CONTENTS Compressed Air Leak

Compressed Air Leak

Compressed air is used in almost every industry, including the food, dairy, beverage, brewing, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, petroleum, oil & gas, offshore and all process industries. It is a vital source of converted energy which can be used as a source of power for pneumatic systems and processes.

Yet many compressed air equipment is compromised by wear and poor maintenance practices, which contribute to compressed air contamination and the greatest waste of all – the ever-present leaks. These leaks can be hidden behind machines, at connection points, overhead in fixed pipes, or in cracked pipes or worn hoses. Leakage is the major source of energy loss in compressed air applications. A typical plant may lose 20% of its compressed air, the waste adds up quickly and can even lead to capital expenses, rework, downtime or quality issues and increased maintenance costs. Fixing the leaks and introducing predictive maintenance can produce substantial savings. While this is a known issue, detecting air leaks has been timeconsuming and difficult until now.