• Check the orientation of all ball valves to ensure that the bottoms product will be recycled to

the feed tank and that no distillate will be collected. Align the three way valves to prevent the
flow of hydrocarbon to or from the feed cylinders. All samples points should be shut. The level
column isolation valves should be open. All control valves should be fully closed (note that the
'off position for the control valves is fully open).
• 5
• Pressurise the column with nitrogen to 200 kPa and then depressurise to less than 10 kPa to
reduce the oxygen partial pressure in order to prevent a flammable mixture forming inside the
column. Repeat this step two further times if the column has recently been fully opened to the
atmosphere.
• 6
• Ensure that there is at least 20 L of feed available in the feed tank. Prime the pump, bleed any
air from the pump vent and seal the vent when full of liquid. Check liquid flows from the pump
drain.
• 7
• Start chilled water flow to the bottoms cooler and condenser. Check the rotameter float is at or
near the top of its range. 77