This document discusses options for cleaning cooling towers online, specifically comparing using divers versus a robot. It summarizes the pros and cons of each method, noting that using a robot provides safety benefits as workers are not in the water, allows for video recording of the work, takes less time, and eliminates costs associated with vacuum trucks and plant supervision. The document then provides details on SWS's robotic cooling tower cleaning technology and procedures.
3. Comparisons
➢Divers
• Can also inspect tower
• Safety and Liability Issues $$$
• Use Vacuum Trucks $$$
• No Record of Work
• Increased Plant Supervision $$
• Longer Time Needed $$$$
➢Robot
• No Workers in Water
• Safety Less of a Concern
• Video Record of Work
• Shorter Job Time
• Easy Re-Evaluation for Future
• No Expensive Vac Trucks
4. Robot Technology
Robots for cleaning fall into two basic categories:
Electric – The power source for the robot’s propulsion systems and
vacuuming system are electric motors (240-480 volt) and
are under water. The electrical is supposed to be waterproof.
Hydraulic – The power source for the propulsion systems are
hydraulic. The fluid is 90 % water with glycol for lubricity.
Camera systems are 12 volt. Vacuum system is outside
tower.
5. Robot Cleaning
• Efficient
• Better documentation of work performed
• Less Plant Supervision Required
• Less Vehicular Traffic (Vacuum Trucks)
• Much Fewer Safety Issues
6. SWS OLC Technology
• SWS pioneered OLC twenty five years ago
• Technology developed by a forty year water treatment professional
• First systems were commercial cooling towers and HVAC
• Robot was effective but plants were still performing full shutdown
turnarounds, towers could easily be drained, robot less of an
option
• Commercial and HVAC markets very good
• Roll-offs used for dewatering, with effluent filtered and returned
to tower.
7. • SWS OLC system evolved to use an updated hydraulic control system
with updated cameras with infrared lights and a climate controlled
control room.
• Underwater drones used for evaluations and monitoring robot
• Dewatering greatly simplified by partnering with SludgeNet, Inc.,
eliminating costly, labor intensive and outdated dewatering
technologies.
• SWS OLC also partnered with Cooling Towers of Texas.
• Now, most plants cannot afford to shut down entire operations for
full turnarounds due to lost production, so robot technology makes
sense for towers.
• SWS opted for reliability, safety and power of hydraulic propulsion for
underwater, putting vacuum equipment outside of tower for easy
accessibility.
8. SWS OLC Job Procedures
✓ All documentation and coordination with customer handled by SWS
team member with twenty plus years in HR.
✓SWS OLC supervisory team members and CTOT meet with Plant
engineering and operations personnel to insure all policies and
procedures are understood.
✓All equipment will be brought on site and staged at the work area.
✓OLC team members will meet at the Control trailer each day for
safety meeting and to address any changes to schedule. Designated
Plant personnel are invited to these meetings.
✓Job is started and video log, as well as, written progress log kept
concerning activity.
✓At the end of each day, team members meet for evaluating work
progress.
9. ➢SWS OLC safety personnel will check that all Plant requirements are
being met.
➢SludgeNet parks dewatering/disposal trailers so as to keep traffic
areas clear.
➢Each day’s progress will be discussed with Plant engineering.
➢As each tower is completed, Plant engineering will sign off on that
portion of the job.
➢The above procedures will be repeated on each tower until job is
complete.
➢Each work area will be cleaned and returned to its original condition.
➢A final meeting with Plant engineering will be held to evaluate the job
and sign off on the project.
