Page 23 - Industrial Technology April 2021 issue

MACHINE BUILDING

In challenging spaces

ELECTRIC MOTORS

MAINTENANCE IN INDUSTRIAL
SETTINGS IS ESSENTIAL TO
MAXIMISE EFFICIENCY AND
PREVENT ACCIDENTS, BUT CAN BE
A HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT
JOB. IN THESE HARSH
CONDITIONS, ROBOTS CAN
PERFORM INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE TASKS TO
SAFEGUARD HUMAN WORKERS.
STEWART GOULDING, MANAGING
DIRECTOR OF EMS, LOOKS AT
SOME OF THE INDUSTRIAL
ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ROBOTS
DARE TO VENTURE.

ome of the world’s most valuable industries, such
as the power generation and oil and gas industries,
Sbring high risk as well as important commodities.
Regular maintenance at their sites is crucial for preventing
accidents and failures, but performing inspection tasks
can be difficult and dangerous. Inspection robots allow
these duties to be completed easily and safely.
Robots are able to carry out maintenance tasks in the
hard to access, hazardous and dirty environment of a water
tube boiler. These boilers are commonly used in steam
turbine power generation, but also in other industries such
as chemical processing and paper manufacturing. Water is
fed into the system and travels through tubes past a
furnace to produce superheated steam.
If damage to these boilers, such as material corrosion,
is left unchecked, there can be catastrophic safety
implications and unplanned, costly interruptions to critical
industrial processes. Therefore, regular maintenance of harsh environmental conditions throughout their the system compact should also be a priority for design
water tube boilers is highly important. Inspection robots operational life, and therefore require a thorough engineers, so that the robots can fit into tight spaces, such
are capable of performing maintenance tasks easily and to maintenance regime. as water tubes.
a high standard. They can crawl along the water tubes and Damage can occur from high pressures, corrosive The Faulhaber BXT flat brushless motors offer a short
carry out visual inspections using a camera system. They chemicals, wear and tear and extreme temperatures. If drive solution with class-leading torque, therefore
then measure the thickness of the tube walls using damage goes unnoticed, dangerous consequences can delivering high power while still being able to fit into small
ultrasonic thickness sensors and clean the tubes. follow, such as leakages, failures and explosions. Regular space envelopes within inspection robots. EMS is the sole
Conducting maintenance tasks with a robotic system, inspection is important, but can be challenging where UK supplier of Faulhaber motors, which are all made in a
rather than human workers, holds a number of benefits. equipment is in tight or hazardous spaces, or in the case high precision manufacturing process that ensures the
As the robots can be operated remotely, human workers of offshore oil rigs, underwater. greatest accuracy and reliability.
remain out of harm. In addition, many traditional In these situations, inspection robots are replacing Keeping industrial equipment in check ensures
preparation tasks, such as securing work permits and traditional human inspections. Robots can perform tasks operations run safely and efficiently, but maintenance can
assembling scaffolding, are no longer required, therefore such as gauge readings, observing valve operation and be challenging and dangerous for human workers to carry
saving time and money. monitoring acoustic abnormalities. out. Inspection robots can perform inspection tasks in
Remote-controlled inspection robots hold benefits in When designing inspection robots, it’s important that tight and hazardous areas, helping to keep important
other high risk environments, such as those in the oil and engineers choose motors with high reliability, as a robot equipment running and workers safe.
gas industry. Structures in this industry are exposed to failure would require a complicated recovery job. Keeping MORE INFORMATION: www.ems-limited.co.uk

March/April 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY 23