Remote visual inspection is a powerful tool in the Nuclear Industry for:
- Assessing structural integrity (welds, missing bolts, cracks, corrosion etc)
- Preventative maintenance
- Debris retrieval
The technique uses remotely controlled video cameras, video probes or fibre optic probes to obtain detailed visual information from inaccessible locations (internal and external). In many applications, the inspection forms part of a wider investigative programme, which may also involve debris retrival, corrosion assessment or routine repairs. Where applicable, video images can be used to support data from other techniques such as crack detection
By inspecting inaccessible areas via inspection ports, or existing apertures, or remotely with telephoto lens cameras, AVT’s customers have realised significant cost savings compared with more intrusive and time-consuming inspection methods. These savings have been based upon:
- Reduced down time of plant by minimizing strip-down requirements
- Reduced costs by using minimum number of entry points
- Optimised Inspections where human access is not possible due to physical or safety issues
- Reduced down time due to removal of debris which would have caused process malfunctions