The other day I performed a Google search for ‘How to detect an air leak’. Not surprisingly it came up with millions of results, over 18 million in fact. Whether solving the problem in a commercial establishment or a domestic home environment, the majority of search results pointed to one solution. Namely, soapy water! Before Read more
trades
The other day I performed a Google search for ‘How to detect an air leak’. Not surprisingly it came up with millions of results, over 18 million in fact.
Whether solving the problem in a commercial establishment or a domestic home environment, the majority of search results pointed to one solution. Namely, soapy water!
Before we all ridicule the idea as belonging to a bygone era, take a vehicle with a slow puncture to a tyre fitting depot and the chances are they remove the wheel and spin it in water to determine the leak. It’s a simple time proven method for determining leaks from pressurized systems.
But of course, not all equipment can be placed in soapy water. What if a system is known to be losing pressure and yet the lines carrying the compressed air from the source are located 10 metres above the ground, and dismantling the system is out of the question? Thankfully there is a fast and effective solution to hand.
Each time air or indeed any gas, leaks from a pressured system there is an associated sound. If the leak is significant, it can be audible to the human ear and therefore easily identified and rectified accordingly. However, most leaks in high pressure systems are extremely small and are out of the range of a human ear.
Think about a pressured air system on a large factory delivering compressed air from a bank of compressors to various stages of production throughout the manufacturing process. The chances are there are hundreds if not thousands of connections in the form of joints, reducers, valves, elbows, condensers etc. Each of these has the potential to leak small amounts of air, reducing the pressure of the system.
One leak might make very little difference but multiply this by the number of potential leaking joints and efficiency can be significantly compromised. The compressor will seek to compensate for any pressure loss by simply working harder. However, as any engineer will know, compressors can be expensive to operate in terms of energy and therefore will certainly increase an operators energy consumption.
With electricity costs being so much higher in Europe due to geopolitical factors in recent years, most companies are seeking to reduce the amount of energy used. Having a compressor work overtime to compensate for leaking joints is certainly not something senior management would smile about!
These scenarios are certainly not uncommon, in fact one European compressor manufacturer has stated that in some industrial settings, up to 80% of air generated is lot in leaks. So clearly identifying these small leaks can make a real difference to a company’s energy bills.
Although the sound produced by a small leak is inaudible to the human ear a high performance acoustic imaging camera such as the FLIR Teledyne Si2 – LD will have absolutely no problem identifying the source. Launched earlier this year the camera is capable of detecting leaks of 0.05 litres per minute at a distance of 10 metres, meaning those elevated air lines pose no problem for this latest instrument in the FLIR acoustic imaging camera line up.
For closer work the camera is even more sensitive and can detects minute leaks of 0.0032 litres per minute at a distance of 2.5 metres. Coupled with this improvement, the third-generation camera has improved microphones now capable of detecting sounds over an extremely wide frequency range, namely 2 – 130 kHz.
Areas of plant are often dark or dimly lit. for this reason FLIR have fitted the FLIR Si2-series of cameras with two powerful LED lights to make component identification easy even in poorly lit conditions.
Of course, it’s not just compressed air that the camera is capable of detecting; noise emitted by any escaping gas is identified by the powerful microphones. However that’s only part of the story.
The FLIR Si2-LD has built in software termed Industrial Gas Quantification. If the leaking gas is ammonia, hydrogen, helium, or carbon dioxide, very commonly used gases in a number of industries, the software is capable of quantifying the financial loss caused by the leak. By simply entering factors such as the cost per litre, the software identifies the amount each leak is causing over a given period of time. Such data is invaluable to financial analysts and senior management within an organisation.
It goes without saying that the financial considerations are only one aspect of leaking gas. The gases mentioned above all carry significant health hazards and can present a variety of dangers to personnel if allowed to leak for any period of time. Ammonia and carbon dioxide can cause serious breathing problems and asphyxiation even in smaller concentrations, whereas hydrogen can explode in the presence of oxygen. Clearly the cost of such problems goes way beyond any financial considerations.
We’ve come a long way since the ‘soap and water’ approach. See how the latest technology from FLIR Teledyne can help in reducing downtime, lower energy bills and improve safety in your organisation.
Visit www.flir.com or contact you local FLIR Teledyne agent or distributor.
Author: Darrell Taylor
Email: Darrell.Taylor@teledyne.com
Aalberts integrated piping systems (IPS), a global leader in advanced integrated piping systems for the distribution and control of liquids and gasses, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming ASPE Convention & Expo, taking place from October 18-23, 2024 in Columbus, OH. Aalberts IPS will be exhibiting at booth #1815, where attendees can Read more
Aalberts integrated piping systems (IPS), a global leader in advanced integrated piping systems for the distribution and control of liquids and gasses, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming ASPE Convention & Expo, taking place from October 18-23, 2024 in Columbus, OH. Aalberts IPS will be exhibiting at booth #1815, where attendees can explore the company’s latest innovations, services, and product lines, designed to deliver complete, tailored piping solutions across industries.
Aalberts IPS is renowned for its mission-critical products surrounding valve and connection technology, with a legacy spanning 96 years under its “Apollo”® Valves brand. The company offers a wide range of products, including: ball valves, butterfly valves, safety relief valves, control valves, mixing valves, backflow preventers, and more. These products are engineered domestically to meet the needs of key verticals from commercial to industrial and utility markets globally.
At the ASPE Convention & Expo, Aalberts IPS’ booth will feature key information about the company’s design and field services, as well as products like the Revit plug-in among the Shurjoint and “Apollo”® product lines. Aalberts IPS provides expert advice and support for piping applications, from the initial planning stages to the final implementation of piping systems. Their unique design service ensures that every project is optimized for efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, Aalberts IPS offers a comprehensive range of field services to ensure that piping systems are installed correctly and operate efficiently. Their experienced team provides on-site support, from installation to maintenance, ensuring long-term system reliability with minimal downtime.
Booth visitors will be able to witness the Aalberts IPS Revit plug-in, a powerful tool designed to streamline the design process, allowing engineers and architects to easily integrate Aalberts IPS products into their projects. This plug-in enhances project accuracy and efficiency, ensuring things are done right the first time and minimizing costly extended lead times. The Shurjoint range of mechanical piping solutions, which will also be highlighted at the event, is known for its versatility and ease of installation. This product line is designed to offer reliable and extremely durable pipe connections for a variety of piping systems whereas the “Apollo” SmartPress® line of press fittings and valves offer quick and secure connections, reducing installation time and costs while ensuring long-term reliability.
Peachtree City, Ga. — Rinnai America Corporation announced the grand prize winner of its PRO APPRECIATION Sweepstakes. The winner traveled to Georgia and visited Rinnai’s manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia and was later greeted at the company’s headquarters in Peachtree City by Rinnai leadership and city officials including Mayor Kim Learnard. Dave Koval of Dave Read more
Peachtree City, Ga. — Rinnai America Corporation announced the grand prize winner of its PRO APPRECIATION Sweepstakes. The winner traveled to Georgia and visited Rinnai’s manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia and was later greeted at the company’s headquarters in Peachtree City by Rinnai leadership and city officials including Mayor Kim Learnard.
Dave Koval of Dave Koval Plumbing & HVAC, located in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, was presented a new Ford F-150, valued at $70,000, during a live-stream event today at the Rinnai headquarters.
“I’m very fortunate to have won this incredible truck,” said Koval. “A huge thank you to Rinnai for this remarkable opportunity. We’ve recommended and installed Rinnai tankless water heaters for many years because they manufacture the best quality product, provide excellent customer service and an industry-leading warranty.”
Rinnai’s PRO APPRECIATION Sweepstakes was launched as part of an effort to drive excitement about its new SENSEI RX/RXP condensing tankless water heater, the company’s newest innovation in the tankless water heating category achieving an industry leading 0.98 UEF efficiency rating. From May 1 to July 31, each purchase of a SENSEI RX/RXP could be used to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win more than 200 prizes. PROs could enter as many times as they wanted to increase their chances of winning.
“Our PROs play a critical role in both the development and the launch of our products in the North American Market, and the PRO Appreciation Sweepstakes is our way of recognizing and thanking them for their support of Rinnai, said Frank Windsor, President, Rinnai America Corporation. I’m thrilled for Dave and the many other sweepstakes winners.”
In addition to the Ford F-150, Rinnai also awarded hundreds of other prizes, including a first-place prize of a Tony Stewart Racing Experience trip to Las Vegas.
For over 50 years Rinnai America has been bringing innovative products to the North American market that meet specific needs for the PRO.
The new SENSEI RX Series takes tankless innovation to the next level by offering features and benefits that are market-leading and support Rinnai’s continued brand promise of creating a healthier way of living®.
To learn more about the SENSEI RX/RXP, Built for the PRO, by the PRO™ please visit SENSEI RX (R)-US | Rinnai.
https://vimeo.com/1017199033?share=copy This week we’ll talk soaring heat pump sales numbers, we unveil an eye-popping number that 43% of students surveyed said they would consider a skilled trade if they had more information, and Milwaukee Tool expands, and did you know where the best states are to live to be in the trades Read more
This week we’ll talk soaring heat pump sales numbers, we unveil an eye-popping number that 43% of students surveyed said they would consider a skilled trade if they had more information, and Milwaukee Tool expands, and did you know where the best states are to live to be in the trades?
Skilled Careers Coalition Study Reveals Closing the Knowledge Gap is Key to Inspire Young People to Pursue a Skilled Career Los Angeles — The solution to closing the widening skilled labor gap and filling the millions of jobs anticipated between now and 2031 in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and other skilled industries, can be found Read more
Skilled Careers Coalition Study Reveals Closing the Knowledge Gap is Key to Inspire Young People to Pursue a Skilled Career
Los Angeles — The solution to closing the widening skilled labor gap and filling the millions of jobs anticipated between now and 2031 in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and other skilled industries, can be found among the U.S.’ more than 65 million youth between the ages of 10-24. The challenge however, according to the Skilled Careers Coalition (SCC), a nonprofit organization focused on bringing the youth of today to the skilled careers of tomorrow, is ensuring young adults and those who influence their career decisions understand a skilled career vs. the more traditional college or military track.
With skilled trades in high demand, Skilled Careers Coalition commissioned the Skilled Trade Insight Research Study to better understand why skilled careers are not being pursued by more young people.
“Our study found the leading obstacle preventing more young people from pursuing a skilled career is not a lack of interest, but a lack of information,” said Mark Hedstrom, Co-Executive Director, Skilled Careers Coalition. “Students have a clear idea of where a four-year college degree or military education can take them, however, they have little to no understanding about vocational schools and apprenticeships, and the dozens of high-paying, skills-based careers that exist across hundreds of industry sectors.”
Students, counselors and parents surveyed shared their perceptions on skilled trades vs. college and military career paths as part of the SCC study which found financial security is the top motivator for youth when choosing a career path, with 76% agreeing that a career in the skilled trades can lead to owning a business and entrepreneurial success. Students surveyed were also drawn to other key aspects of a skilled trade career including job stability, less debt, high quality of life, and high-income potential.
And yet, the SCC study found that only 15% of students surveyed were considering a technical or vocational school or apprenticeship post high school. A lack of information – cited by students, parents and counselors surveyed – emerged as the barrier keeping more youth from considering a skilled career path.
According to the SCC study, a majority of parents (80.3%), counselors (91.3%) and students (92%) surveyed agree that skilled trade workers are as important as first responders and service members. Additionally, when asked if society views those with a traditional college degree as more successful than those who pursue another option, 27% of counselors, 21.3% of parents, and 25.2% of students disagreed. Additional findings from the Skilled Careers Coalition study include:
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Students: 69% said it is outdated to assume a four-year degree is the best pathway to success; while more than 43% said they need more information on technical or vocational schools as an option.
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Parents: While 80% said they have the most influence on their child’s decision-making; less than half (48.8%) admit they do not have enough information about starting the technical or vocational school process for their child. Meanwhile, 84% believe skilled trades provide a stable career path, less time in school, less debt and an overall better quality of life.
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Counselors: Despite their positive perceptions about the skilled trades, more than half (53.9%) of counselors surveyed cite a lack of resources to help guide students who are interested in pursuing skilled trades or vocational programs; while 57% cite workload challenges preventing them from being able to properly understand what future path is best for a student. The majority of counselors surveyed (90%) agree they need to share more information with students and parents about a skilled career option.
Click here to download the complete nine-page Skilled Careers Coalition Skilled Trade Insight Research Study report.
According to SCC, colleges, universities and the military spend as much as $2.3 billion combined marketing to young adults with the goal of recruiting high school students post-graduation. However, for millions of high schoolers, these two options either lack appeal, or just don’t work.
Added Hedstrom, “Millions have built meaningful lives and careers in the skilled trades sector, which is experiencing the greatest demand as the skilled labor gap continues to widen. Skilled Careers Coalition is committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to address the knowledge gap that exists and advance a reimagining of skilled careers as a meaningful and fulfilling career path for younger generations.”
About the Study In June 2022, Skilled Careers Coalition conducted an online survey and series of focus groups in partnership with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). SCC’s Skilled Trade Insight Research Study methodology included students, counselors and parents and a total of 665 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 3.9%.
About Skilled Careers Coalition The Skilled Careers Coalition is on a mission to close the skilled trades gap in America with a three-pronged strategy to 1) INSPIRE the next generation of youth to see skilled careers as a pathway to lifelong happiness, financial success and career fulfillment; 2) CONNECT the disaggregated ecosystem of skilled trades across America by convening stakeholders across the workforce development landscape of private industry, educators, government, youth, and other interested career seekers; and 3) CONVERT interested Americans into the workforce of tomorrow through available and nascent job training platforms. For more information or to get involved visit https://skilledcareers.org.