Using 3D Laser Scanning

Brian A. Christiano, MSME, P.E.October 15, 2014

In

Limited or Restricted Access

Environments

Credentials

• Adjunct Professor

• Licensed Prof. Engr

• BSME - U of Wash

• MSME - USC

• Submarine Officer (retired)

– Nuclear Power

– Nuc/Conv Weapons

– Electrical/Comms

BC Engineering and Design

• Since August 1, 1997

• Located: Columbia, South Carolina

• Specializing in 3D scanning, reverse

engineering, and mechanical design analysis

• Use FARO® equipment

– FOCUS

– Tracker X

– Laser Edge Arm

Restricted Access Environments (RAE)

• Environmental

– Heat

• Time Restriction

• Security

• Health or Hazard

– Tank or closed compartment

– Radiation

– Chemical

– Asbestos

Restricted Access Environments

• Nuclear Power Plants

• Department of Defense – Shipboard/Submarine

RAE – Nuclear Power Plants

• Nuclear Power Plants present several challenges where 3D scanning can be used to optimum advantage

• Exposure to radiation– Alpha – low possibility

– Beta - possible

– Gamma – most common

– Neutron - unlikely

• Exposure to surface contamination

• Asbestos exposure

• Heat exposure

• Time restrictions– Radiation levels

– Operating schedules

Nuclear Power Plants (cont’d)

• Design Planning in Nuclear Power Plants is long term

– Driven by certification and design reviews

– Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) compliance

• Reduction to radiation exposure is paramount

– ALARA – As Low As Reasonably Achievable

– Methods to reduce exposure

• Time• Distance

• Shielding

Nuclear Power Plants (cont’d)

• Time restrictions for planning are limited to plant “Outages” or planned shutdown and refueling periods

– Generally at 18 month periodicity or longer

– Must work around a very tight schedule for all planned maintenance

– Refueling periods during the outage restrict access and movement within the Containment Area

Nuclear Power Plants (cont’d)

• Working in the Nuclear environment requires:– Specialized training

– An understanding of the potential hazards

– An ability to work within very stringent guidelines

• Zero tolerance for deviations

– Proper background and security clearances

– Preparation of personnel and equipment

Personnel and Equipment

• Wrapping the equipment to prevent possible surface contamination

• Personnel PPE

• When completed, all equipment pieces must pass through Reactor Protection (RP) to check for contamination

• Personnel must pass through RP and be cleared

Nuclear Power Plants

• Advantages of using 3D Scanning in the nuclear power environment:– Reduce exposure time gathering valuable design data

– Documentation is accurate and can be reviewed long after the plant is back in operation

– Can be used for historical data for “as built” configurations

– Reduces the number of personnel who need to access the radiation or contaminated areas

– Data can be placed on a sharepoint for multiple departments that may have use for the data

Nuclear Power Plants

• Challenge: to get the

measurements needed in a 4

hour window

• Environment: Hot (near

100ºF)

Example: LP Turbine

Time: Planned outage

Scope: Take measurements

around the turbine to design a

work platform to fit the opening

• Controlled area

• RP login/logout

• Fall hazard

• FME – foreign

material exclusion

RAE - Submarines

• Submarines share many of the same challenges as nuclear power plants

• However, the most restrictive challenges are two-fold1. SECURITY

2. TIME

• A third challenge is SPACE

Submarines ~ SECURITY

• Submarine access and most surface ships (DOD)

require at least a SECRET clearance to go aboard

for work related visits

– Have to have or be under a DOD contract

– Background checks

• A clearance does not give carte blanche

permission to go aboard – NEED TO KNOW

Submarines ~ TIME

• Submarine operating schedules are demanding

• Deployment schedules for operations and training

are set months in advance

• In-port AVAILABILITIES are chiseled in stone

– A request to come aboard to do design planning is not

looked on as high priority

– A team will be working around the crew daily

maintenance and training routines, meetings, drills, etc.

Submarines ~ SPACE

• Unlike large surface ships, most submarines have one or two ways to go through the ship, and in some cases, only one passage going the length of the ship.

• Hence, all personnel and equipment must traverse along those passageways.– The shorter period of time you can restrict movement the better it

is for everyone concerned

– Smaller teams are easier to get aboard to work; less space occupied and less security concerns

• Submariners, by nature are cautious and questioning of outside contractors and support personnel.

Submarines ~ 3D Scan Advantages

• Before 3D scanning a team of technicians and engineers would arrange to meet the submarine in a port of opportunity.

• They would arrive a day or two ahead of the ship’s arrival date to get clearances and arrange with the port authority to get aboard

• They would spend a couple of hours briefing the crew what they hoped to accomplish and then commence work to measure, take notes, etc. No pictures were generally allowed, or limited.

• Two to three days of measuring, evening checks at the hotel to review what all was documented, drawings (if available) were marked up

Submarines ~ 3D Scan Advantages

• After return to the home office, invariably something was missed. Estimates or plans to accommodate the variations had to be made.

• 3D Scanning provides:– Positive documentation

– Accurate dimensions

– Less personnel required to complete the site checks• 1 to 2 personnel can scan most areas completely

• = cost reduction

– Direct input into CAD

– Less time spent on site to document the areas in question• = cost reduction

Restricted Access Environment

~ a comparison

Nuclear Power Plants

• Time restrictions

• Security

• Environmental

hazards

• Requires

specialized training

Submarines/shipboard

• Time restrictions

• Security

• Space Limitations

• Requires specialized

training

Restricted Access Environment

Since 9-11-2001, the environment for both

Department of Defense and nuclear power plant

access have become, by necessity, more restrictive.

Information is held as “need to know” and

background checks are conducted frequently and

at random.

Therefore, the RAE is just that, RESTRICTED

ACCESS.

Restricted Access Environment

Summary: Restricted Access Environments offer

challenges for working. If personnel are not

familiar with the hazards and restrictions they can

be unfriendly.

However, with proper training and preparations,

3D scanning can provide a significant advantage

over traditional means to do design planning and

documentation.

Need Professional Assistance?

Some environments can be unfriendly if not trained properly

Contact Information:

BC Engineering & Design, LLCP.O. Box 11315

Columbia, SC 29211-1315

Ph: (803) 796-6721 Cell: (803) 238-6768

Fax: (803) 739-8874

bchristiano@bcengineeringanddesign.com

http://www.bcengineeringanddesign.com