Weld Cleaner

R.O.V.’s latest generation of Weld Cleaning products are available in two configurations: as an attachment to the standard R.O.V. mini-submersible, and pole operated.  These products are designed to clean welds for EVT-1 and VT-1 during the IVVI window.

Both weld cleaning options include a weld brush assembly consisting of a small but rugged clutch protected tilt assembly with 270 degrees of articulation, connected to a brush rotate assembly that has variable speeds from 0 rpm to approximately 800 rpm.  The brush rotate assembly can operate in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions.  A uniquely tapered bristle brush attached to the brush rotate assembly allows access into tight corners and angles.

Pole Mounted Weld Cleaner

The Pole Mounted Weld Cleaner is designed to be a lightweight, small profile unit with valuable features not found in currently available weld cleaning systems.  It’s size and weight allows for easy access into reactor vessel annulus areas without the use of pole-mounted flotation.  The unit measures approximately 11 inches long and 6 inches wide, and weighs approximately 10 pounds out of water, making it very user friendly and easily transportable.

The Pole Mounted Weld Cleaner is controlled through the use of an easy-to-operate miniature Vehicle Operator’s Control Console (VOCC).  The VOCC houses controls for the tilt and rotate functions.  It’s footprint is compact - 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 9 inches high, and weighs approximately 20 pounds.  Operation can be from this VOCC as well as from an optional rail mounted pendant.  The optional rail mounted pendant is user friendly and measures only 9 inches long by 5 inches wide, and weighs approximately three pounds, offering the operator much more flexibility in an easy to use package.

Mini-Submersible Mounted Weld Cleaner

The Mini-Submersible Mounted Weld Cleaner is designed to attach central to the standard R.O.V. mini-submersible to deploy the weld brush assembly underneath the sub on one of three standard pole lengths.  This mounting feature enables weld cleaning activities to take place from a remote location, providing significant ALARA benefits.  Also, the operation does not interfere with other reactor vessel critical path activities, such as fuel moves.

An on-board color camera and light assembly with 10X zoom capability is used to view the weld brush operation in real time, enabling the operator to make on the spot decisions regarding cleanliness results.  This is a significant time saver versus traditional methods, which involve a separate operation and an additional operator to lower a camera into the area being cleaned to determine results.

The control console consists of two high resolution color monitors and houses controls for tilt, rotate, speed, rotate direction, zoom, focus and lights.  The console is a rugged, anvil style shipping container.  Detachable covers are included.

The cable interface between the both weld cleaning assemblies and their consoles is specially designed for the weld cleaning applications.  It is a durable, but lightweight cable that provides DC power, a safer alternative to the commonly used AC power.

Wet/Dry O-Ring Groove and Flange Cleaners

The Wet/Dry O-Ring Groove and Flange Cleaner is designed for cleaning the PWR reactor vessel flange and o-ring groove; either under water, or after drain down – in a single activity.

When used in the wet application, the flange and o-ring groove are cleaned of loose particle contamination which could become airborne upon drain down.  When used in the dry application, both dewatering and cleaning are accomplished simultaneously.

The Wet/Dry O-Ring Groove and Flange Cleaner removes the epidermal oxidation layer from the carbon ring with brushing functions mounted in custom designed vacuum chambers at the front and rear of the vehicle.  The vacuum chambers are designed to encircle half of a guide pin at the end of each excursion, allowing the entire flange to be completed in two excursions.  The vacuum chambers are spring loaded to allow displacement when traversing the stud hole covers, and the actual chamber to flange interface is buffered with a squeegee material.

The o-ring groove cleaning and dewatering is accomplished simultaneously with the flange cleaning and dewatering.  The o-ring groove cleaning operation consists of power bushing with abrasive polishing wheels which are mounted in a vacuum chamber.  The polishing motors counter-rotate so as to direct the effluent into the center for efficient removal.  When the unit reaches the guide pin, the o-ring groove cleaning mechanism is actuated either forward or reverse in order to clean past the guide pin area thereby eliminating the need to hand clean the area.

The unit has 3 external cameras with lighting, which are R.O.V. radiation tolerant, color, pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) cameras suitable for both process control and inspection, thereby further reducing time and exposure to dose.

The vehicle operators control console (VOCC) and monitors are located away from the vessel cavity, while effluent from the Wet/Dry O-Ring Groove and Flange Cleaner are captured and filtered for later disposal, keeping personnel safe from dose and contamination throughout the entire operation.

Scarab IIIF

Spent Fuel Pool and Under Rack Mapping Inspection and Cleaning requires specialized radiation tolerant equipment capable of maneuvering under the High Density Fuel Storage Racks as well as being able to retrieve debris, jet spray, vacuum and provide video of the operation.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc.’s Scarab IIIF is utilized as the primary vehicle for inspection camera placement, vacuum attachments and FME recovery tooling delivery in under rack areas where overhead clearance is minimal.  The robust, yet compact Scarab IIIF measures 10 inches wide X 9.5 inches long X 3.25 inches high.

The Scarab IIIF features include low profile construction with an integral vacuum chamber, a forward mounted manipulator for FME retrieval as well as placement of an additional vacuum wand when desired, two individually controlled drive tracks and three inspection/drive cameras.

Two of the cameras are radiation tolerant.  Mounted internally, one forward and one aft, they have a focal range of 11.875 inches to infinity and deliver 700 TV lines of resolution.  The forward camera is supported by 250 watt onboard lighting and supplemented with temporary lighting, as required.  The third camera, utilized for inspection and retrievals when radiological dose rates are minimal, is an ultra-compact inspection camera with 470 TV lines resolution.  A radiation tolerant black and white camera is substituted when dose rates are high.  A video switcher provides capability for video recording by any of the three cameras, as desired.

The Miniature Manipulator, Elbow and Bracketry are proprietary equipment, custom designed and manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. to assist in debris removal from confined spaces.

Additionally, an Underwater Pan and Tilt Pole/Wall Mount Camera system is primarily utilized for overview of processes and in spent fuel pool activities; however, the 20X zoom feature provides the capability for inspection as well.  This system is designed and manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., and is remotely controlled from the operators control point where inspections can be video recorded as required.

Plows/Vacuums

R.O.V. has developed a line of cleaning accessories to perform cleaning activities in a variety of areas.  Most are custom designed and fabricated to perform specific tasks.  Multiple cleaning accessories can often be used together to make a cleaning operation faster and more thorough.

Plows

Plows can be designed and fabricated for almost any standard R.O.V. vehicle.  Their purpose is to move loose materials to a designated area for containment, characterization, and/or removal.  All R.O.V. plows have a rubber squeegee on the bottom for efficient scraping action, and are available with adjustable angles or with a powered tilt action.

Vacuum Heads

Vacuum heads can also be fabricated in a variety of styles for almost any vehicle.  Commonly used materials include aluminum and acrylic.  These materials are custom fabricated to a specific shape to efficiently clean a given area.  High flex, non-collapsing vacuum hose is standard with appropriate fittings to attach to the customer’s vacuum system or Tri-Nuc.  Other fittings are available as well.

Climber

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is now an authorized representative for ICM, Inc.  We are representing their line of small, remote controlled climbing machines for the nuclear power industry.

The portable, remote-controlled devices can scale virtually any vertical or inverted surface, and, because they are operated safely from the ground in a safe area, humans are not exposed to dangerous heights or to dangerous environments.

The climber can be used for inspections, characterization, installing coatings, or for removing coatings or contamination.  The decontamination/coating removal function is normally accomplished using various mechanical abraders best suited for the job.  An onboard shroud vacuum captures and removes the effluent at the same time.

These machines can be used in a wide variety of areas within the plant and are more cost effective than traditional methods, especially when dose savings are calculated.

For further information as to how the ICM climbing machines can benefit you, please contact R.O.V. Technologies, Inc.   ||  802-254-9353  ||   mail@rovtech.com

Click the ICM logo to visit their website.

Pulverizer

The R.O.V pulverizer attachment is driven by two mil spec. 115V planetary gear motors for continuous heavy duty grinding action.  It consists of two counter rotating, stud impregnated drums with a vacuum chamber, which grind material (in many cases, concrete) to a size that can be evacuated by the vacuum.

The Scarab I shown here (with optional track drive) has been fitted with a Z-axis boom and a pulverizer.  This unit was developed for use in tanks or rooms with a "heel" that needed to be removed.

The pulverizer and it’s host Scarab I are controlled through the use of the R.O.V. Standard VOCC and the R.O.V. Standard Tri-Console System.

Click here to view the VOCC and Tri-Con System

Needle Scaler

Developed concurrently with the Pulverizer, the needle scaler shown here is mounted to a heavy-duty tilt mechanism on a z-axis. This scaler was designed to remove contaminated crust materials from tank walls and floors.

The z-axis can be mounted to most of the Scarab Series of crawlers, or to a fixed platform such as the one shown above.

To assist in determining effectiveness of scaling operations, a high resolution radiation tolerant vibration-shock mounted camera is mounted above the needle scaler.

The standard R.O.V. Vehicle Operator’s Control Console (VOCC) and Tri-Con System are used to control both methods of deploying the needle scaler, which include it being mounted on a Scarab I crawler, or on a fixed platform.

Click here to view the VOCC and Tri-Con System

Pipe Cleaning

R.O.V. pipe cleaners are designed to remove contaminants adhering to interior pipe walls.  This process can result in significant dose reduction for personnel working in the nearby vicinity.

This pipe cleaner, utilizing a Scarab I crawler as a base, was used in a source-term reduction project to scrub and then vacuum the inside of a boiling water reactor's ECCS Ring Header.  Featuring two spring-loaded rotating brushes housed in collapsible vacuum hoods, the entire brush/vacuum assembly rotates 200 degrees to ensure complete coverage inside pipes.

The motorized power brushes consist of a spiral wound nylon bristled brush mounted in a vacuum chamber.  Structural attachments are hard anodized aluminum with stainless steel bolting.  The vacuum chamber nozzle is sized to fit R.O.V. standard vacuum hose.  The brushes are powered by DC gear motors and controlled through the R.O.V. standard VOCC and Tri-Con System with 125 feet of control cabling.

Click here to view the VOCC System

R.O.V. also offers hydrolasing services.  The hydrolaser is a high pressure water jet system for loosening heavy debris.  This system is ideal for inside of piping, as well as tank walls and floors.

Tank Cleaning

R.O.V. specifies and deploys the tank cleaning equipment based on the job requirements and parameters, as well as the environment that the equipment and operators will be working in.

Tank Inspection and Cleaning Services are most commonly performed on:

• Condensate Storage Tanks (CST)
• Demineralized Water Tanks

Some commonly used equipment for sludge removal include the Scarab IIIF, a crawler specifically designed to pull water and sludge through its undercarriage using the customer’s existing vacuum system.

The Scarab I with a vacuum wand attachment and power brush that also uses the customer’s existing vacuum system.  Its function is to brush and vacuum areas that contain tightly adhered sludge as well as to operate around any piping or other obstacles. 

If the material to be removed is contaminated crust material from tank walls and floors, then R.O.V. will deploy the Needle Scaler.

All equipment is controlled through the use of the standard R.O.V. Vehicle Operator’s Control Console (VOCC) and Tri-Con system.

Click here to view the VOCC and Tri-Con System

Bellows Vacuum

The R.O.V. bellows vacuum device is designed specifically for removal of contaminated debris from the inner and outer bellows of a BWR cavity.  In keeping with ALARA goals, the primary advantage of this device is a reduction of dose received by nearby personnel throughout the operating cycle.

The bellows vacuum device easily mounts on the turret of an R.O.V. standard Scarab I , and consists of a swing arm positioning unit with a power driven vertical vacuum tube. 

Installation is accomplished by setting the Scarab I on the vessel flange, and swinging the vacuum tube out over the bellows using the camera mounted adjacent to the tube.  The tube is then driven down to the bottom of the bellows, and the operator uses a combination of crawler movement and turret swing to pick up the debris.  The tube length and end configuration can be custom designed, or can be fitted with a variety of R.O.V. standard attachments to fit most applications.