No-Man-Entry Tank Cleaning with Robots

No-man-entry robotic tank cleaning uses a remotely operated, submersible vehicle to enter a liquid storage tank or covered lagoon through a dedicated entry system. The robot removes sludge and sediment through a hose while operators remain outside the confined space. This approach is designed to avoid the personnel exposure, draining requirements, and operational disruption often associated with traditional cleaning methods.

Yes. Bristola’s system is designed to clean qualifying tanks while they remain in use, rather than requiring the asset to be drained and taken out of production. The robot accesses the tank through an entry box and portal arrangement, then removes sludge through a flexible hose. Site conditions, material characteristics, and the facility’s process requirements should be assessed before planning live cleaning.

The system can be applied to liquid storage facilities including anaerobic digesters, biogas digesters, wastewater and water treatment tanks, food and beverage process tanks, industrial tanks, refineries, pulp and paper facilities, steel operations, and covered lagoons. Suitability depends on the asset’s configuration, access points, contents, and cleaning objectives. Bristola evaluates those conditions to determine an appropriate approach.

Robotic cleaning replaces the need for workers to enter the tank for routine sediment removal. A remote operator controls the submersible vehicle from outside, reducing direct exposure to confined-space hazards and the complex logistics of manned entry. Facilities should still maintain their own safety procedures and regulatory responsibilities, but eliminating entry can materially simplify the risk profile of a cleanout.

Existing facilities generally require an initial preparation and retrofit before recurring live robotic cleanings can begin. The tank is first cleaned to remove existing sediment, then Bristola installs the necessary hardware, entry portal, and system components. Once equipped, the asset can be accessed for future service without repeating the same disruptive cleaning setup, subject to site-specific conditions.

Yes. Bristola can install zero-human-entry cleaning hardware during construction of a new liquid storage facility, before the tank enters production. Planning the system early can incorporate suitable components and, where appropriate, specialized floor design considerations. This helps operators prepare for future cleaning without having to schedule the extensive downtime, draining, and access modifications common with conventional cleanouts.

Covered lagoons require a purpose-built access arrangement. Initial installation involves modifying part of the berm for a prefabricated concrete wall and sloped area, then placing a manhole below liquid level to receive the pressure box for robot deployment. The lagoon must be drained and part of the cover removed during this initial work. Later cleanings can be performed without interrupting operations.

Planning begins with the tank or lagoon type, dimensions, access configuration, current operating status, material being removed, and the amount of sediment present. Operators should also identify process constraints, discharge or processing options for removed solids, and desired maintenance timing. This information helps Bristola evaluate system compatibility, scope the work, and determine whether retrofit, new-build integration, or a cleaning service is appropriate.