DTEK is implementing drone inspections of the chimneys and boilers of TPPs. The modern technology use will improve industrial safety, as well as help reduce the duration of diagnostics and repairs. The DTEK Innovation team provided employees of the Interenergoservice repair company at Prydniprovska TPP with a special protected drone and trained them to pilot it.
“DTEK Energy is a progressive company that implements the cutting-edge technologies. Some use drones to take great photos, but we will inspect the condition of thermal power plants with them,” said Ildar Saleev, CEO of DTEK Energy. “With drones it will be possible to find any defect in a boiler much faster, eliminate it and put the machines back into operation. Until recently the inspection of internal surfaces of chimneys or boilers could take days, now it is a matter of hours. Last winter proved: reduction of equipment repairs duration is a guarantee of efficient operation of our TPPs and stability of the entire energy system of Ukraine.”
At Prydniprovska TPP, Innovation DTEK together with Interenergoservice specialists (DTEK Energy) and the DroneUA company tested the Elios 2 drone, produced by the Swiss company Flyability. The craft has already been put into operation and provided to Interenergoservice employees. It is a protected drone in a carbon sphere, that takes photos, videos and provides infrared camera control. The drone is resistant to both collisions and dust, so it is well suited for use in chimneys and boilers.
DTEK company is a responsible employer, thus employee safety and production efficiency are key priorities. Due to drone inspections, construction of scaffolding in boilers or involvement of industrial climbers in the inspection of chimneys are no longer required.
“The Elios 2 drone use at Prydniprovska TPP is a great example of how DTEK implements new exponential and breakthrough technologies in routine work processes. Constant monitoring, testing and application of innovative products and solutions in the company's businesses are an integral part of DTEK's strategy for sustainable and continuous growth,” commented Emanuele Volpe, DTEK's Chief Innovation Officer.
During the drone piloting courses, the employees of the repair company practiced drone takeoff, landing and maneuvering indoors. Elios 2 is to be used soon to inspect boilers at DTEK`s Burshtynska TPP and Luganska TPP.
“Now our national energy specialists are even better “armed”. Industrial drone inspections of Ukrainian production facilities, including power plants, are a huge step forward,” said Dmytro Dovzhenko, representative of DroneUA.
