The Challenge Unveiled
The client needed a thorough inspection of their scrubber, a crucial component of their industrial process, to identify any defects. However, the high levels of CO² within the scrubber presented significant risks to operatives, making traditional inspection methods hazardous and impractical.
The Drone Solution in Action
OCT was called in to deploy their advanced confined space drone for the inspection. The drone, specifically designed for navigating and examining tight, hazardous environments, was the ideal solution for this task.
Execution
- Deployment: The confined space drone was launched into the scrubber, manoeuvring through its intricate and hard-to-reach areas with ease.
- Inspection: Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, the drone conducted a comprehensive inspection of the scrubber’s interior.
- Safety: By using the drone, OCT eliminated the need for human entry into the high CO² environment, ensuring the safety of personnel while maintaining the integrity of the inspection process.
Findings
During the inspection, the drone successfully identified several critical issues:
- Weld defects
- A damaged Lime distribution plate
These findings were precisely documented and highlighted, allowing the client to pinpoint the exact areas requiring attention.
Outcome
The use of OCT’s drone technology saved the client valuable time by providing accurate and immediate identification of defects. This enabled the client to efficiently plan and execute the necessary repairs, reducing the need for full internal scaffolding, minimising downtime and ensuring the scrubber’s optimal performance.
Conclusion
By leveraging cutting-edge drone technology, OCT provided a safe, efficient, and precise inspection solution for the client. This case study demonstrates the significant advantages of using drones for confined space inspections, particularly in hazardous environments, ensuring safety while delivering critical insights for maintenance and repair. This approach resulted in significant financial savings for the client, as they were able to avoid the time and costs associated with erecting and dismantling full scaffolding inside the scrubber. Instead, they were able to use a much smaller scaffolding platform, which could be easily accessed through the top of the scrubber and directly to the area of repair work.
