Plant Utilities worked example
Compressed Air Leak Loss with compressor power serving leaks of 45 kW: a worked example
What does the result look like when compressor power serving leaks reaches 45 kW? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when reviewing compressed air leak loss for a utility budget, maintenance priority, capacity check, energy project, or production support plan.
The inputs for this scenario
- Compressor power serving leaks: 45 kW (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 18)
- Leak operating hours: 720 hr (unchanged)
- Blended electricity rate: 0.11 $ / kWh (unchanged)
- Production units made during leak period: 50,000 units (unchanged)
Working through the calculation
- Applying the documented formula (Total compressed air leak loss cost = compressor power serving leaks × leak operating hours × blended electricity rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
- At this operating point the engine returns 3,564 $ for total compressed air leak loss cost, the number this scenario is built around.
- At this operating point the engine returns 32,400 kWh for compressed air leak loss energy used.
- At this operating point the engine returns 0.07 $ / unit for cost per production unit.
- At this operating point the engine returns 4.95 $ / hr for hourly compressed air leak loss cost.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where compressor power serving leaks sits at 18 kW and the headline result is 1,426 $, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 3,564 $.
- A figure at this level is achievable when compressor power serving leaks is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It captures only direct electricity cost — not the extra maintenance, shortened compressor life, or the frequent case where leaks force an entire extra compressor online at part-load.
Results at a glance
- Total compressed air leak loss cost: 3,564 $ (headline result)
- Compressed Air Leak Loss energy used: 32,400 kWh
- Cost per production unit: 0.07 $ / unit
- Hourly compressed air leak loss cost: 4.95 $ / hr
Run it with your numbers
- Every input above is editable in the live Compressed Air Leak Loss calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.