Abstract
Since the catastrophic accident at the Cabin Creek penstock in Georgetown, CO on October 2, 2007 where five coating applicator’s lives were lost (Ref 1), the hydroelectric and water transmission industry has been looking for safer practices to line the interior of penstocks and other large diameter water pipes. In nearly all applications, owners and specifiers have required the use of 100% solids coatings as opposed to the previously used solvent borne coatings. Safety protocols have been established that limit the amount of solvent and other flammable liquids in the pipe. However, in most cases, the surface preparation and coating work is still performed with personnel in the pipes.
One hydroelectric utility essentially eliminated the need for personnel to enter the pipe during the surface preparation and lining installation processes. BC Hydro in Vancouver, British Columbia developed coating work prerequisites that required contractors to develop surface preparation and lining installation methods that were automated, controlled, and monitored from outside the pipe. Entry into the pipe by workers was only needed for equipment set-up, adjustments, spent abrasive removal, and some quality control.
This paper addresses the conceptual design process, describes the robotic equipment that was developed for the first project at BC Hydro Bridge River 2 Penstock 1, and the overall performance of the equipment. Lessons learned from the project implemented with automated equipment are also described.
