|
|
| NUCLEARAlthough the nuclear industry, including Department of Energy facilities, is considered mature, many long-standing difficulties exist in surveillance and operation which could be corrected by improved instrumentation. This slow adoption of new technology is partially due to technological isolation more pronounced than in other industrial environments. Specific regulatory criteria (e.g 10CFR 50.59)strictly govern modifications and severely limit casual use of sensing hardware. Surveillance using inferred parameters and non-invasive instruments are especially beneficial in this environment. The health impact of ionizing radiation (ALARA) also creates a compelling need for remote monitoring and manipulation. ISLAND SENSORS continues to lead in the application of non-capitol remote surveillance, instrumentation and mobile robotics based on experience gained at Three Mile Island, Chernoble and other international light water reactors.SELECTED PROJECTS ** WIRELESS VIDEO inspection devices for security, (including remote vehicle inspection) operations and maintenance. Portable video devices may help eliminate communications difficulties and reduce the number of operations personnel. A small robotic camera has proved successful for remotely inspecting suspect vehicles.** TRACK-MOUNTED overhead autonomous ROBOTS designed for high radiation and contaminated areas capable of retreiving air and "smear" samples, radiation, temperature, video and system assessment instrumentation. These devices are fail-safe and retract into "clean" low rad areas for unloading and maintenance.** Battery operated AIR SAMPLER FAILURE alarm with remote notification for environmental and in-plant installations provides augmented notification of failure.** Portable "subtractive cancellation" AMBIENT NOISE REDUCTION equipment for use in operating areas and adjacent office spaces lowers stress and minimizes communication errors.** BISTABLE SIGNALLING system provides remote indication of ALARM condition initiated at any point in the plant, utilizing the plant audio page system. This system is especially valuable for outage testing, timing (such as main stop valves) and supplying remote alarms during wiring modifications and unusual plant conditions. Usually, lifted leads or blocking is eliminated.** Multi-point REMOTE RESSURE BALANCING system reduces iterative testing when changing or balancing ventilation systems. Multiple signals are instantly generated at multiple branch points after single changes are made. Increases the number of tests per shift and provides valuable pressure balance and upset condition information.** NON-CONTACT/non-invasive equipment operation MONITORING SENSORS provide non-intrusuve time/date stamp on valves, pumps, fans, doors or any process parameter without 50.59 evaluations. Eliminates tagging/lited leads and safety impact evaluations. Also provides inexpensive monitoring for predictive maintenance and event investigation.** AUTOMATIC FUEL POOL SAFETY FLOATS are small "air bag" type capsules which automatically deploy by filling a float with CO2 when the object hits the water surface. These are attached to small tools and objects near the pool or vessel during head-off operations to prevent the sinking of dropped objects.** ION EXHANGE MONITORING instrumentation . A sidestream instrument accurately predicts end-of-life of ion exchange media and provides representative resin samples for analysis.** HI-RAD DOOR MONITORS provide a computer record and remote alarm of entry into any door without added plant wiring. ** A detection system provides early DETECTION OF FISH INTRUSION to preempt the entrainment of small fish has been designed and tested. Buoy-mounted detecters sense schools of fish so that operating personnel may be dispatched to reconfigure plant intakes, or automatic devices may be employed to "relocate" schools.** A remote INTAKE DEPTH SURVEY instrument was designed to minimize the use of small boats while mapping depth in front of the plant intake path. Positive location and calibrated depth sensors/recording minimize the need for personnel in small boats for most of the operation, greatly enhancing safety.** A SECURITY ROBOT provides a means of thorough video inspection of incoming vehicles. Varied camera configurations provides improved access to difficult-to-inspect areas (truck undersides, underseat and behind-cab areas)by remote means. The equipment is completely portable, and output may be videotaped for archiving and training.Call to discuss the remote data acquisition and distance remote control applications we designed for Three Mile Island and Pryapet, the area adjoining Chernoble. |
INDUSTRIAL
Many of the same tools and techniques useful at nuclear plants work equally well at industrial facilities. Whenever separation is desireable between workers and hazardous materials or environments remote monitoring and operation improves safety and productivity. In most cases, a review of the "Top Ten" hazards or difficult operations in your facility will uncover opportunity for improvement using remote technology.
Some examples are listed below.
Contact us for additional information
RETURN TO HOME PAGE |
|
|
|
|
 |
