Can drone tech improve safety in industrial asset inspections?

The Elios 3 drone helped inspect 600m of pipe racks, costing 60 per cent less than traditional inspection methods and taking just 2 days to complete, Eloise McMinn Mitchell, Content & Communications Manager at Flyability, tells OGN

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PIPE RACKS, though often overlooked, are the critical lifelines of industrial plants. These elevated structures, which organise and stabilise pipelines, are essential for the efficient operation of sites in various industries, including oil refineries, power plants, and chemical processing facilities.

However, the complexity of pipe rack infrastructure poses significant challenges for inspection and maintenance.

The raised nature of these structures necessitates the use of specialised equipment and techniques, such as cherry pickers, rope access, or scaffolding.

These methods, while essential to the inspection process, introduce inherent risks, including falls, electrical hazards, and exposure to hazardous substances.

Regular and thorough inspections are crucial to identify potential issues such as sagging, corrosion, structural fatigue, and leaks. Early detection of these problems can prevent costly repairs, environmental damage, and safety hazards.

Turner Specialty Services Inspection and NDE Industries, a division of Turner Industries Group, a leading provider of turnkey industrial services and solutions, was tasked with a significant inspection challenge: examining over 2,000 ft (600 m) of elevated pipe racks.

To address this complex task, the team leveraged the advanced capabilities of the Elios 3 inspection system by Switzerland-based drone specialists Flyability.

DRONE INSPECTION REVOLUTIONISES PIPE RACK INSPECTION

Since 1970, Turner Specialty Services (TSS) has been committed to ensuring the integrity and reliability of industrial assets through its non-destructive examination (NDE) and inspections group.

One such technology is drone inspection, which has revolutionised the way they approach complex inspection tasks.