Page 354 - Reciprocating Compressors Operation Maintenance

Troubleshooting Compressor Problems 339

Using 110 HP, a utility charge of $.08/kw-hr, and assuming 8000 hrs of
operation per year:

1 1 0 HP x .746 - x — — — x 8000 Hrs -s- .9 motor efficiency
HP KW/HR
= $58, 354 /year

The importance of our recommendation to check your compressor sys-
tem for leaks is intuitively evident.
For good measure, here's another short service report:
Underground air line leak was leaking through ground to surface. Sys-
tem pressure was at 100 psig. The service person exposed the leak to find
a %-inch diameter hole in the line. A %" diameter hole passes 104 cfm of
air at 100 psig. This is equivalent to 21.5 Hp at 100 psig. The cost was
calculated using the information in the above example:

2 1. 5 x. 746 x. 08x8000 d. 1tAnfeil
Cost = - = $11, 405.5 I/year

The bottom line is simply this: Air leaks can be prohibitively expen-
sive, Conscientious maintenance makes economic sense!