3 Reasons Why You Would Want To Test New Industrial Equipment For Leaks
It is a new industrial equipment; it should not leak at all, right? Well, technically, you are correct. Brand-new equipment installed properly should not leak. However, that does not mean it will not leak. You should have one of your plant's mechanical engineers test every newly-installed, new piece of equipment for leaks. Industrial leak testing is vital to the ongoing function and efficacy of this equipment. There are also a few other reasons why you would (and should!) want to test new equipment for leaks.
1. Dangerous Leaks
Gas leaks you cannot see and may not smell are your biggest reason for testing new machinery. If these machines send gases on through a line, you do not want those lines to leak. Most of the gases used in an industrial plant are highly toxic, and extremely lethal in large amounts. Some gases are even explosive, which is definitely something you do not want to happen in and around brand-new equipment.
It is not just gas leaks that are a problem either. Liquid leaks can be equally as fatal. Consider acids and other corrosive materials. When they are contained within pipes and vats, your employees are safe. When they are leaking, dripping, and/or running all over the floor, a fall or caustic burn case is imminent. Leaks of this nature, when they are under pressure, can spray into faces and eyes, causing lifelong irreparable damage.
2. Inefficiency Leaks
Leaks from inner systems that help keep the machinery lubricated are another issue. If your new machinery is not well-lubricated, it cannot function. If it cannot function properly, it strives to work and becomes inefficient. All of a sudden, you have new machinery that are consuming too much energy and grinding internally. You want to correct these leaks before you even bring the machinery online the first time.
3. Pressure Leaks
A lot of industrial equipment relies on compressed air or pressurized air. If your new equipment relies on either, it has to be air-tight. Any leaks in the system and your new machines will not be able to produce the necessary amount of compressed or pressurized air to do the tasks they were installed to do. Thankfully, pressurized air leaks are easily tested, and they will not cause personal harm to the person testing these machines. To be sure, you can use small amounts of plain water injected into the system to see if the water squirts out from anywhere.