Estimating loss due to leakage

[micjk]

I am currently doing an ultrasonic leak detection survey of the building that I work in. Air and N2 leaks are the prime targets in this survey. Has any one done a "dollars lost"/year type survey like this before. What should I take into account to estimate losses ie pressure, line size, cost/m scfh, etc. and is there some kind of generic formula to estimate leakage amts. I know how to figure $$$$$ but with different size leaks how would you know amts.
Hope this makes sense.

Roy Gariepy
Maintenance and Reliability Dept.
Bayer Corporation Dorlastan Fibers Div.
Goose Creek, South Carolina USA

 

[quark]

http://www.cleandryair.com/system_leaks.htm

Believe it or not : A cobweb with it's strands a pencil width, can catch hold of a concord. All questions directed to Discovery Channel.

 

[micjk]

Thanks quark,
Excellent link, just what I was looking for.

Roy Gariepy
Maintenance and Reliability Dept.
Bayer Corporation Dorlastan Fibers Div.
Goose Creek, South Carolina USA

 

[micjk]

Quark,
The link you pointed me to had a nice chart for scfm for compressed air. do you or any one else for that matter know of one for nitrogen, steam, or natural gas. If not I'll do the calcs. Sorry for seeming lazy, it's been a long day (and of course doesn't hurt to ask).

Roy Gariepy
Maintenance and Reliability Dept.
Bayer Corporation Dorlastan Fibers Div.
Goose Creek, South Carolina USA

 

[TD2K]

Nitrogen will essentially be the same as air, considering air is 79% N2.

For the others, flow rate of the gas in question would be proportional to the square root of the molecular weight of the gas to that of air times the flow rate for air.

That's a rough estimate for the same pressure. If the temperature is significantly different, you'll need to adjust for that also.

 

[micjk]

Thanks td2k

Roy Gariepy
Maintenance and Reliability Dept.
Bayer Corporation Dorlastan Fibers Div.
Goose Creek, South Carolina USA

 

[quark]

This link gives you approximate idea about steam leakage. There is a chart which directly shows energy losses (vis-a-vis hole size and pressure).

http://www.pnl.gov/fta/15_steamtrap/15_steamtrap.htm

It seems you are more into calculation of savings

The trick always lies in considering all the inherent inputs and advantages.

For example, as yours is a big company, man power cost will be high. You should add operators wages, cost of consumables and cost of attached utility viz., cooling towers and pumps etc.

There may be some parts of equipment whose life is given in no. of operating cycles. Arresting leakage will reduce the no. of working hours of the equipment and this may become substantial over a period of one year.

etc....etc....

Good Luck,


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