7-minute read
In this article:
- Learn what regulatory requirements are required for a non-destructive inspection.
- Explore several ground-breaking capabilities that ultrasonic drones provide.
- Delve into the benefits of leveraging drone deployed UT for NDE inspections.
Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) inspections are a critical component of ensuring the safety and reliability of infrastructure. Traditional NDE inspection methods can be costly, time-consuming, and come with inherent risks to human safety.
This is where ultrasonic testing drones come into play, providing a safe, innovative solution that enhances the efficiency and precision of NDE inspections.
What are NDE Inspections?
An NDE inspection is a method of assessing the quality, integrity, and safety of a material or component without requiring it to be dismantled, altered, or its structure to be negatively impacted.
NDE inspections have specific, regulatory requirements that define what makes them “non-destructive.” NDE inspections are typically performed on critical infrastructure, including pipelines, power plants, and bridges, to identify and assess any defects or material loss that may compromise the structural integrity or safety of the asset.
Related: Drones vs Industrial Hazards: How Clearsight Uses Drones to Increase Safety in the Power Industry
NDE inspections use a variety of techniques to detect and evaluate potential defects or irregularities in the material or component being inspected. These techniques include visual inspection and ultrasonic testing, among others.
What UT Drone Does Clearsight Use During NDE Inspections & What are its Capabilities?
The drone is an innovative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is uniquely designed to conduct NDE inspections of critical infrastructure with several ground-breaking capabilities. These capabilities include:
Versatility
The drone is capable of performing inspections in confined spaces, overhead structures, and other hard-to-reach areas. Its six rotors give it an effortless 360-degree flying ability as well as an ability to hover and rotate at any angle, making it extremely maneuverable and versatile.
Testing Capabilities
The drone is equipped with ultrasonic testing (UT) capabilities, which enables it to detect and measure the thickness of materials and identify potential defects and irregularities that may compromise structural integrity.
Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer
The drone is equipped with a special sensor that takes thickness readings without the labor-intensive surface preparation that is required by other methods.
High-Quality Data Collection
The drone’s ultrasonic sensors collect high-quality data and images from multiple angles and positions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the inspection site. This detailed data allows for more accurate and precise analysis of the inspection results.
The drone used in Clearsight’s Drone Deployed UT inspections is an innovative and versatile tool that provides high-quality data and several testing capabilities for NDE inspections.
Its unique design and capabilities make it an excellent option for inspecting critical infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas.
5 Benefits of Using Drone Deployed UT Drone for NDE Inspections
- Increased Safety: The drone can access hard-to-reach areas, eliminating the need for scaffolding or rope access, which is time-consuming and comes with inherent safety concerns. The drone’s ability to fly in confined spaces and around obstacles also reduces the risks associated with traditional inspection methods.
- Faster Inspections: The drone can collect data and images quickly and efficiently, covering large areas in a shorter period than traditional inspection methods. The drone’s ability to collect high-quality data and images from multiple angles and positions also reduces the need for multiple inspections.
- Reduced Costs: Utilizing Drone Deployed Ultrasonic Testing holds significant potential in reducing costs associated with NDE inspections. Drones eliminate the requirement for costly physical access methods like scaffolding, surface preparation, or rope access to reach inaccessible areas. As a result, labor costs are reduced. Drones enable efficient data collection, minimizing the need for multiple inspections and further contributing to cost savings.
- Increased Precision: UT drones provide highly accurate inspection data. The drone’s sensors can detect material thickness loss in materials that may be missed by traditional inspection methods. The drone’s ability to collect high-quality data and images from multiple angles also provides a more comprehensive understanding of the inspection site, leading to more precise inspection results.
- Better Overall Results: The use of Drone Deployed UT for NDE inspections offers the potential for customized and flexible approaches based on the unique goals of each generation facility. The combined capabilities mentioned in the previous benefits empower stakeholders to take proactive measures based on the insights gained from each inspection. By tailoring the use of UT drones to specific projects, the best overall results can be achieved, ensuring that the goals of each inspection are effectively addressed.
Related: Upgrade ROV Inspections for Power Plants with Submersible & Crawler Capabilities
This level of flexibility and customization enhances the effectiveness of the drone technology and enables stakeholders to derive actionable insights from the inspection process.
Bottom Line
Constellation Clearsight is a leader in critical asset inspections. Clearsight utilizes a wide range of inspection tools, including drones like the Drone Deployed UT, to provide comprehensive inspection services.
When it comes to NDE inspections, Clearsight uses the Drone Deployed UT’s testing capabilities to collect high-quality data and images from multiple angles and positions. This data is then analyzed using Clearsight’s advanced analytics software, which can identify and categorize potential defects and irregularities in the material or component being inspected. This combination enables more efficient and effective inspections, ultimately improving safety and reducing costs. By leveraging advanced technology, like drones and advanced analytic platforms, Clearsight provides a more comprehensive and data-driven approach to industrial inspections.
Watch our video to see firsthand how our NDE drones provide value to power plants:
The use of the Drone Deployed UT for NDE inspections provides numerous benefits, including increased safety, faster inspections, reduced costs, increased precision, and environmental benefits. When combined with Clearsight’s advanced REVEAL platform, the Drone Deployed UT drone provides a comprehensive and innovative solution to NDE inspections.
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