Page 14 - MMI _ MayJune2021 (single-pages)

VIEWPOINT

TINY CHANGES, BIG IMPACT

Leaks are notorious for causing major operating losses including energy wastage
in an industrial compressed air system. Here are some sustainable actions that
can be taken to address them…

Source: Atlas Copco India Pvt Ltd

T he leaks in the air com- tion on the compressed air leaks. leakages less than 5 percent in
pressors often tend to It will also help in prioritizing a manufacturing plant.
get ignored, but they the actions on the leaks based
on the locations and repair them If not-so-ideal scenario
can be a considerable source of effectively in the compressor If the quantified air leaks are be-
room. This way, additionally, a tween 5 and 10 percent then it is
energy wastage in an industrial reasonable amount of energy advisable to perform a leak detec-
can be saved with lower energy tion test with an air audit expert.
compressed air system. A typi- consumption and by optimizing If the quantified leaks are more
the air compressor. than 10 percent then it should be
cal manufacturing facility or a fixed on high priority as they are
Acceptable leak percentage draining the resources. Here, the
plant (not properly serviced on Theoretically, there should recommendation is to take the
be zero percent compressed help of air audit experts who will
time) will likely have a leak rate air leakages in a manufactur- audit the compressed air system
ing plant. However, as there and provide the right solution to
close to 20 percent of total com- are considerable constraints, the issues.
it is not possible to eliminate However, if there are budget
pressed air production capacity. 100 percent leakages from the and time constraints, the fol-
compressed air site. Hence, lowing ways must be resorted
As per our energy managers, efforts are made to have the to for addressing the compres-
lowest percentage of leaks in sor air leaks in-house for sus-
a 1 mm hole can lead to the plant. As a thumb rule, the tainable energy savings:
energy experts always recom- • Create and observe leak
leakage of 3 cfm which may mend having compressed air
repair programs like ‘Leak
CONRAD LATHAM cost you approximately `22,000
General Manager
Compress Technique in a year. Leaks can also lead
Atlas Copco India
Pvt Ltd to various other operating
conrad.latham@
atlascopco.com losses as they cause a drop in

the overall system pressure,

which can make air tools func-

tion less efficiently, adversely

affecting production.

The method of leak quantifica-

tion can help in formulating a

strategy to take a sustainable ac-

14 | May-June 2021 Modern Manufacturing India