System and method for remote inspection of liquid filled structures

Abstract

A system and method for remote inspection of a liquid filled tank or structure is disclosed. In the system, a remotely operated underwater vehicle is deployed in a liquid filled tank which includes pre-installed location identifier tags. The remotely operated underwater vehicle includes at least one camera for providing a video feed to an operator. The remotely operated underwater vehicle is piloted through tanks to be inspected, scanning tags and transmitting video and sensor data to the operator via operator's computer. The operator inspects and records observations of the video and sensor data to the system. Resulting data is recorded and reports generated.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0001]The foregoing applications, and all documents cited therein or during their prosecution (“appln cited documents”) and all documents cited or referenced in the appln cited documents, and all documents cited or referenced herein (“herein cited documents”), and all documents cited or referenced in herein cited documents, together with any manufacturer's instructions, descriptions, product specifications, and product sheets for any products mentioned herein or in any document incorporated by reference herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and may be employed in the practice of the invention. More specifically, all referenced documents are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to the inspection of structures that house, store or transport liquid. In some ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a system and method for inspecting liquid-filled structures from the inside. The system includes a submersible identification tag fixed to a fixture in the structure, a remotely-operated underwater vehicle (ROV) with a video camera, and an operator terminal with a display screen. The ROV can also have additional sensors like ultrasonic thickness gauges, cathodic potential gauges, and other sensors. The method involves introducing the ROV into the structure, using the video signals to navigate through the locations, identifying the tag to locate the fixture, and inspecting it using the display screen on the operator terminal. The invention allows for efficient and safe inspection of liquid-filled structures.

Problems solved by technology

Frequent and thorough inspection of ballast tanks is important because of the corrosive nature of the sea water used as ballast and because ballast water is typically loaded into ballast tanks while the tanker is in port, where the water tends to have a high degree of silt, causing the bottom of the ballast tanks to accumulate mud.

While the initial design of double-hull tankers is simple and intuitive, there are many problems associated with it.

One problem is that the deep and narrow shape of the ballast tanks makes inspection, maintenance and repair difficult.

Additionally, the surfaces in the ballast tank can be slippery, making inspection even more difficult.

As discussed above, since ballast water taken in while a tanker is in port may contain silt, the surfaces of the ballast tank may become coated with mud.

The tight space and other structural constraints severely limit the ability to construct inspection aids, such as walkways, to ease the difficulties of inspection.

In addition, the nature of the space blocks all natural light from these spaces and, because it is filled with water when in use, there can be no permanent electrical light fixtures in the ballast space.

Other types of manual inspection, including walking or otherwise rigging a human for manual inspection is both dangerous and inefficient, requiring significant manpower and time commitments, including tank evacuation, gas freeing, testing, certification, safety and standby-requirements.

When the corrosion resistance is damaged, the tanks corrode and the result is rust.

Therefore, because the oxygen available in the tank is consumed in this process, the tanks are generally low oxygen environments, which are harsh on the human body.

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