Underwater Robot Precisely Maps Water Storage Tank Floor Defects 

The Inspector is a semi-autonomous, underwater robotic platform designed to deploy a variety of advanced, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) sensors to over 90% of a flat-bottom water storage tank of the type used at nuclear power plants, and to map the position of any indications with an accuracy of 1/8th inch (3 mm). 

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Surveying Nuclear Plant Storage Tank Integrity
Storage tanks at nuclear power plants are constructed of aluminum, stainless steel or carbon steel, and all have naturally occurring electro-chemical processes that can eventually deteriorate the metal, resulting in leaks. Defects that develop on the underside of tank floors are particularly difficult to detect and measure.

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) has recommended that all nuclear plant storage tanks undergo periodic inspection. Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods, such as eddy current and ultrasonic phased array are the most suitable technologies to inspect tank floor bottom plates. Using this equipment has meant taking a tank out of service by draining and ventilating it so that humans in protective clothing can enter and conduct the survey.

The Inspector Solves an Industry Problem
Inspector in-tank underwater robots perform NDE tank floor surveys without the necessity of draining or removing a tank from service:

• Inspector robots survey and map the condition of individual tank floor plates.

• Mounting options for NDE probes includes a indexable, twin-arm module.

• The navigation system can map and store the location of defects and later return 
  and place a sensor at the location of a defect with an accuracy of 1/8 inch (3 mm).

• Inspector robots can be deployed through a 19 inch-wide (48 cm) tank top hatch.

• Versions of the Inspector Robot are availble for Diesel, Petrochemical and other fluids.