Comprehensive Evaluation Of Robotic Storage Tank Blasting and Coating Technology Capability

The maintenance of storage tanks involves complex and labour-intensive processes, particularly in blasting and coating operations. Conventional methods often require extensive scaffolding, manual labour, and exposure to hazardous environments, leading to increased safety risks and higher operational costs. Moreover, conventional approaches are typically slower, which prolongs downtime and negatively impacts overall productivity. Robotic technology may offer a solution to the above issues. Robotic tank blasting and coating technology refers to the use of automated robotic systems to perform surface preparation and coating applications, typically complemented with manual methods. This paper explores the effectiveness of robotic technologies with the primary objective of assessing robotic ultra high-pressure water jetting (UHP WJ), robotic wet abrasive blasting (WAB), and robotic coating capability to achieve quality outcomes equivalent to or surpassing those of conventional methods while giving other benefits such as higher productivity and safety improvement. The results from the testing indicated that robotic technologies for surface preparation could meet the standards of blasting methods. The coating robot was able to apply coatings according to quality requirements, producing results comparable to those of conventional coating methods and demonstrating its effectiveness in delivering consistent, high-quality coating applications. By implementing the best practices outlined in this paper, robotic blasting and coating can become a viable alternative to conventional methods. The findings from this study support the broader adoption of robotic technology in the storage tank blasting and coating industries. The study recommends pilot projects to explore additional applications, understand the nuances of execution, and optimise the performance of these robotic technologies.