ROBOT REBOOT

INSPECTION • SQUARE ROBOT HAS GOT A LONG WAY SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 2016. RECENT APPLICATIONS HAVE SEEN ITS UNITS CONDUCTING IN-SERVICE INSPECTIONS WITH LOW-FLASH PRODUCTS

SQUARE ROBOT, THE world leader in robotic tank inspection, is in the advanced development stages on its next generation robot, which is being designed specifically for completing in-service robotic inspections of gasoline and other volatile products and internal floating roof tanks. This will be the first robot ever developed that is capable of performing such inspections.

The development of the SR-3 robot follows the success of SR-1, Square Robot’s first generation robot that is currently being deployed to inspect aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) containing high flashpoint products, in accordance with API 653. The SR-3 is designed for compatibility with gasoline and other volatile products and the launch of the robot directly into the product through the side launcher will remove all potential exposure to oxygen. The side launcher is designed to launch and recover the SR-3 robot from an AST’s shell manway. It enables operations to completely immerse the SR-3 robot in the tank product before being launched into the tank, avoiding the transit of the SR-3 robot through the vapour space.

“Completion of SR-3 opens up a world of new tanks for us to be able to inspect and keep from going out-of-service,” says David Lamont, CEO of Square Robot. “The emissions released from a product like gasoline when taking a tank out-of-service is over five times that of diesel. Our customers have been looking for a solution for gasoline and we are excited to be able to provide that solution in the upcoming months.

Get Lubed

Another recent ‘first’ for Square Robot has been the successful completion of multiple inspections of ASTs containing lube oil for customers across the US. These first three tanks mark the first time the company has commercially inspected lube oil ASTs, exhibiting its capability within a new petrochemical sector of the bulk storage industry.

Each time Square Robot begins a new product application, its Mechanical Engineering team completes a 21 day soak test to determine the product’s compatibility with the robot’s exterior materials. A kit of sample materials is fully submerged into the product and, at various intervals of the soak test, the team examines the samples for signs of cracking, swelling, shrinkage, pitting or degradation.

For highly viscous liquids such as lube oils, the team takes the product compatibility testing one step further in order to confirm that the robot will have sufficient power and thrust to successfully move around the tank. After measuring the product’s temperature and viscosity, a thruster test rig is fully submerged in the liquid and stepped through a series of commands to verify that the thruster will operate as necessary in the vehicle operating environment. The thruster’s power and force are characterised by measuring the thrust output as a function of setpoint determining operational viability. If an inspection is feasible, the team also develops operational parameters for the liquid conditions from the test results.

“The team is always evaluating and testing unique products at our customer’s request,” says Charles O’Connell, chief mechanical engineer. “While not all products are suitable for operations, we do get excited after a successful compatibility assessment opening up new tank opportunities and allowing us to demonstrate the robot’s ability in a wide spectrum of tank liquids.” www.squarerobots.com