How Does an ROV Help in the Nuclear Industry

ROVs or Remotely Operated Vehicles are underwater drones tethered to and operated above water to explore the deep ocean world. The tether provides not only electrical power but also transfers critical data captured through cameras and sensors. ROVs, used for exploration and surveillance in science, are now used in other industries like law enforcement to uncover evidence and by first responders when a tragedy occurs. With improved technology, they are often used in cinematography for underwater filming. There are four kinds of ROVs that have various applications depending on the industry. They are work class, light work class, observation class, and micro or mini ROVs.

ROVs in Nuclear Industry:

ROVs are used in the nuclear industries. In the past, they were used to inspect torpedo tubes in nuclear submarines by the US Navy to retrieve atomic bombs that went missing in the ocean near Spain and nuclear-decommissioning projects to inspect redundant or irradiated ponds visually. Recently, with significant improvement in ROV technology, they are used regularly in the nuclear energy industry.

Nuclear energy is created through fission in nuclear reactors producing steam that is captured and eventually used to generate electricity. Coolants are used in the reactors for transferring the heat produced by the core, carrying it to electrical generators. Typically, fluids are used as coolants. For example, Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) use light water or ordinary water as the coolant.

How exactly are the ROVs used in nuclear energy plants? 

They are used for site regulations and safety. It is used to inspect and maintain infrastructures like the cooling towers, intakes, penstocks, and trash racks to check for blockages, structural damage caused by wear and tear, or any other minor issue that can become dangerous over time. For the purpose of inspection and maintenance, the ROVs are of paramount importance for the safety of human divers to avoid the risk of further radiation exposure. They can also be used in conjunction with a diver to investigate potential danger before a diver is sent. Another benefit of these underwater drones is the ease of use and transportability, which saves a lot of time and money, avoiding the shut down of a unit and keeping crews to a limited number. The ROVs are designed to access spaces that are usually hard to get to and are made to be flexible and multifunctional.  

Phantom P-150 & Phantom Firefly:

Phantom® P-150 and Phantom® FireFly are drones designed and built by Deep Ocean Engineering for PWR and BWR reactors, respectively. Their designs are made for the specifications of each reactor.