Tank Refurbishment System (TRS)


Veolia Nuclear Solutions

My role: Working in conjunction with 7 other engineers. I did the engineering, design and drawings of custom hydraulic cylinders and multiple sub-systems of the Tank Refurbishment Manipulator, such as the Plinth, Trolley and articulated manipulator arm.

Time allocated: 18 months

Deliverables: Vetted working unit.

Requirements: Ability to crawl through tank partitions and manipulate multiple tools to clean and refinish each tank section.

Status: Completed on time and on budget.

 
 

The Tank Refurbishment System (TRS) was designed to assist the U.S. navy in their tanks refurbishment missions. Currently, this process is accomplished by shipyard personnel that enter the tank and manually perform each of the tasks. Radiological exposure and confined space are among many hazards workers face while performing this task. The TRS will decrease the time, cost, and risks associated with refurbishing these tanks.

On its side, the TRS consists of the Tank Refurbishment Manipulator (TRM), Deployment/Retrieval Tool (DRT), a tool kit, and the remote control console. The TRM will access the tank through circular openings cut through the ship’s hull using separate cutting equipment.