Inspection of Storage Tank Hoops: Thickness Measurement Without Working at Heights
Storage tanks that hold products hazardous to people or the environment are subject to regulatory inspections, as specified in the decrees of October 4th and 5th, 2010. This Industrial Facilities Modernization Plan (PM2I) covers the inventory, initial condition assessment, and the required inspection plan.
This inspection plan is defined in the DT94 framework, which determines the inspections to be performed during the annual visit, the quinquennial check (external inspections), and the decennial check (external and internal inspections).
Client challenges
The decennial inspection involves both external and internal controls, presenting multiple challenges for the operator. First, the equipment must be available to be emptied for the project, and some production tanks sometimes have only a few days of downtime per year. The bottom inspection includes measuring the sheet thickness and checking the welds, often requiring cleaning or surface preparation to enable these inspections. These interventions take place in confined spaces and sometimes on ATEX-rated tanks, necessitating enhanced HSE planning and management, such as atmosphere monitoring, mechanical ventilation, and a manhole attendant, among other measures.
SOLUTION
For these reasons, a maintenance manager at a sugar plant consulted us. He needed to perform the decennial inspection of a tank measuring 20 m in diameter and 16 m in height. For this industrial client, we deployed the UT_Pole telescopic boom, the Altiscan robot, ACFM, and a 3D laser scanner. We then followed the DT94 recommendations and achieved the B-C inspection grade desired by the operator. The welds at the bottom of the tank were inspected using ACFM. Thickness measurements were carried out continuously along the tank walls with Altiscan and UT_Pole, and spot measurements were taken at the tank bottom. The delivered B-scan report provides the client with a clear profile of the tank’s shell thickness, summarizing thousands of data points that are ready to be used for calculation reports and to plan any necessary maintenance operations.
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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