Extremophile robots : inspection in hazardous areas
Inspection robots allow safe maintenance in challenging spaces
Maintenance in industrial settings is essential to maximise efficiency and prevent accidents , but can be a hazardous and difficult job . In these harsh conditions , robots can perform inspection and maintenance tasks to safeguard human workers . Here Stewart Goulding , managing director of drive system supplier , EMS , looks at some of the industrial environments where robots dare to venture .
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Some of the world ’ s most valuable industries , such as the power generation and oil and gas industries , bring high risk as well as important commodities . Regular maintenance at their sites is crucial for preventing accidents and failures , but performing inspection tasks can be difficult and dangerous . Inspection robots allow these duties to be completed easily and safely .
Boiler benefits Robots are able to carry out maintenance tasks in the hard to access , hazardous and dirty environment of a water tube boiler . These boilers are commonly used in steam turbine power generation , but also in other industries such as chemical processing and paper manufacturing . Water is fed into the system and travels through tubes past a furnace to produce superheated steam .
If damage to these boilers , such as material corrosion , is left unchecked , there can be catastrophic safety implications and unplanned , costly interruptions to critical industrial processes .
Inspection robots are capable of performing maintenance tasks easily and to a high standard . They can crawl along the water tubes and carry out visual inspections using a camera system . They then measure the thickness of the tube walls using ultrasonic thickness sensors and clean the tubes .
Conducting maintenance tasks with a robotic system , rather than human workers , holds a number of benefits . As
Inspection robots are capable of performing maintenance tasks easily and to a high standard .
the robots can be operated remotely , human workers remain out of harm . In addition , many traditional preparation tasks , such as securing work permits and assembling scaffolding , are no longer required , therefore saving time and money .
Oil and gas orienteering Remote-controlled inspection robots hold benefits in other high risk environments , such as those in the oil and gas industry . If damage goes unnoticed , dangerous consequences can follow , such as leakages , failures and explosions . Regular inspection is important , but can be challenging where equipment is in tight or hazardous spaces , or in the case of offshore oil rigs , underwater . In these situations , inspection robots are replacing traditional human inspections , performing tasks such as gauge readings and monitoring acoustic abnormalities .
Meritorious motors When designing inspection robots , it ’ s important that engineers choose motors with high reliability , as a robot failure would require a complicated recovery job . Keeping the system compact should also be a priority for design engineers , so that the robots can fit into tight spaces , such as water tubes .
The FAULHABER BXT flat brushless motors offer a short drive solution with class-leading torque , therefore delivering high power while still being able to fit into small space envelopes within inspection robots . EMS is the sole UK supplier of FAULHABER motors , which are all made in a high precision manufacturing process that ensures the greatest accuracy and reliability .
Keeping industrial equipment in check ensures operations run safely and efficiently , but maintenance can be challenging and dangerous for human workers to carry out . Inspection robots can perform inspection tasks in tight and hazardous areas , helping to keep important equipment running and workers safe .
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