DTEK introduces the practice of inspecting chimney-shafts and boilers at thermal power plants with the help of drones. Applying modern technologies may increase the level of industrial safety, as well as help reduce the time for diagnostics and repairs. At Prydniprovska TPP, Innovation DTEK team trained Interenergoservice repair company employees to operate a specially protected drone and placed the equipment into service.
"DTEK Energy is a progressive company that implements the latest technologies in practice. Some people take cool pictures with the help of drones, and we will use drones to diagnose the state of thermal power plants, – said DTEK Energy's CEO Ildar Saleev. – Drones will enable detecting any defect in the boiler much faster, eliminating it and putting the equipment back into service. While earlier, the inspection of internal surfaces of chimneys or boilers could take days, now it is possible within a few hours. Last winter showed that the reduction in equipment repair time is the key to the smooth operation of our thermal power plants and stability of Ukraine's entire energy system."
Innovation DTEK together with specialists from Interenergoservice (DTEK Energy) and DroneUA tested Elios 2 drone manufactured by the Swiss company Flyability at Prydniprovska TPP. It has already been put into service and handed to employees of Interenergoservice. This is a protected drone in the carbon sphere, which provides control of photo and video, as well as infrared camera surveys. It is both crash and dust resistant, so it is well suited for use in chimney-shafts and boilers.
DTEK is a responsible employer, so personnel safety and production efficiency are key priorities. With drone surveys, it is no longer necessary to build scaffolding in boilers or involve industrial climbers in the inspection of chimney-shafts.
"The use of Elios 2 drone at Prydniprovska TPP is an excellent example of how DTEK is introducing new exponential and revolutionary technologies into common work processes. Ongoing monitoring, testing and use of innovative products and solutions are integral to DTEK's strategy for sustainable and continuous development," commented Emanuele Volpe, Chief Innovation Officer at DTEK.
During drone piloting courses, repair plant employees practised take-off, landing and manoeuvring of unmanned vehicles indoors. Shortly, Elios 2 will be used to inspect boilers of DTEK Burshtynska TPP and Luhanska TPP.
"Today, domestic electrical engineers are equipped even better. Inspections with industrial drones in Ukrainian production facilities, including power plants, are an enormous step towards the progress," – believes Dmytro Dovzhenko, representative of DroneUA.