Industrial Fluid Systems Blog

Finding the True Cost of Compressed Gas Leaks in Dollars (UltraView Demo)

We are now faster and more thorough than ever at helping customers achieve leak-free systems, which can slash energy use and other costs.

Hundreds of Canadian industrial facilities around Edmonton, Fort McMurray, and Drayton Valley have realized millions of dollars in savings in recent years from our Compressed Gas Leak Detection Service. In 2023, we've improved this service by investing in advanced technology for leak detection that enables Edmonton Valve Field Advisors like James Dickie to show customers in real time where leaks are and what they cost.


In this clip James Dickie discusses the latest ultrasound technology we use in compressed gas leak detection. The ultra-sensitive equipment can hear the sound of escaping air, and translate that into data and images for a trained inspector. Ultrasound is fast too. Our team almost always finds leaks during a one hour demo (see below) then, if hired, can usually inspect a moderate size industrial facility in a single day. For more info, get our Leak Detection with UltraView® Pull Sheet.

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"In 99 out of 100 cases, if we get a chance to look, we find leaks," explains Dickie, reflecting on 20+ years working with Swagelok customers. "We show the dollar cost of each leak per year, and what the cause is. A fix might take their technician a couple of hours. That's why this service typically pays for itself many many times over."

Even if only compressed air is leaking, stopping leaks cuts kilowatt hours (KWh) consumed to run air compressors. "If helium, argon, hydrogen, or another gas is leaking, savings from leak mitigation will be exponentially higher," adds Dickie.

Air can leak at threaded connections, quick-connects, hoses, valves... anywhere that a human interfaces with the line has the potential for an air leak.

Our Custom Solutions manager Tristian McCallion, who's served hundreds of Swagelok customers over more than three decades, once estimated that systems that have not been thoroughly inspected for leaks lose 25% to 30% of their compressed air through leaks, on average.

And whatever amount of energy is in a compressed air line, it takes many times more electrical energy to get it there. (Think about the last time you used a bicycle pump. The higher the pressure in the system, the hotter the pump gets. The same thing happens with an air compressor: It generates a lot of heat to get the line pressure up to where you want it.)

"Fixing air leaks not only eases the load on the air compressor, it means you can put off buying additional equipment as the old compressor nears capacity," points out Dickie.

Request a free demo at your facility

Ultraview display

How much money are you losing to leaks? Allow us to visit for a one-hour demo and we'll find savings opportunities. No cost or commitment. 

Visit Leak Detection Services page

 

After we conduct an onsite inspection, we can help quantify each issue's impact on your operation, factoring in severity, safety concerns, energy costs, emissions, product quality, and several other factors. The report you receive is packed with detail including photos of each leak, its root cause, and more.

Can we answer any questions? Please get in touch:

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In addition to regular contact options, we offer 24x7 On Call Technical Support at 780-237-7109. Just dial the number and request the on-call Field Advisor.


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