Tunnel Boring Machine breaks world record
30 July 2018
McConnell Dowell:
A
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) called ‘Blanche’ set a new world record when
it reached 1496.48 metres - the longest ever stretch of pipe laid by the
Direct Pipe®
tunnelling methodology. The TBM is located at
Watercare’s
Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, Whangaparaoa.
On the afternoon of Friday 13 July, the McConnell Dowell project team
were monitoring progress with building excitement as the TBM approached
1495m, the previous record set in Texas in 2017.
McConnell Dowell Project Manager Chris Powell explained that the record
was attained “by achieving the right balance between pipe strength,
thrust and the operation of the 34 tonne TBM to maximise its
capabilities.”
“This is the first time the Direct Pipe® system has been used in
New
Zealand. As a consequence we weren’t constrained by traditional
applications and were able to used the Direct Pipe system it in ways not
explored before. We set some pretty high expectations, we learn’t much
and achieved a real global step-change in how this new tunnelling
technology can be used.”
The unique benefits of
Herrenknect’s Direct Pipe® system includes the
ability to install long pipelines in a single drive, safely with speed,
all of which reduce
environmental impacts and make it ideal for working
in small or sensitive spaces such as the Shakespear Regional Park.
Ben Hayes, Pipeline Expert and Area Sales Manager at Herrenknecht Asia
congratulated McConnell Dowell on using the method to achieve a world
record.
“The hands-on site team have been particularly impressive in their
ability to adapt and overcome hurdles encountered - along with the
support of Herrenknecht site personnel with their considerable
trenchless technology expertise - to ensure an efficient and safe
execution with a technology that was essentially new to them.”
Direct Pipe® is a Herrenknecht trademarked tunnel boring machine (TBM)
that combines the best of microtunnelling and Horizontal Direct Drilling
(HDD) into one machine. In one step, the borehole can be excavated and a
prefabricated pipeline installed. The project team have
also developed the system so it can achieve drive speeds of up to 30m a
day, which makes it an extremely efficient tunnelling option. Direct
Pipe® is generally used in Europe to install pipelines under rivers and
other large bodies of water.
The scope of Watercare’s $31 million project includes constructing 2.9km
of new gravity-fed wastewater pipeline - two kilometres of onshore
pipeline installed using the trenchless Direct Pipe™ system, and 900m of
marine outfall that will run along the seabed. The project also involves
upgrading the existing ultraviolet disinfection facility, electrical
controls and standby generators as well as building a new pump station.
Construction upgrading Watercare’s third largest
wastewater treatment
plant began in August 2017 and is scheduled for completion in early
2019.
--ENDS--
Source: McConnell Dowell - www.mcconnelldowell.com
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