Underwater ROVs in the Nuclear Power Industry

Underwater ROVs have proven valuable in deep-sea exploration, underwater inspections, and more. Underwater ROVs are remotely operated by professionals from the shore, therefore eliminating the need for the divers to risk their lives during dangerous missions.

One such industry which employs underwater ROVs is nuclear energy. ROVs in areas like deep-sea exploration and safety monitoring might be easy to understand, but some learning can be done with nuclear energy plants.

Nuclear power industry applications

Underwater ROVs are primarily used for inspection in nuclear power plants. Most nuclear power generating structures are built on water bodies or use water for operation. Thus the ROVs are used to inspect the submerged components responsible for the power generation.

To understand the use of underwater ROVs in the maintenance of nuclear power plants, it is crucial to know how they operate and the components involved.

Working of the nuclear power plants

The nuclear power reactors use steam to run the turbines, which helps the generators create power. The steam is created by the intake water passing through the nuclear reactor vessel. After the process is over to cool down the steam, gallons of cool water are used.

Use of ROVs in the nuclear power industry

There are large water storages in nuclear plants which need continuous monitoring for seamless operation. It is impossible to employ divers because of the high temperature and radiation levels. Underwater ROVs are used to safely inspect the components for any structural damage due to wear and tear.

The nuclear plants use scheduled outages to perform these inspections. Since nuclear reactors contain highly powerful components, it is important to be cautious. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires regular inspection of the boiling water reactors along with the structural integrity of the welds and pipes. This inspection is often done during refueling outages.

These outages are methodically planned so that the maintenance is done during the short time when the nuclear reactor is offline. The longer the reactor is offline, the lesser electricity is created, making the economics suffer. Thus, the underwater ROVs used for the nuclear reactor inspections need to be quick and efficient in their job.

Deep Ocean Engineering ROVs for nuclear reactor inspection

While we produce many types of ROVs, there are two that are majorly used for nuclear reactor inspection.

1. Phantom® P-150

Phantom® P-150 is a portable system that is specifically designed for inspections in the nuclear industry. Phantom P-150 is mainly used for PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) visual examinations, non-destructive testing, and other outage exams. Phantom® P-150 is designed with stable materials that would be safe during the use in the nuclear missions and has  FME concerns as the top priority.

Benefits of Phantom® P-150

Ø  Phantom® P-150 operates with the portable system that is designed to be backward compatible with the existing P-150 ROVs.

Ø  It also allows plug and play configurations compatible with both HD 1080P video options and is also radiation tolerant.

Ø  The control system in Phantom® P-150 can support unique thruster configurations and cable lengths that can reach up to 500 feet.

Ø  Phantom® P-150 is stable and highly maneuverable in confined spaces.

Ø  The subunit does not employ any electronics, so the ROV is reliable to operate in high radiation areas.

Ø  Phantom® P-150 can be easily integrated with accessories and has excellent fault detection. 

2. Phantom Firefly

Phantom Firefly is a small, portable system that is mainly used for visual examination. The ROV is designed to penetrate the top guide and core plate during the BWR bottom of vessel exams. These ROVs are small in size and can reach the vessel's bottom through a stub tube or removed fuel bundle.

Benefits of Phantom Firefly 

Ø  Phantom Firefly operates with the same control system as Phantom® P-150.

Ø  This digital control system is backward compatible with all existing Firefly ROVs and smaller topside controls packages.

Ø  This control system also supports multiple video formats like single coax, Y/C, and 1080P.

Ø  Phantom Firefly comes with torque-balanced thrusters, which provide a high degree of control and maneuverability.

Ø  Because of the small size and impeccable control, it can work seamlessly in confined spaces like a containment pool, spent fuel pool, and more.

Ø  The absence of electronics in the sub-unit ensures safe operation in areas with high radiation.

Ø  All the system fuses are located in the surface control console, making it easier and faster to access.

Deep Ocean Engineering

Inspection in nuclear power plants requires specialized tools and techniques we are equipped to provide. Deep Ocean Engineering has provided robotic solutions and products for various underwater operations. To know more about the use of our underwater ROVs in the nuclear industry and case studies, visit us at https://deepocean.com/