Screw-Propelled Robot for Detecting Grease Pipe

Abstract

In the nuclear reactor containment building, a post-tension duct is filled with grease to protect the steel strand from corrosion. A potential issue arises if the grease leaks due to a duct break, as this could lead to corrosion of the steel strand, posing a safety risk to the building. Therefore, it is essential to proactively inspect and prevent grease leaks. However, the current inspection method is inefficient, as it requires the removal of both the grease and the steel strand for inspection. Additionally, alternative methods for inspecting post-tension dust have not been thoroughly researched. In this research paper, we introduce a novel approach by developing a screw-propelled robot designed to navigate through the grease-filled duct and directly detect grease leaks. Furthermore, we have created a test environment that closely simulates a real post-tension duct within a containment building. We conducted experiments to evaluate the feasibility of our robot’s performance within the environment. The robot utilizes a twin screw mechanism to move both forward and backward within the grease duct, equipped with sensors to identify grease leakage and monitor strand corrosion.