Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Roman, H.T.

Titel

Robots cut maintenance costs at PSE and G

Ist Teil von

• Power engineering (Barrington, Ill.), 1992-10, Vol.96:10

Ort / Verlag

United States

Erscheinungsjahr

1992

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This paper reports that teleoperated robots are routinely used for cleaning, sampling, and remote inspections at PSE and G's nuclear and fossil power plants. Robots are rapidly becoming a strategic technology in the electric utility industry. Since 1983, more than 200 applications of these devices have been documented, often resulting in significant time and manpower savings. In nuclear plants, these devices have reduced radiation exposure to human workers. Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE and G) has been evaluating, testing, and applying robotic technology since 1984. The work has been characterized by a two-step approach - interdepartmental task forces identify and assess potential applications, then five-year plans are developed to introduce the technology, apply it, and measure cost effectiveness. Throughout this effort, PSE and G has maintained a strong partnership with robot vendors/developers, making them an integral part of the program. Work on robotics at PSE and G's Salem and Hope Creek plants has been a pioneering effort. From 1987 through 1991, in the company's first five-year plan, it spent $1.6 million on robotic applications. Savings to date exceed $5 million, Figure 1. It is projected that by 1993 the savings will increase to $6-7 million. Applications for the next five-year plan, 1992-1996, are being finalized. These will concentrate on the development of robots for operation and maintenance applications. The first five-year plan concentrated on inspection, surveillance, and monitoring tasks.