Developed in partnership with Westinghouse Electric
Company and Texas Utilities, the FlangeBot wireless robot provides
remote cleaning and inspection of the nuclear reactor vessel flange.
Background
A clean, debris and scratch-free head o-ring sealing surface is
absolutely essential to reactor assembly. To ensure an acceptable
sealing surface, personnel are normally dispatched into the reactor
cavity to perform the final wipe down and inspection. Though well-planned,
inherent inefficiencies and risks are present. It is time consuming.
Intrinsic industrial safety hazards exist, and it is performed
in a high radiation field. A technological solution now exists
to address these hazards. A remote flange cleaning device, the
FlangeBot, jointly developed among Remote Ocean Systems, Westinghouse
Electric Company, and Texas Utilities, cleans, dries, and
provides a finely detailed inspection of the head o-ring sealing
surface.
FlangeBot Wireless Inspection Robot
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Benefits
Reduced radiation exposure and industrial safety hazards, enhanced
inspection quality, and a permanent digital video record.
Description
The system is comprised of a wireless remotely controlled robot
and a control console. The robot is a compact, battery-operated
and self-propelled wheeled vehicle that carries a high performance
color zoom camera, integrated LED lights, and various attachments
for cleaning and drying. The robot includes a RF transceiver to
receive commands initiated by the operator at the control console,
and, as necessary transmit feedback information. A separate RF
transmitter sends the video signal to the control console via
the relay station. A motorized roller-scrubber may also be attached.
This apparatus incorporates a self-powered Scotch-Brite roller,
a squeegee, and an absorbent roller. Easily configured in the
field, any or all of the attachments may be used. A final wipe
down pad attachment may also be deployed either in place of the
roller/scrubber and/or trailed behind the robot.
Deliverables
Westinghouse provides all equipment, personnel, and procedures
to deploy, use, and recover the FlangeBot.
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