquid valve at a
time. Once all the liquid container valves are open, gradually introduce liquid chlorine into the
rest of the manifold by opening the remaining valves one section at a time. Operate the vaporizer
at 25% of scale until equilibrium is reached (when temperature and pressure readings are constant
over a set period of time).
