Inspection of floating roofs
The inspection of floating roofs on active storage tanks presents various risks, including structural failure, roof tilting, or perforation. They must be regularly monitored to prevent these risks. Tanks that store products hazardous to people or the environment are subject to regulatory inspections, as stipulated in the decrees of October 4th and 5th, 2010. This Industrial Facilities Modernization Plan (PM2I) covers inventory, initial condition assessment, and the required inspection plan.
Client challenges
The most common degradation mode is internal thickness loss. This degradation occurs particularly in the vapor space and is accelerated by the acidity, temperature, or density of the stored product. To quantify these losses, thickness measurements are taken on the roof. Since the inspection areas are sometimes degraded (with foam, dirt, etc.), measurements may require prior cleaning.
Work in this area combines ATEX and confined space risks, making it complex to manage.
SOLUTION
For these reasons, a maintenance manager at a petroleum site consulted us. He wanted to inspect his floating roofs while minimizing operator intervention in this high-risk area. For over 10 years, we have been working on robots and solutions that help prevent operators from taking risks in their work environment. For this industrial client, we deployed the UT_Rover robot. It is equipped with wheels and magnets that allow it to move across the roofs. This robot features a cleaning head that scrubs the inspection surface for optimal measurements.
It also carries a thickness measurement chain, which measures the wall thickness every centimeter and records the digitized signal for later analysis. This approach greatly increases the likelihood of detecting localized corrosion. Furthermore, the B-scan report delivered provides the client with a clear profile of the tank roof’s thickness. Thousands of measurement points are summarized and ready to be used to plan any necessary maintenance operations.
On this project, the special design of the UT_Rover allowed for rapid intervention without exposing operators to high-risk areas.
RESULTS
In conclusion, it took us 2 days to complete the project. As a result, our client avoided working at heights and benefited from a much more detailed report thanks to the B-scan.
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