CEO of Square Robot, David Lamont, explains the unique nature of the company’s tank inspection robots
One of the biggest challenges for a storage terminal is finding a way to inspect the bottom of a tank, due to it being inaccessible from the outside. Established in 2016, Square Robot designs and manufactures robots that inspect tank interiors without taking them out of service.
Since its inception, the team has developed two generations of robot and inspected over 220 tanks globally. Chief executive officer, David Lamont, highlights the distinctive features of the Factory Mutual Class 1 Division II Certified Inspection Robot and reflects on its gold win at the Global Tank Storage Awards. ‘This award is great recognition for the work that has been done by the company on two fronts: the dedication and innovation of our team, and the technology they’ve developed. But also, I think even more importantly, the award signifies industry recognition of the robot’s substantial impact and the compelling benefits it brings.’
The Innovation
The Factory Mutual Class 1 Division II Certified Inspection Robot is designed to operate within storage tanks while they remain in service. This innovation saves time and eliminates the need for entry inside confined spaces, reducing labour hours and production downtime. The robot is designed to operate in a variety of substances, including hydrocarbons, oil, and water. ‘It’s a highly advanced piece of equipment,’ explains Lamont. ‘What’s truly novel is that it swims within the product, functioning like a mini submarine.’
The Inspection Process
Lamont explains the unique approach the company uses to access the bottom of the tank with their robot. ‘We use an ultrasonic array to measure the thickness of the tank floor to check for corrosion and inspect according to various standards, including API and EEMUA, to ensure the tank is compliant and maintains structural integrity,’ he says. ‘Once we’ve acquired the data and processed it, we issue a report to our customer that details the condition of their tank. In addition to UT, the robot has multiple sensor sets used throughout the inspection process.’
Lamont explains: ‘Inspecting the tank in service prevents the release of carbon. Even a fairly inert product such as diesel, where the process of emptying an average tank of 30m in diameter
will result in the release of 5-6 tonnes of carbon equivalent. Something more volatile, like gasoline, could be up to 20 tonnes released in that voiding process. Our services ensure all the carbon stays contained. Environmentally, it is very positive.’
Safety First
The robot eliminates the need for humans to enter the tank, providing a much safer alternative. Human entry requires the tank’s contents to be moved elsewhere and introduces significant safety risks, a practice Lamont highlights as less than ideal. ‘Many companies are now striving to exclude people from confined spaces whenever possible,’ he says. ‘From a health and safety perspective, this is a major step up from traditional methods.’
Future Planning
Despite the success of the design, Lamont still acknowledges that introducing a new technology is never easy. ‘I would argue that technology development, when you have a great bunch of engineers, is easier than getting a fairly conservative industry to change the way they operate. So the biggest challenge that we’ve had is not in developing the technology, because that’s within our control, but getting the industry to adopt new practices.’
Looking to the future, Square Robot plans to keep driving technical innovation. The positive reception is recognised by not only the industry but also the judges panel. It was deemed ‘very impressive’ by Jay Leduc, head of HSE & sustainability at Hartree Partners: ‘This is a fantastic advancement, with a high demand within the terminal industry. Not having to take a tank out of service to conduct a full internal inspection will create a great advantage for the companies implementing this technology.’
Nominations for the Global Tank Storage Awards are now open: www.tankstorageawards.com
