Introduction: What is Drone Tank Inspection?
With the growth of the industry and increasingly stringent safety regulations, the need for efficient and risk-free tank inspection methods is increasing. Drone tank inspection, especially the use of advanced indoor drones, represents a revolution in inspection and maintenance processes. Companies in various industries, such as oil storage, drinking water, chemicals, process industry, are now using drone inspections to manage their assets safely, faster, and cheaper. In this comprehensive article, you’ll get a full breakdown of what drone tank inspection entails, how the process works, what benefits it offers, what costs and regulations come with it, and how it compares to traditional inspections.
What are the benefits of drone inspection for tanks?
Drone tank inspection offers a large number of advantages over traditional inspection methods: – Safety: people’s access to hazardous areas is minimized and reduces the risk of industrial accidents. Where a traditional inspection can take a few days, a drone often performs the same check within a few hours. – Cost savings: The investment in drone inspection is more than recouped through reduced scaffolding, labor, and downtime costs. Various sources (SkyeBase, Droprise, Kopterflug) calculate a saving of 30% to sometimes more than 70% compared to regular inspections. 360° cameras with illumination allow drones to reach even difficult angles that inspection teams can’t reach. The drone images are objectively and immediately available digitally, thanks to AI analysis, defects are recognized faster and reports are uniform and verifiable. Compared to the conventional method of tank inspection, drone inspection is therefore faster, safer, and more scalable.
Types of Drones for Tank Inspection
Depending on the type of tank and the nature of the inspection, different types of drones can be used: – **Indoor drones:** For example, the Elios 2/3. It is extremely compact and is designed to navigate in confined spaces. It often has powerful lighting, stabilization, and sensors for obstacle detection. – **Underwater Drones (ROVs):** Essential for water tanks or liquid tanks. They can image the walls, bottom, and any object below the surface of the liquid without the need to pump the tank. – Outdoor drones: These are used for the inspection of tank roofs, flanges, pipes, and overhead connections. This is especially common in large field tank storage facilities or petrochemical facilities.
What types of tanks can be inspected with a drone?
In principle, any type of storage tank can be inspected by drone, provided that minimum access requirements are met. For example: – Industrial steel tanks (fuel, oil, chemical storage) – Plastic and composite tanks (water, food, chemicals) – Drinking water and wastewater tanks – Silos and bulk containers – Ballast tanks and marine storage With steel tanks, the inspection often focuses on corrosion, coating protection, and welding. With plastic tanks, special attention is paid to chemical degradation, the UV effect and possible hairline cracks. Externally installed tanks and underground tanks are within the possibilities, provided there is enough space to maneuver the drone.
Can any tank be inspected with a drone?
Almost any type of tank can be inspected with a drone, as long as the access hatch is large enough: usually at least 40×40 to 60×60 cm for indoor drones, and smaller for mini-ROVs.
Limitations: – Fully filled tanks or tanks without an accessible hatch cannot be inspected with a drone. – In highly aggressive or explosive environments, suitable certified drones are required. – Only in a few cases (very small pipes, inaccessible spaces) is a 100% human inspection still necessary. Due to the rapid development of drone technology, more and more tanks can be inspected with drones.
How long does a drone tank inspection take?
The time saved by the drone inspection tank is considerable: – Inspections that used to require days of scaffolding, ventilation and entry are now completed in 1 to 3 hours. – Even large storage tanks or disk clusters can be fully captured visually in half a day’s work. – Depending on the complexity, size and preparations, the workflow varies from 1 hour for simple tanks to 6 hours for complex installations. – Thanks to this immense time saving, breakdowns and downtime in production or storage are also reduced to a minimum.
Traditional Tank Inspection vs Drone Tank Inspection: The Differences
A traditional inspection often requires lengthy preparation for the work, such as scaffolding construction, tedious entry procedures, subjective reporting, and higher personal risks. Coverage is also limited: not all surfaces are easily accessible. Drone inspection, on the other hand, offers: – Minimal downtime, preparation, and no scaffolding, which requires physical entry. – Fully digital recording and objective data with AI analysis. – Full coverage; Even difficult places can be visualized. – Targeted and faster decision-making based on clear reports. In 90% of inspection cases, a visual inspection (drone) is sufficient; Only specific measurements or sampling still require human access. Drone inspection is therefore increasingly prescribed as a standard method.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drone Tank Inspection
Can I perform a drone inspection myself as a company?
This is possible if you are properly certified and insured, and if you also follow the proper equipment and procedures. However, many companies choose service providers who are certified and have practical experience.
Can inspections also be carried out in ATEX hazardous areas?
Yes, but this requires ATEX-certified drones. This technology is also developing at a rapid pace.How often should I have tanks inspected with a drone?
Industry-wide, tanks are typically inspected annually or every five years, depending on legislation, product, and tank condition. Drone inspection allows for more frequent (and therefore more risk-oriented) inspections.
What happens to the data?
The customer stores this data and can store it securely so that it can be used for trend analysis and maintenance planning. Privacy and security are guaranteed.
Is it possible to get 3D models instantly?
Yes, drone inspections are increasingly providing directly usable point clouds, advanced mesh models, or heat maps for engineering.
Conclusion and future prospects
Drone inspection is booming. Companies in industry, water and chemistry are already adopting this method because of safety, comfort, speed and significant cost reduction. European legislation and the use of AI and digital reporting ensure greater professionalization and integration in asset management. Innovation in explosion-proof drones and automation will ensure that within a few years, virtually all tanks can be inspected by drone. Drones are thus becoming an essential link in the maintenance, management and safety of industrial facilities.