Up Time Magazine- April/May 2008 - (Page 56) and assuming rounded openings (multiply by 0.97), we find that 1 leak with a 1/4” rounded opening at 100 psig, much like the tube leak at 90 psig, would cost $5,622.00 a year. Airborne ultrasound has been around for some 35+ years, and these instruments have, without a doubt, been the reason so many companies have been able to stay afloat. In fact, one of the largest steel mills in America sent me a story about a compressed air leak audit their plant performed that saved this plant as much as $1 million a year. Now you may not have anywhere near the potential savings as that massive steel mill, but what about production or manufacturing in your plant? Do they have enough air to meet the demand? I just completed an air leak audit at one plant that had four 100 hp screw compressors which could not keep up with the demand for air. This plant’s need for air was getting very critical. However, they waited until the last minute, and it almost cost them a production day. You can give excuses or blame it on the fact that you are overworked and understaffed. Or, you can initiate a “leak prevention program” or simply perform a “compressed air leak audit”. Sometimes these numbers really look huge, but what if we didn’t fix the leaks such as those above the mezzanine that I mentioned earlier? $17k almost $18k a year for those particular leaks, the aggravating noise, not to mention the damage to someone’s hearing that might be working in that area day-in and day-out? Hey, be part of the solution to reduce the cost of air and make the workplace a better place to work. The safety department in your plant already has guidelines in place and regulations stating they must meet and monitor occupational noise in the workplace. I have actually heard from one client who was able to get the support of safety, and that extra support was critical in selling the concept of his leak audit. Jim Hall is the president of Ultra-Sound Technologies (UST), a vendor-neutral company providing on-site predictive maintenance consultation and training. UST provides an Associate Level, Level I & II Airborne Ultrasound Certification. Jim is also a regular provider of on-line presentations at ReliabilityWeb.com and a contributing editor for Uptime Magazine. Jim has provided airborne ultrasound training for several Fortune 500 Companies in electrical generation, pulp & paper, petrochemical and transportation. A 17-year civil service veteran, Jim served as an aerospace engineering technician for Naval Aviation Engineering Service Unit (NAESU) and with the Naval Aviation Depot Jacksonville, FL (NADEP). Jim is also president of All Leak Detection, LLC a leak detection company providing air leak audits above and below ground leaks. All photos courtesy of All Leak Detection, LLC, Woodstock GA. 56 24 april/may 2008 http://www.ReliabilityWeb.com http://www.alltestpro.com http://www.alltestpro.com
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