There are two reasons to vacuum the extractor: 1. create negative pressure to “pull” the butane into the extractor; 2. remove oxygen from the extractor to prevent potential explosive conditions. Follow the steps below. One step at a time, you vacuum out each segment of the extractor. The chart will show you the open/closed condition of every valve or on/off switch as you work through the steps. Final image - vacuum diagram

Step 1 – Pre-vacuum – turn on vacuum
Component #Component NameAbbreviationOpen/OnClosed/Off
1Extraction Column ValveECVx
2Low Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM2x
3High Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM3x
4Purge PortPPx
5Recovery CylinderRCx
6Vacuum PumpVPx
7Recovery PumpRPx
Step 1.1 – Vacuum – open purge port (4)
Component #Component NameAbbreviationOpen/OnClosed/Off
1Extraction Column ValveECVx
2Low Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM2x
3High Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM3x
4Purge PortPPx
5Recovery CylinderRCx
6Vacuum PumpVPx
7Recovery PumpRPx
Step 1.2 – Vacuum – close purge port (4) and open high pressure recovery manifold valve (3)
Component #Component NameAbbreviationOpen/OnClosed/Off
1Extraction Column ValveECVx
2Low Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM2x
3High Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM3x
4Purge PortPPx
5Recovery CylinderRCx
6Vacuum PumpVPx
7Recovery PumpRPx
Step 1.3 – Vacuum – close high pressure recovery manifold valve (3) and open low pressure recovery manifold valve (2)
Component #Component NameAbbreviationOpen/OnClosed/Off
1Extraction Column ValveECVx
2Low Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM2x
3High Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM3x
4Purge PortPPx
5Recovery CylinderRCx
6Vacuum PumpVPx
7Recovery PumpRPx
Step 1.4 – Vacuum – open extraction column valve (1)
Component #Component NameAbbreviationOpen/OnClosed/Off
1Extraction Column ValveECVx
2Low Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM2x
3High Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM3x
4Purge PortPPx
5Recovery CylinderRCx
6Vacuum PumpVPx
7Recovery PumpRPx
Step 1.5 – Vacuum – Vacuum extractor to the maximum vacuum (~29″Hg)
Component #Component NameAbbreviationOpen/OnClosed/Off
1Extraction Column ValveECVx
2Low Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM2x
3High Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM3x
4Purge PortPPx
5Recovery CylinderRCx
6Vacuum PumpVPx
7Recovery PumpRPx
Step 1.6 – Vacuum – close extraction column valve (1) and low pressure recovery manifold (2)
Component #Component NameAbbreviationOpen/OnClosed/Off
1Extraction Column ValveECVx
2Low Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM2x
3High Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM3x
4Purge PortPPx
5Recovery CylinderRCx
6Vacuum PumpVPx
7Recovery PumpRPx
Step 1.7 – Vacuum – Wait 10 minutes and observe all pressure gauges for pressure drop, then check one valve at a time for pressure drop
Component #Component NameAbbreviationOpen/OnClosed/Off
1Extraction Column ValveECVx
2Low Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM2x
3High Pressure Recovery ManifoldRM3x
4Purge PortPPx
5Recovery CylinderRCx
6Vacuum PumpVPx
7Recovery PumpRPx

 

As always, if you have any questions please post them in the comments section. Your questions and time are valuable and we will make every attempt to help you through your process.