Software Support for the Evaluation of Energy Losses from Leaks

This article presents a computational tool developed to evaluate the potential energy savings in existing industrial utility systems with a focus on leak losses. The tool involves the conceptual material covered in undergraduate courses and is based on field measurements in an industrial plant area. The development of this study considered the pressure gradient method as a reference for the loss analyses along a stretch of pipe. Starting from pressure measurements, it was possible to estimate leak rates, power losses in air compressors, the corresponding fuel consumption in boilers, and monthly extra spending due to the excessive power consumption. The work resulted in the development of software in C# programming language, which allows us to estimate potential energy savings and disseminate the academic concepts of energy efficiency, joining engineering, scientific programming, and field measurements. The guiding principle for the development of this work was based on methodology and reflects a real-world situation in industries.