Aerial Inspection of Chemical Clarifier
Chemical Plant Client, OH |
| ||
|
Stahl Sheaffer provided an aerial inspection flight as part of a project to improve the performance of a chemical plant’s waste water clarifier (Figure 1).
A Stahl Sheaffer FAA Part 107 Certified UAV Pilot conducted the flight using the Matrice 210 UAV (Drone) equipped with the high resolution Zenmuse X5S camera to capture the results of a Dye test. The chemical plant’s project manager released a bright green dye into the 200 ft clarifier as the drone captured/documented the pre (Figure 2), during (Figures 3 and 4), and post distribution/dissipation (Figure 5). This dye distribution/dissipation was viewed in real time. The dye increased in hue as the rake rotated, confirming that a portion of the clarifier needed maintenance.
|
Figure 1 - Example of a clarifier and its mechanisms.
|
Figure 2 - Pre-dye.
Figure 4 - During dye, the plant's PM observed the drone's capture in real time on the ground.
|
Figure 3 - During dye.
Figure 5 - Post-dye. 90 minutes after the dye was added, the normal brown
hue is returning in the 'swirl' coming from the middle. |
The final task was to inspect adjacent holding ponds within the facility (Figure 6), and a stream outside of the facility to verify the dye/clarifier wasn’t leaking into either.
Figure 6 - Aerial footage verified that the clarifier/dye was not leaking into holding ponds or adjacent stream.
Total flight time was two hours, all the documentation (an additional hour) was delivered onsite once the flight concluded. This UAV inspection service will be used on multiple occasions to assist in evaluating the performance of the clarifier and its planned improvements.