Video highlights drone use for inspection of EDC’s geothermal facilities

BacMan geothermal field, Bicol, Philippines (source: Julius Balbin)

A video published on the YouTube Channel of DJI Enterprise highlights the use of the DJI Dock 2 for the inspection of surface facilities in the BacMan geothermal site of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in the Philippines.

Although EDC had already been using drones since 2016 for documentation, they had only more recently used more advanced drone technology for the inspection of pipelines and transmission towers. This has allowed the company to better streamline their operations, allowing for more regular inspection while reducing workload and improving workplace safety.

EDC had recently augmented the generation capacity of the BacMan geothermal field with a new 28.9-MW binary power plant.

Faster and safer inspection

With about 40 kilometers of pipeline being utilized to support the 209 MW of installed geothermal power generation capacity at the BacMan site, manual inspection using handheld thermal cameras takes plenty of time and is very resource-intensive. It also exposes personnel to hazards like high elevations, steep terrain, and having to be in proximity of very hot (up to 170 °C) steam lines.

However, pipeline inspection is critical for maintaining the optimal operations of the geothermal facility. Pipelines can corrode, leading to degradation of the insulation, heat loss, and leaks. These leaks can reduce power output. At worst, leaks can aggravate and result in pipe explosions. Through thorough and consistent inspection, such risks can be mitigated early.

The use of a drone for inspection has allowed EDC to optimize their operations and streamline their workflows. The drone can operated remotely, is housed in a weatherproof dock, and can fly autonomously based on pre-set waypoints. Inspection of all 40 kilometers of pipeline, which will take years if done manually, can now be done in just days.

Check out the video below to learn more about how EDC is leveraging advanced drone technology to improve geothermal operations at the BacMan site in the Philippines.

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Source: DJI Enterprise via YouTube