Category: Nieuws

Nine times out of ten when we conduct inspections in the Netherlands, the water is far from clear. That makes for less spectacular images from our ROVs with the 4K camera. Here and there there is an exception, but often we fall back on sonar for accuracy. Abroad, things are often different….

At the beginning of our existence, all Remotely Operated Vehichles (ROVs) we inspected with were equipped with an HD camera. Supported by LED lighting, we were able to provide both high quality and high visibility in any location, provided the water quality allowed. Often when light is used in murky water, particles in the water reflect the light, still limiting visibility. Our LED lighting minimizes that, but sometimes we still can’t see anything due to water quality. But then we inspect with sonar. This method of inspection is common for us, but we also like to show what is possible in clear water.

Innovation is key
Our method of underwater inspection is an innovation in the industry. We therefore have innovation as one of our high-level core values. Together with our supplier Deep Trekker, we scour every opportunity for groundbreaking ideas and projects. One such innovation in ROVs is underwater visibility.

The most important part of the underwater drones are the cameras. Therefore, optimizing that function must grow with the technology of the moment. For a while now, therefore, our ROVs have been equipped with Ultra High Definition Cameras, or 4K cameras. The razor-sharp image quality now provides even more precise results during inspections.

Not only is the quality of the image important, but also the live observation. Combined with the cable connected to the drone, we can always view live image in 30 FPS. No glitches, hiccups or pixels while inspecting with the ROV. Reliability on quality and image then simply becomes a habit.

Sublime substitute
Now the picture in practice. In 2022, we were asked to take a look at the Königssee in Germany. This gigantic lake, which is also the deepest lake in Germany, not only provided beautiful pictures above water, but also underwater. The question to us was simple: what is at the bottom?

The question of looking for something, without knowing what, is familiar to us. A lake about 190 meters deep can hide all kinds of things at the bottom. From our experience, these did not turn out to be lost treasures, but rather pipes or cables that have not been mapped before or known about at all. This is almost more valuable to our client than a sunken treasure.

Having an ROV descend into such a deep body of water is the only option for many clients to inspect the bottom. Letting a human take the leap into the deep involves too high a risk. An underwater drone is then an excellent alternative. Especially if it provides razor-sharp images.

In the video below you will find a compilation of our underwater mission in the Königssee.

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We often tell you about the industries we work in. Because our product is still relatively unknown, the use of underwater drones is often surprising. But nevertheless, areas of application such as marinas or water-filled pipes are very obvious. But there are also areas where we can work with our drones that are not obvious at first.

This time, however, we are not talking about an industry that is still undiscovered. We want to know what areas of application there are that have a direct impact on our everyday lives. One of the first ideas was cooling water tanks and pipes.

In the illustration you can see which process the cooling water goes through. Industrial processes are mostly the cooling of machines. Machines that need to be cooled can be found everywhere. From food factories to car manufacturers. That’s why it’s one of the most common things. Most people probably don’t think much about cooling water, but it is essential for all of us.

Have you ever thought about which companies need cooling water tanks and pipes? Probably not. Before this research, we were already aware of how important cooling water is in various industries. But only in the course of time did it become clear that cooling water is a bigger issue than we thought and is becoming more and more important. Especially in the context of sustainability, emptying cooling water tanks is no longer in keeping with the times. At the moment, cooling water is always being emptied and refilled. This has obvious disadvantages for the environment, but not only that! Disposing of cooling water requires a lot of effort and money, as extra machines have to be purchased and operated for this purpose. The problem, however, is that cooling water cannot simply stand still and that emptying it !until now! is the safest method.

The problem is that cooling water leaves the tank to cool machines. On its way back into the tank, it releases the heat again. This can cause a number of problems.  There are 4 potential problems to be aware of.

1. Corrosion
2. Lime deposits
3. biological growth
4. Pollution due to solids

To enable the recycling of cooling water, the water has to be purified by various chemicals. Various companies are already busy manufacturing pumps that regulate the supply of chemicals. These pumps can save up to 70% of the costs.

This naturally raises the question of what other advantages our drones can bring. First of all, our drones can visually inspect the cooling water tanks and pipes without having to empty them. This works similarly to the inspection of rainwater pipes. You can read more about this here.

But not only inspection is possible with our drones! We can also measure the water quality. This way, the work of the pumps can also be easily checked.

Questions about cooling water tanks or pipes? Contact us here.

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We’ve told you before that we can inspect solar farms and windmills. And, what advantages our drones can offer in this area. You can read more about this here.

But there is one renewable energy we have left out until now: Hydropower!

Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of energy generation and was already used 2000 years ago by the ancient Greeks. At that time, water wheels were used to generate energy. In the 17th century, hydropower as we know it today was used for the first time. And since then it has been developed further and further.

How does Hydropower work?

Hydropower generates energy through the power of water.

The power plants are often located at a water dam, which accumulates water at the top and then allows the water to flow out in a controlled manner.

On the way down, the water flows through a turbine and then into a river.

The turbine is directly connected to a generator, which then converts the energy into electricity.

There are two different types of operation:

1.Run-of-river power plant : These can have little or no influence on the flow rate. Therefore, they are used to cover the base load of the power grid.

2.Storage power plants: Here, lakes or ponds are often used as storage. The operator of the power plant then has influence on the level of the lake or pond. This means that the production of electricity can be adjusted to the power grid. And can be increased or decreased if necessary.

Why Hydropower?

Nevertheless, the question still arises why we should use hydropower.

Where is the advantage compared to other renewable energies? Like solar power, for example?

The biggest advantage of hydropower in general is of course that it is renewable and very pure energy. Because the power plants are powered by water, there are no pollutants released into the air. Another advantage is that the power plants are local. This means that every country could in theory be self-sufficient.

In addition, the energy produced can be adapted to the energy used. Since the water is always available, energy shortages are prevented, which is also the main advantage over other renewable energies such as solar energy or wind energy. These are more difficult to control because they are not always available. Therefore, when there is a surplus, the energy must be stored for times when less is available. Hydropower can be quickly and flexibly adapted to any situation.

Finally, the water reservoirs serve not only for energy supply, but also for flood protection. You can read more about this here in our blog about flood protection in Germany.

Since hydro dams are no different from flood control reservoirs or dams, our applications are the same. How exactly we inspect reservoirs, you can read here. Especially with these inspections, the main concern is the safety of the divers. The water is clear enough to be inspected with the human eye. But even when the power plants are switched off, there is still strong current. This is dangerous for divers! Our drones are current resistant, or can be stabilized with an external crane.

Renewable energies bring many advantages and become more and more important, for all of us. Our drones can make a small contribution, but every contribution is important.

Do you have a hydro power plant or are you interested in our work in power plants?

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Last week we explained the flood protection in Germany in more detail. This week we want to explain how the use of underwater drones can, theoretically, provide support in these situations.

During all the events last year, we found some uses of our drones that we think can support flood protection. In no way do we want to presume to improve or revolutionize flood protection. Nevertheless, we believe that the use of underwater drones can help in places for work relief and more efficiency.

Indirect aid from ROVS

Our drones can help especially in the area of protection against floods. This part of flood protection is preventive. Mostly, the protection consists of structural measures to hold back the water.

Of course, our drones cannot help to build these measures. But. We can help to inspect them to be sure that flood retention basins and dams are in tact.

In the two pictures you can see an example of a flood control reservoir. Our drones can swim through the culvert and inspect all parts of the reservoir, ensuring that no cracks have occurred. For dams, the inspection works the same way. The only difference is that dams are not only used for flood control. The dam is often used for water (energy) production as well.

In addition to flood control reservoirs and dams, there are also simpler belly measures, but they still need to be inspected. The main task, however, remains the retention of water. These measures can be inspected in two groups: Dams and walls. Walls are masonry or stacked stones or concrete. Whereas dams consist of fills, which are then sealed from the outside or inside with concrete, clay or similar.

In this video we show how we inspect a concrete dam wall. With the laser scaler in the video, we measure damage directly on site. This facilitates the reperation. In addition, it is clear in this video that visibility under water is almost non-existent. Therefore, in these situations, we usually switch from the camera to the sonar. If desired, both images can also run side by side on two screens, thus creating a detailed condition survey.
Floods are becoming more likely and more severe, so it is even more important that all measures are always in good condition. With our drones, inspections can be carried out faster and more cost-effectively than an inspection with divers. As a result, more inspections and preventive inspections can be carried out. By transmitting the images live to the controller, the inspection also becomes more accurate than an inspection that must rely on the feel of the diver.

Through this indirect assistance, our drones cannot resolve emergency situations. Nevertheless, they can make work easier and indirectly contribute to the prevention of flooding.

Direct aid from ROVs

Although inspections are only an indirect way to help flood control, there are also direct ways for us to help in emergency situations.

In this picture, you get an impression of the power of the water. The search for people, is hardly possible for divers. But as seen in the Arthal, the first missing people must be searched quickly. Our drones can help with this!

We have been supporting the search and rescue service, Signi Search Dogs, with our drones for quite some time. You can read more about it here. Especially with sonar, we don’t need visibility underwater to search for missing persons. As soon as the first currents are weakened, our drones can be easily lowered into the water from boats, bridges or other places.

This quick readiness, not only helps to get a clearer view of events underwater. Our drones can also more quickly find people who have been dragged along by the currents. In the end, lives can be saved!

For us it is important to make it clear that these capabilities are only our ideal vision. We hope to further elaborate and apply them in the following years. We want, if possible, to completely prevent or mitigate disasters like the one in Arthal. And we believe that the use of underwater drones could be a good addition to the current methods.

Continue reading “Flood protection with underwater drones?”