POWER INDUSTRY

Public utilities have much to gain from drone adoption. In the United States alone, there are 600,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and 5.5 million miles of distribution lines that need periodic inspection. Using drones, inspectors can complete detailed inspections of up to five to six miles of transmission lines and distribution poles per day, capturing both thermal and RGB imagery, while substation inspections can be completed within an hour. Additionally, drones can capture survey-grade maps for siting transmission lines and pipelines.

On the natural gas side, there are an estimated 2.4 million miles of underground natural gas pipeline across the country. Pipeline leak detection is now being performed via drones mounted with thermal imaging sensors.

A small unmanned aircraft can be used to assess the exterior of a reactor building in two days, providing high-quality data and reducing the cost of surveys, which would typically require a crane and about a week of work. Further, eliminating the need for a crane keeps the crew on the ground.

Drones can also provide the following remote monitoring capabilities for coal and thermal power operations:

1.Visual inspection of the boilers, turbines, and generators

2.Coal stockpile volume calculation

3.Smokestack inspections

4.Substation equipment inspections

High-flying inspection of chimneys

Thunderstorms can leave damages from lightning strikes in the concrete, to the lightning conductor or to the chimney structure itself, exposing the reinforcing steel. Drone inspection enables a quick and cost-conscious inspection of chimneys revealing details of damages like corrosion areas and cracks in the concrete, enabling immediate action.

A drone inspection of chimneys reveals corrosion areas and cracks in the concrete. Inspection by drone is fast and gives you visual data, which is useful in the maintenance and repair work.

Inspection of the general condition and of specific chimney accessories can be performed both as a screening of the surface or by focusing on details. Inspection by drone is fast and gives you visual data, which is useful in the maintenance and repair work.

Normally drones are restricted to flying at an altitude of 100 meters. FORCE Technology is authorised to carry out inspections higher than 100 meters. Therefore, inspection of a 225-meter chimney and tall masts are not a problem.

Growing Drone Applications for Power

Experts widely noted that the allure of drones rests on their multitasking capabilities. They’ve conventionally been used for years to augment inspections and for asset inventory, but technology advancements are now opening up even wider opportunities. These are some applications for drones in power today.

Asset Inventory. More energy infrastructure operators use drones to check inventory and plan maintenance work to avoid human trips. Drone-acquired data is also used for creating and updating documentation of assets’ technical condition.

Construction and Repairs. Drones have been used to perform dangerous tasks at great heights, such as construction work, repairs, or trimming vegetation. Increasing load-bearing capabilities are also allowing drones to transport building materials as well as assemble and weld components. A bird’s-eye view of major construction projects, especially in remote locations, can form the basis for planning subsequent steps in the construction process.