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Upright Portable Hot Oil TCUs Chapter 3: Installation 22
3-5 Initial Start-up
Starting the Hot Oil TCU
Before you begin your heating process, perform the following startup procedures. Doing so
ensures that all air is vented from the system to prevent fluid degradation and damage to the
heater.
1. Add recommended heat transfer fluid to the reservoir tank until the level is near the
top of the sight glass.
2. If so equipped, open the manual vent valve on the back of the unit.
3. Push the PUMP START button to start the pump, then check motor rotation by
observing the pressure gauge.
If the gauge indicates positive pressure, rotation is correct. If not, disconnect power
and reverse the incoming power leads.
4. As fluid is drawn out of the reservoir tank to fill the process, the fluid level falls in
the tank. Continue to add fluid to maintain the level about four inches (4”/10 cm)
from the bottom of the sight glass.
Air and thermal fluid vent through the vent solenoid or the manual vent valve and
into the reservoir tank.
Caution! You must purge the system of air before the heating cycle. Personal injury
and system damage can occur from a pressurized system.
Make sure that the reservoir tank vent port is not plugged. The reservoir
tank must never be pressurized!
5. When the unit has built at least five (5) psi (34.5 kPa) of pressure, wait two (2)
minutes, then select a set point of 100°F (38ºC) and switch the unit into AUTO mode.
As the oil warms up, viscosity decreases and pressure falls.
6. Increase the set point to 150ºF, then 200ºF (65ºC, then 93ºC) at two-minute intervals.
7. Any water present in the system must boil off before continuing operation. Select a
set point of 215ºF (102ºC) and observe the reservoir tank vent for any signs of
escaping steam.
Continue to run at this set point temperature until no more steam appears and
pressure stabilizes.
8. When fluid level stabilizes and the air and water are purged from the system, allow
the vent timer to run out.
- or -
If so equipped, close the vent valve. Do not open the vent valve at temperatures
exceeding 250ºF (121ºC).
With the system properly purged, only four to six inches (4” to 6” / 10 cm to 15 cm) of fluid
should be visible in the sight glass. This lets the fluid expand as it heats, also permitting
process fluid additional capacity when the pump reverses and fluid is withdrawn from the
mold.