Robot Performs In-Service Tank Inspection – Keeps Railroad’s Locomotives On Time
Robot Performs In-Service Tank Inspection – Keeps Railroad’s Locomotives On Time
1 PagesA robotic inspection system was deployed to perform an internal ultrasonic thickness inspection of a large diesel storage tank at a rail fueling facility while the tank remained in service. The robot was inserted through a roof manway and navigated the tank bottom using thrusters and wheels while collecting phased-array ultrasonic testing data and visual inspection data. Over 3.5 days, the robot inspected 81% of the tank bottom and 95% of the accessible inspection area without interrupting daily fuel supply operations of approximately 80,000 gallons. The analysis identified localized corrosion and confirmed the structural condition of the tank foundation. Because the inspection was performed without draining the tank, the operator avoided significant operational disruptions and extended the next internal inspection interval to nearly 18 years.
