In a move to improve efficiency and reduce costs, Nils Burkland, central plant supervisor, has introduced a FIFISH underwater robot for routine inspections of various tanks on campus.
The decision to invest in this advanced technology came after an inspection involving broken pipes in a tank. Initially, divers were hired to fix one identified break, but they discovered two additional breaks, escalating the repair costs from $30,000 to $116,000. Reflecting on this experience, Burkland realized the need for a more proactive approach to tank inspections.
The underwater drone boasts impressive features including 6,000 lumen LED lights for clear visibility and footage recording capabilities. Equipped with six bidirectional propellers, it offers 360° movement controlled remotely. The drone is deployed and retrieved using a bright yellow, 200-meter reel and can lock onto specific depths via a smartphone app, making inspections more precise. Additionally, it has a robotic arm attachment, which Burkland plans to utilize in future inspections.
UCR's campus includes three Thermal Energy Storage (TES) tanks, one domestic water tank, and a botanical garden tank. Mostly underground, the insulated tanks are charged using the plant’s chillers and store 6.9 million gallons of chilled water during off-peak hours.
These chillers supply 38-degree water to the campus “loop,” which circulate cooling water to air handling units in building ventilation systems. This process provides cool air to rooms and laboratories on campus during on-peak hours. This helps manage energy consumption efficiently by reducing the need to run chillers during peak hours, thereby lowering energy costs and enhancing sustainability.
The FIFISH has already proven invaluable in inspecting these tanks, particularly TES 3, a 2-million-gallon tank built in 2013. By enabling thorough inspections, the underwater robot helps prevent costly repairs and ensures the efficient operation of UCR's cooling systems. Plant Operators Marco Lemus and Greg Muro support Burkland in conducting inspections, with Jerome Lagonera serving as the sub pilot.
Burkland's innovative use of the submarine drone highlights the importance of leveraging technology to enhance inspections of UCR’s operational infrastructure.
