Air leaks are costly. It is estimated that 25% of an average manufacturing plant’s power is spent on compressed air, with some 20% of this air leaking to the atmosphere. Using flowmeter results and software from Suto-iTec in Germany, the cost of air leaks can be monitored and corrective action taken, reducing costs substantially.
Artic Driers International offers a wide range of ultrasonic leak detection equipment, and can also hire out technicians by the day to evaluate a system’s air losses and calculate the cost to company. Artic can also take flow readings in conjunction with ultrasonic testing to ensure that all leaks are located. The company is able to provide costs per air leak, along with the actual air flow per leak. This is presented on a spreadsheet to allow the sorting of leak locations by priority.
Air flowmeters, fixed or static, also allow for accurate selection of new compressors and air treatment ancillary equipment on plants, allowing engineers to make informed decisions on the type of equipment and size to purchase. This ensures optimum performance on site.
Dew point monitoring can be done with a standalone unit that monitors a system’s water content, or it can be part of a bigger and more comprehensive instrument set. A dew point probe will give a pre-alert for a wide range of faults, for example bypass valves left open, blocked dryer drains, dryers that have tripped, faulty freon compressors, and even fractured heat exchangers.
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