Technical inspection of piping systems using drone

Specialized diagnosis of spring supports and expansion joints

The actual condition of the supports and flexible elements is determining to preserve the mechanical integrity of a piping system. Even if an installation has been designed to operate on rigid or elastic supports, during assembly, operation, or maintenance, deviations can occur that prevent correct load transmission. These conditions generate unforeseen stresses, anomalous movements, and risks to the operational continuity of the plant.

Flexilatina de Colombia offers a technical inspection service of piping systems using a drone, aimed at evaluating spring supports and expansion joints located in hard-to-reach areas, elevated zones, or exposed to high temperatures. The inspection combines visual and thermographic technology with specialized experience in flexibility analysis and flexible elements to identify deviations between theoretical design and the actual operating condition.

Why inspect supports and expansion joints?

In a piping flexibility analysis, the location and characteristics of each support are defined to control the displacements caused by:

• Thermal expansion.
• Piping self-weight.
• Operational loads.
• Anticipated movements during system operation.

When actual assembly or operating conditions do not match the design, it can result in:

• Overloads on nozzles of rotating or static equipment.
• Improper load transfer to metallic structures.
• Malfunction of spring supports.
• Premature damage to expansion joints.
• Reduced operational reliability.
• Unscheduled shutdowns and higher maintenance costs.

Detecting these deviations in a timely manner allows action to be taken before they evolve into a critical failure.

What does the drone inspection include?

Diagnosis of spring supports

The inspection covers variable and constant spring supports, with an emphasis on:

• Verification of their mechanical condition.
• Evaluation of the operating position.
• Review of the working range.
• Identification of unloaded supports.
• Detection of out-of-calibration supports.
• Recognition of behaviors that do not correspond to design conditions.

This diagnosis helps determine if the supports are correctly receiving and transmitting the system’s loads.

Inspection of fabric expansion joints

For fabric expansion joints, the following are evaluated:

• Structural integrity.
• General condition of visible components.
• Behavior of the insulation system.
• Presence of deformations or anomalous movements.
• Insulation loss that could expose the fabric directly to the fluid.
• Hot spots detected via thermography.
• Incipient failures and out-of-design operating conditions.

Technology used

The drone used in the inspection is equipped with:

• High-resolution thermal camera.
• Industrial photographic camera.

The combination of visual and thermographic images facilitates the evaluation of components installed at height, in complex spaces, or in areas where temperature poses a risk to personnel.

The information obtained is interpreted based on Flexilatina’s technical expertise in piping flexibility analysis, expansion joint manufacturing, and supply of variable and constant spring supports.

Inspection without stopping operations

One of the main advantages of drone inspection is the ability to collect technical information without unnecessarily exposing personnel to hazardous areas. Depending on plant conditions, the service allows inspection of critical components:

• Without direct personnel access to the evaluated point.
• Without installing temporary access means for an initial review.
• Without bringing technicians close to surfaces or high-temperature zones.
• Without stopping operations to perform visual and thermographic inspection.

This provides evidence to prioritize interventions, guide maintenance activities, and determine which components require more detailed subsequent evaluation.

Industrial applications

This service is particularly relevant in plants with ducts and piping subjected to thermal expansion, including:

Benefits for your plant

Early detection of anomalies in spring supports and expansion joints contributes to:

• Avoid unscheduled shutdowns: Identification of incipient failures allows actions to be planned before an anomalous condition affects process continuity.
• Reduce corrective maintenance costs: Timely diagnosis helps direct resources towards components that actually require attention, repair, adjustment, or replacement.
• Increase system reliability: Reviewing supports, insulation, and expansion joints allows the recognition of deviations that can compromise the mechanical behavior of the piping.
• Protect critical equipment: Improper load distribution can affect nozzles, rotating equipment, static equipment, and structures. Inspection helps detect these conditions before they cause major damage.
• Improve inspection safety: The use of drones reduces the need to expose personnel to heights, hot surfaces, and complex access areas during the initial diagnostic stage.

Specialized expertise in piping systems

Flexilatina has over 39 years of experience in:

• Piping flexibility analysis.
• Expansion joint manufacturing.
• Supply of variable and constant spring supports.
• Evaluation of flexible elements in industrial systems.

This experience allows interpreting the images obtained during the inspection from an engineering perspective, relating the visual and thermographic evidence with the expected behavior of the system.

Request a technical inspection of your piping system

Identify unloaded supports, deteriorated expansion joints, insulation losses, hot spots, and anomalous movements before they affect your plant’s reliability.
Request a technical evaluation with Flexilatina and receive a specialized diagnosis of your spring supports and expansion joints.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is inspected with the drone?
  We mainly inspect variable and constant spring supports, fabric expansion joints, insulation systems, and other visible components associated with duct and piping behavior.
• Does the inspection detect hot spots?
  Yes. The drone incorporates a high-resolution thermal camera that allows identifying temperature differences and possible hot spots associated with insulation losses or other anomalous conditions.
• Is it necessary to stop the plant?
  The technical data sheet indicates that the inspection can be carried out without stopping operations. The feasibility of each intervention will depend on the operating and safety conditions of the facility.
• What problems can be found in spring supports?
  The inspection can identify unloaded supports, out-of-calibration supports, mechanical problems, or supports working in a position different from the intended operating range.
• What anomalies can be detected in a fabric expansion joint?
  Insulation losses, exposure of the fabric to the fluid, deformations, anomalous movements, incipient failures, hot spots, and out-of-design operating conditions.
• In which industries is this service recommended?
  In cement plants, refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants, power generation plants, sugar mills, paper mills, and industries with piping or duct systems subjected to thermal expansion.

Technical Inspection with Drone

Technical Data Sheet