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Newsletter 2006 issue 1 |
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Listening for Leaks
If the squeaky wheel gets the grease, does the hissing compressed air leak get fixed?
Not if you can’t hear the leak. Compressed air leaks “hiss” at a high frequency that is generally above the threshold of human hearing.
Using an ultrasonic leak detector, a MnTAP technical specialist can walk through your facility and find compressed air and steam trap leaks. An ultrasonic leak detector translates high frequency “sound”—ultrasound—into lower frequency sounds that people can hear.
Compressed air
Some compressed air leaks are audible if they are the right size and flow. Others are obvious by the jet of air you feel. Or, you might notice that your compressor is cycling more often than it should be.
Leaks can cause a compressor to run excessively, hiking your energy bill even higher. A distribution system under 100 psi, running 40 hours per week, with the equivalent of a quarter-inch diameter leak will lose compressed air at a rate of over 100 cubic feet per minute—costing over $2,800 per year.
Running excessively to maintain system pressure, compressors wear out sooner. With less air reaching the tools, they are subject to additional wear, and production time slows. Some people compensate for leaks by increasing system pressure. This uses more energy and wears out the compressor faster.
Steam traps
MnTAP can also use the leak detector to see if your steam traps leak. If a trap is stuck open, steam is lost to the drain—wasting its heating value and wasting money on fuel. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, approximately 20 percent of the steam leaving a central boiler plant is lost via leaking traps in typical space heating systems unless a proactive assessment program is in place.
Call MnTAP to request a site visit to detect leaks in your compressed air system or steam traps.
See MnTAP’s compressed air and steam Web resources.
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