Finding air leaks by ultrasound
A
Logis-Tech Associates product story
Edited by the Laboratorytalk editorial team
May 3, 2004
A good leak prevention programme will include identification, tracking, repair, verification, and employee involvement and use of one an ultrasonic acoustic detector set
Since air leaks are almost impossible to see, the best way to detect leaks is to use an ultrasonic acoustic detector, which can recognise the high frequency hissing sounds associated with air leaks.
These portable units consist of directional microphones, amplifiers, and audio filters, and have visual indicators and/or earphones to detect leaks.
How to fix leaks.
Leaks occur most often at joints and connections.
Stopping leaks can be as simple as tightening a connection or as complex as replacing faulty equipment such as couplings, fittings, pipe sections, hoses, joints, drains, and traps.
In many cases leaks are caused by bad or improperly applied thread sealant.
Select high quality fittings, disconnects, hose, tubing, and install them properly with appropriate thread sealant.
Non-operating equipment can be another additional source of leaks.
Equipment no longer in use should be isolated with a valve in the distribution system.
Another way to reduce leaks is to lower the demand air pressure of the system.
The lower the pressure differential across an orifice or leak, the lower the rate of flow, so reduced system pressure will result in reduced leakage rates.
Stabilising the system header pressure at its lowest practical range will minimise the leakage rate for the system.
Once leaks have been repaired, the compressor control system should be re-evaluated to realise the total savings potential.
A leak prevention programme.
A good leak prevention programme will include the following components: identification (including tagging), tracking, repair, verification, and employee involvement and use of one of the EP range of ultrasonic acoustic detector sets.
The Logis-Tech EP542A and EP2400 detector sets are ideal instruments.
All facilities with compressed air systems should establish an aggressive leak program.
A cross-cutting team involving decision-making representatives from production should be formed.
A leak prevention program should be part of an overall program aimed at improving the performance of compressed air systems.
Once the leaks are found and repaired, the systems throughout the plant should all be re-evaluated.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Logis-Tech Associates
Related Stories
- Mettler Toledo re-launches balance portfolio
- Microfluidic device enables high-throughput mixing
- Distillation system produces ultra-pure acids
- Milestone releases updated Ultraclave IV
- Submersible magnetic stirrers start up jerk-free
Articles by product category
-
Analytical instruments (8,805)
- Analytical instruments (13)
- Chemical analysis equipment (631)
- Chromatographs: gas (241)
- Chromatographs: liquid, ion, gel, HPLC (427)
- Chromatography accessories (503)
- Gas analysis equipment (219)
- pH and conductivity meters (114)
- Cameras and imaging systems (820)
- Electron microscopy systems (209)
- Optical microscopes (448)
- Microscope supplies and accessories (558)
- Mass spectrometers (458)
- Spectroscopy (535)
- Other analytical instruments (592)
- Particle size analysis equipment (555)
- Microplate readers (39)
- Temperature, pressure and flow measurement (262)
- Spectrophotometers (273)
- Titration equipment (655)
- Ultrasound equipment and ultrasonic spectroscopy (118)
- Viscometers and rheometers (346)
- Oscilloscopes (83)
- Mechanical testing equipment (492)
- Test and calibration instrumentation (214)
-
Life sciences and clinical laboratory equipment (3,579)
- Life sciences and clinical laboratory equipment (3)
- Clinical chemistry analysis (898)
- Nucleic acid sequencing and synthesis (637)
- Genomics (459)
- Proteomics (450)
- Assay kits (185)
- Microbiology (383)
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (240)
- Cell/tissue handling and counting (324)
-
Computer hardware (826)
- Computer hardware (7)
- Dataloggers (302)
- I/O devices (362)
- Monitors and peripherals (50)
- Process control and networking (79)
- PLCs (26)
-
Industry news (19)
- Industry news (19)
-
Laboratory equipment and wares (5,937)
- Laboratory equipment and wares (5)
- Safety and ventilation equipment (322)
- General lab equipment (831)
- Workstations (61)
- Detectors, sensors and probes (375)
- Lab automation equipment and robotics (651)
- Laboratory furniture and storage (151)
- Gas handling (125)
- Heating: ovens, furnaces, autoclaves (331)
- Fermentation and incubation equipment (73)
- Microplates/microarrays and readers (397)
- Microfluidics/Lab-on-a-chip systems (142)
- Distillation equipment (16)
- Sampling equipment (156)
- Environmental chambers (88)
- Fume cupboards ductless (79)
- Laboratory glassware (400)
- Liquid handling (415)
- Cooling: refrigeration (198)
- Washing and sterilisation equipment (207)
- Fume cupboards ducted (31)
- HTS and combinatorial chemistry equipment (57)
- Evaporation equipment (166)
- Weighing and balancing (240)
- Centrifuges (47)
- Water purification (213)
- Laboratory plasticware (160)
-
Laboratory supplies and consumables (1,271)
- Laboratory supplies and consumables (2)
- Culture media (119)
- Reagents and catalysts (169)
- Antibodies (203)
- Cleaning products (65)
- Reference standards (178)
- Chemicals and biochemicals (534)
-
Pumps, Valves, Filters (708)
- Automated Valves (66)
- Filtration equipment and supplies (176)
- Metering pumps (109)
- Other pumps (63)
- Peristaltic pumps (65)
- Vacuum pumps and compressors (144)
- Manual Valves (85)
-
Services (2,989)
- Contract research (889)
- Laboratory and scientific exhibitions and conferences (230)
- Laboratory and scientific recruitment (26)
- Laboratory and scientific consultancy services (288)
- Laboratory and scientific training and education (413)
- Laboratory building and design (50)
- Laboratory and scientific manufacturing services (136)
- Laboratory and scientific professional organisations (482)
- Laboratory and scientific books and publishing (475)
-
Computer software (2,882)
- Computer software (4)
- Chemical modelling software (181)
- Laboratory and scientific databases (327)
- Instrument control software (320)
- Laboratory information management system (LIMS) (721)
- Mathematical software (163)
- Process control and networking software (52)
- Data acquisition software (171)
- Chromatography software (284)
- Spectroscopy software (92)
- Analytical, statistical and report generating software (284)
- Data management software (283)
