Activities

UHP Water Blasting

UHP (Ultra-High-Pressure) water blasting or waterjet blasting is an industrial cleaning method, which uses the force of pressurized water, generated by the blaster’s power source, to achieve the required cleaning effect upon a selected surface. Surfaces which can be cleaned by the blaster can include concrete, metal, wood or stone. Traditional handheld water blasting methods are efficient cleaners but they do present an array of problems and concerns within industrial environments. Let’s explore these issues in the following text.
abrasive blasting

7x more efficient

8x faster than manual

86% reduction in cost

UHP – Water Blasting

How does UHP water blasting work?

Water blasters will vary however in general, the operations of a manually operated water jet blaster are conducted as follows:

  1. The water jet blaster is connected to a water source and cleaning detergent source via separate hose lines.
  2. The power source, which is generally an electric or diesel engine, is switched on.
  3. As water travels along the hoseline, it is filtered of any foreign matter before it is introduced into the blaster’s body, where it is heated and pressurized.
  4. The blaster is ready for UHP cleaning purposes. The operator will pull a trigger to release the pressurized water, through a high pressure exit nozzle, and direct it upon the desired surface.

UHP water blasting has progressed significantly in recent years with the development of robotic technology such as the VertiDrive Magnetic Robotic Crawlers.

UHP – Water Blasting

What is UHP water blasting used for?

Waterjet blasting can be used to clean industrial surfaces for various reasons. The subjective industries listed below utilize waterjet blasting most often for the following purposes:

  • Maritime: as a maintenance and surface preparation technique, water blasting is often used for the removal of any antifouling, paint, rust or marine growth found upon a ship’s hull, deck, storage tanks, oil platforms, cargo hold and more.
  • Metal Works: used for eliminating stick weld slag, metal burring, mill scale as well as rust from aged material.
  • Aviation: for the removal of aeronautical hydraulic fluids alongside rubber and grease from airstrips.
  • Preparation Works: for cleaning away paint, rust, grease, antifouling, salts, grime and more as a step for maintenance or surface preparation.
  • Alcohol Processing: for the cleaning of boiler tubes, vessels, tubelines, vats, pipelines and heat exchangers.
  • General Cleaning Works: maintaining public/private spaces, buildings and other structures.
  • Power stations: for decontamination of fuel capsules, skips, tubes and equipment and for removal of debris.
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UHP – Water Blasting

How do Magnetic Robot Crawlers work?

The VertiDrive team are the proud designers/suppliers of the hydroblasting (waterblasting) robot solutions such as the VertiDrive M2, VertiDrive M3, VertiDrive M4 and the Vertidrive M7.

All of the previously mentioned VertiDrive solutions are designed to function as remote controlled hydroblasting robots with maximum productivity and minimal operational costs kept in mind. Each functions as a carrying platform for traditional hand-held blasting equipment, an operator simply needs to connect the robot to the hose line of a hand-held water blaster and they are ready to work. The selected solution will then convert the single hose-line of this hand-held system into 3 separate blasting nozzles which spread the water abrasive, with triple efficiency, across the desired surface. The surface profile will remain unchanged post cleaning. Important to note is that the operator will always be located safely on the ground, far away from any hydroblasting related hazards.

UHP – Water Blasting

Operations

Traditional Water Blasting

All blasting works are conducted by hand (manually) by the operator. It is necessary for the operator to be within 1-3 meters of the surface to be cleaned.

Magnetic Robot Crawlers

Are operated solely via remote control meaning that the operator can work at a distance.

The conclusion here is that  traditional blasting methods present more health and safety risks for the operator as he/she is required to work within close proximity of the surface. This is determined by the fact that UHP water blasting operators are subject to human error within locations such working at height, within a confined space or within a slippery work area. A robot can not slip and break its back.

UHP – Water Blasting

Efficiency & Speed

Traditional Water Blasting

Is capable of cleaning most surfaces that the operator can reach. Efficiency and speed generally depends on the operator’s work attitude and experience. This process can also damage an operator’s body and health, which I turn impacts the efficiency and speed of the blasting.

Magnetic Robot Crawlers

Can conduct cleanings upon most surfaces such as curvetures, overhead planes and at angles although may occasionally be limited with its access. Robotic crawlers are capable of operating up to 8x faster and 7x moreefficient than manual methods. The operator controls the robot from distance thus eliminating an array of health and safety hazards and improving speed / efficiency.

The conclusion here is that the traditional handheld technique does offer a slightly wider range of applications as magnetic robots functionality upon odd/uneven surfaces is limited. The robotic crawler method does significantly make up for this small disadvantage with its massive advantage in cleaning surfaces efficiently and speed by removing the possibility of human error, or lack of experience.

UHP – Water Blasting

Cost Effectiveness

Traditional Water Blasting

Requires a single operator, however more operators may be required for larger cleaning projects. A lot of water and time is used during this process which also adds to overall expenses. Cleaning detergents are often needed in addition to blasting.

Magnetic Robot Crawlers

Is a fast process which consumes considerably less water. Overall cost reductions when compared to traditional water blasting techniques are up to 80%. Cleaning detergent use is minimised due to the high pressure waters effectiveness at removing the majority of surface debris.

The conclusion here is that  traditional blasting methods present more health and safety risks for the operator as he/she is required to work within close proximity of the surface. This is determined by the fact that UHP water blasting operators are subject to human error within locations such working at height, within a confined space or within a slippery work area. A robot can not slip and break its back.

OUR SOLUTIONS

VertiDrive’s Robots

VertiDrive M3 high pressure robot

VertiDrive M3

In addition to the perks that we have already mentioned, the M3 is an exceptionally straightforward blasting robot to disassemble. This makes for much easier access to spaces such as manholes and other confined spaces. Interchanging the M3 with the VertiDrive M4 is also possible with the help of the M3 – M4 conversion kit, which allows an operator to make use of the M4’s specialized hydroblasting capabilities.
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closed blasting and washing robot

VertiDrive M4

The M4 is a closed hydroblast solution. In combination with the VertiDrive Vacuum System the surface worked upon will dry immediately thus, minimizing flash rust and reducing environmental waste. This also enables other technicians to simultaneously perform other maintenance work, contributing to significant time savings to bring the asset earlier back into service.
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VertiDrive M7 abrasive blasting robot

VertiDrive M7

The most powerful piece of VertiDrive’s abrasive blasting equipment and is the perfect oil tank cleaning robot. As the wheel design of this blasting robot contains a short, narrow base with a small working radius the M7’s maneuverability is ideal for working in narrow, harder to access spaces or curvatures.
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Contact Details

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Phone: +31 10 763 02 00

Gieterijweg 15
3089 JZ Rotterdam
The Netherlands

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