Dan Hulands of The Tank Inspectors shared that with the ROV “there’s a lot less set up time, divers require a lot of set up.” Dan also went on to observe that, “the divers know about diving - they don’t necessarily know about tanks. All of our operators know about tanks and have been working with tanks for many years.” With the ROV, tank experts can get their eyes underwater to conduct specialized inspections and cleaning.

Furthermore, the portability of battery powered crawlers and ROVs allow for vehicles to be conveniently transported to a variety of locations within the same day - without the hassle of an external power source. Jeff Conway from the City of Independence noted, “Having a battery powered camera lets us take these vehicles wherever we need without the need of a generator for power”. These lightweight designs also ensure that an operator can safely and comfortably hoist the ROV to the top of taller water tanks.

Maximize Job Effectiveness

By eliminating the need for divers, the use of submersible robotics allows teams to reduce their tank cleaning and inspection costs. Dive teams do not need to be hired every time a tank needs to be looked at, drastically reducing costs over the long-term. Additionally, the deployment and operation of an ROV or crawler only requires one to two employees. Since ROVs can be operated by internal staff, inspections become much more efficient. The pilots know exactly what to be evaluating and can quickly complete a thorough inspection.

Perhaps the most important benefit, tanks can be kept in service and do not need to be drained in order to conduct an inspection/cleaning. Robert Perrin of Ron Perrin Water Technologies shared the convenience of using the Deep Trekker DT640 for standpipe cleaning.

“We use the vehicle instead of divers for tank cleaning,” he said. “Before we got the vehicle we would have to drain the tanks and the utility would lose up to 100,000 of gallons of water.” Michael McAloon, PE, Water/Wastewater Department Manager with Suburban Consulting Engineers echoed this statement, “The Deep Trekker is critical in providing inspection and condition assessment of water storage tank interiors, while maintaining normal system operations.”

Increase Employee Safety

The use of a vehicle eliminates the safety risks associated with divers. The use of submersible robotics ensures that human beings aren’t required to enter any confined spaces or potentially risky situations. The battery powered vehicle also limits contamination risk.

Since generators or other external power sources aren’t being used, Deep Trekker’s ROVs are convenient and reduce the risk of spilling fuel or contamination. Finally, ROVs and crawlers are light and portable, with models as light as 19lbs. This makes them safe for solo staff to transport and handle.

Detailed Documentation

Camera equipped vehicles allow teams to provide detailed inspection videos, photos and reports on their work. Teams can provide clients with professional and thorough documentation of their work. “The ROV is critical in assisting SCE with gathering the necessary information to identify tank deficiencies and problem areas. This information gathered is crucial in our report recommendation for appropriate rehabilitation measures, following tank inspection,” shared McAloon.

Ease of Sanitation

When inspecting water tanks, towers and other water storage facilities it is important to maintain water cleanliness. One of the primary advantages of using an ROV for inspection purposes is that they don’t introduce contaminants to the water the way a diver might. Prior to entering the tank, Deep Trekker vehicles can be fully sanitized with a chlorine solution with no negative effects on the ROV. Keep water clean and free from contamination.

Water Tank Inspection Checklist

Inspect Equipment and Prepare Pump

To start, users should first open their Pelican case and ensure that they have everything they need for the job. It is important that vehicles are given a quick once over to confirm that all required parts are intact and ready for use.

Next the topside pump for the DT640 VAC should be connected and prepared.

Clean Vehicle

Prior to putting the vehicle into the water it should be thoroughly cleaned to ensure safety and cleanliness for potable water sources. Both vehicles and tethers can be cleaned with a hypochloride solution. This procedure is outlined in our Step by Step Guide to Cleaning ROVs for Potable Water Services.

The benefit of using a vehicle for tank inspection and cleaning is the ease in which the robot can be cleaned. One of the major risks associated with sending divers into tanks is the opportunities for contamination from their equipment. There are a lot of “nooks and crannies” on a dive suit that can hold bacteria and other potentially harmful materials to the potable water.

“It’s nice to save my divers from unneeded climbing or entry into a tank that was in good shape,” Mountain West Commercial Diving’s Jake Spaulding adds, “It is so much nicer to hoist the ROV to the top of a tower than it is to send a diver dressed in up a 65 ft ladder. Now we only send in divers if we know what is needed.”

Start Pump and Clear Out Sediment

Once the vehicle has been cleaned and connected to the pump cleaning can begin. Using the lifting hook and rope, the vehicle can be safely lowered into the tank and the pump can be turned on.

Using the handheld controller, operators can drive the vehicle on the tank floor to effectively and efficiently clean sludge.

Inspect

Once the tank has been thoroughly cleaned, it can be inspected to ensure structural integrity. The use of remotely operated vehicles such as the DTG3 is a safe and convenient method for conducting accurate and complete inspections.

The ROV can be driven around the tank to get a close up view of tank walls and floors and roof. Furthermore, video and images can be captured to document any potential issues.

The HD camera and straightforward navigation allows users to get a complete picture of their tank. ROV tank inspection provides users with a convenient and safe way to ensure tank integrity.

Our team is here for any questions you may have, reach out today! Get a customized quote to design the perfect vehicle for you and start improving your inspections today.

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