Elevating Safety and Efficiency in Flare Stack Inspections

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Elevating Safety and Efficiency in Flare Stack Inspections

Refineries, with their challenging conditions, rely on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections to ensure safety and reliability.

Refineries, with their challenging conditions, rely on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections to ensure safety and reliability. Flare stacks, crucial assets within these refineries, require special attention. Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) inspections play a vital role in maintaining flare stack integrity, preventing incidents, and enabling proactive maintenance. 

Flare stacks are undeniably vital components but inspecting them has historically been challenging due to their high temperature and heights. Conventional methods often required shutting down the stacks, resulting in productivity losses. Inspectors also had to use ropes or scaffolding, introducing risks and incurring significant time and resource expenses. 

In the past, conventional inspection methods in refineries were marked by their costliness, time-consuming nature, and inherent risks, particularly in the case of flare stack inspections. However, the introduction of intelligent flying robots has been a game-changer. These innovative robots can seamlessly conduct inspections while flare stacks remain operational, minimizing downtime and boosting productivity. 

Avestec is on a mission to enhance safety for NDT inspection crews by introducing cutting-edge technology. Safety is the top priority at Avestec, and the introduction of SKYRON has significantly elevated safety standards for inspecting refineries and their assets. Flare stacks, notorious for their extreme temperatures, have made traditional inspections a risky endeavor. SKYRON eliminates these risks by conducting inspections without human intervention, ensuring the safety and well-being of inspection crews. 

SKYRON redefines inspection efficiency. Unlike traditional methods that require time-consuming setup and human work in heights, the intelligent flying robot can swiftly deploy to fly, attach, and measure these assets. It easily navigates the heights of flare stacks, offering comprehensive inspections in a fraction of the time it would take an entire human inspection crew. This enhanced efficiency translates to significant cost savings, making inspections safer and more cost-effective. 

One of the most significant advantages of employing SKYRON for flare stack inspections is the ability to avoid shutdowns. In traditional methods, shutting down operations was often necessary to ensure personnel's safety by preventing contact with hot surfaces. This not only incurred substantial costs but also led to production interruptions.  

SKYRON, with its ability to perform inspections without the need for human contact, eliminates the need for shutdowns. This breakthrough ensures uninterrupted operations, saving both time and money. The cost savings achieved by avoiding shutdowns can be substantial, especially in industries where downtime is a critical concern. 

Efficiency isn't just about speed; it's also about precision. SKYRON's advanced rotary arm, equipped with a 38DL PLUS gauge, captures detailed data, providing a comprehensive assessment of the inspected areas. This precision is vital for informed decisions about maintenance and repair, ensuring that potential issues are addressed promptly. 

By utilizing SKYRON for flare stack inspections, safety is prioritized. The intelligent flying robot can operate in extreme temperatures without risking human lives, making inspections in challenging environments significantly safer. Inspectors remain at a safe distance on the ground. Furthermore, SKYRON's ability to reach areas that are difficult to access for human inspectors minimizes the risks associated with manual inspections, ensuring that even the most hard-to-reach spots are thoroughly examined. 


In conclusion, the introduction of SKYRON has ushered in a new era of safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for inspecting challenging flare stack hot surfaces. The ability to conduct inspections without human contact of these high-temperature environments is a testament to the transformative power of advanced technology. 

SKYRON has left an indelible mark as a groundbreaking innovation, revolutionizing the way we approach inspections in challenging industrial environments. In doing so, it ensures that safety remains paramount, efficiency is redefined, and cost-effectiveness is unleashed, making it a key player in the future of industrial inspections, particularly in the realm of flare stack hot surfaces. 

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Avestec creates technology for non-destructive testing servicing and flying tethered robots. We aim to make industrial inspections quicker and cheaper while maintaining inspector safety. We will be able to drive the global development of flying robots. The Avestec Engineers in Vancouver, British ...