Compressed Air Leak Detection

The production of compressed air involves significant costs, which is why even a small leak can lead to substantial losses. Detecting and eliminating these leaks is a common challenge. To reduce these losses, modern equipment for detecting compressed air leaks is used. They provide information about leaks, their size, and the associated costs. This knowledge helps establish a plan for corrective actions.

By detecting and eliminating leaks in a timely manner, it’s possible to save up to 35% of the energy costs associated with compressors. Continuous leak detection can also reduce the number of compressors needed to maintain the system and lower the pressure in the installation. Therefore, regular inspections of the installation, including the compressor room, pipes, hoses, and endpoints, are recommended. Ultrasonic inspections and machine maintenance are also advised to ensure efficient operation.

Energy Trend offers compressed air leak detection services. After the service is performed, you will receive a report containing a photo of each leak, a description of its location, and information about its size. Each leak will be precisely marked and described, allowing for a quick and effective repair.

Compressed air leak detection can be performed using various methods. The more technologically advanced the method used, the more effective the optimization of compressed air will be. The traditional method of detection relies on listening for characteristic hissing sounds. However, this method has many drawbacks, such as detecting only significant leaks, and its effectiveness is limited in noisy environments. Currently, ultrasonic acoustic sensors are most commonly used to detect leaks. These are portable electronic devices that recognize high-frequency sounds emitted by escaping air. However, it should be noted that their operation is not straightforward and requires the presence of an operator near the device, making them unsuitable for detecting leaks in hard-to-reach areas.

The most advanced method of leak detection is the use of a special industrial camera. It allows for detecting leaks from a distance, even in challenging conditions such as hard-to-reach areas and noisy environments. These cameras can detect sound waves over a wider frequency range than ultrasonic devices and have highly sensitive microphones. As a result, they can detect both sounds and ultrasonic waves. Based on the recorded sounds, these cameras create so-called sound maps, which visually represent the locations of leaks, such as photos or video images on an LCD screen.