Portable fault locating devices use ultrasonics to detect the unique signature of losses in compressed air or vacuum installations
Compressed air is widely used and an effective propellant for many types of machines used in various locations within many industries: car industry, hospital service, laboratories, shipping, heavy industrial engineering plants, etc.
Almost 90% of industries use compressed air in some aspect of their daily use/production.
One similarity discovered is that throughout all industry wasted energy in compressed air is quite common.
However compressed air (and other gases) are at the same time a very large cost to the company's budget each year.
It is therefore sensible to continuously inspect the company's air, vacuum or gas installations on a frequent basis.
Portable fault locating detectors are ideally suited, especially in noisy environments, to be used in energy conservation, predictive maintenance and proactive maintenance programmes for leak detection and mechanical inspection.
Logis-Tech Associates has recently introduced to the UK a range of ultrasonic devices for listening to leaks in compressed air and vacuum installations, leaks in tanks, etc, and to listen to mechanical noise from for example in ball bearings or other movable parts.
A leakage test may prevent more serious and costly problems from occurring or even show that the installation of a newer larger compressor is unnecessary.
The Logis-Tech EP equipment consists of a very sensitive listening detector where a headphone or an authorised hearing protector with loudspeaker can be connected.
The system works by 'listening' at a frequency band that normally is non-audible for humans - from 20 kHz and upwards, (ultrasonic).
This is unique, as air leaks generate a lot of ultrasonic.
Audible noises from the surroundings are filtered off so that the device can be ideally used in a noisy environment. The Logis-Tech EP equipment can also be used with an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits pulsating ultrasonic.
The transmitter is placed inside the item to be examined, which is then closed. The user can then examine the item from the outside and can easily detect, any leaks.
Air leakage can be defined as consumed air that contributes nothing to production.
In a well-managed system, wasteful air leaks should not exceed 5-10% of net production consumption.
This acceptable leakage still costs the company money.
