Giant Robbins machine embarks on hydropower tunnel
Oct 02, 2008
On September 18, 2008 the 12.43 m (40.1 ft) diameter Robbins machine was launched on a 16.7 km (10.4 mi) long hydropower tunnel in Sichuan Province, China. The machine will bore one of four headrace tunnels, which will draw water from the nearby Yalong River, a tributary of the Yangtze. The large TBM will join another 7.2 m (23.7 ft) diameter Robbins machine, which was launched earlier in 2008 to bore a drainage tunnel on the same project.
"Everything has gone remarkably well in retrospect. Of course we had problems, but our onsite assembly team was able to manage them as they occurred without adversely affecting the assembly process. The machine assembly was completed on schedule and no-load testing of all critical systems has gone smoothly. Now, we are prepared to begin a one thousand meter long test boring program to fully commission the equipment," said Steve Smading, Robbins Project Manager.
The machine was assembled in an underground launch chamber using Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA). OFTA, without pre-erection in a manufacturing facility, has eliminated many shipping risks to the remote jobsite. The accelerated assembly schedule meant most of the heavy TBM structures were already shipped from the manufacturing facility in Dalian, ahead of the low water season on the Yangtze River when such shipments are not possible.
Due to go online in 2010, the Jinping-II Hydropower Station will utilize a natural 180 degree bend of the Yalong River, resulting in a 60 m (200 ft) drop in elevation to generate 4800 MW of electricity annually. The project, for owner Ertan Hydropower Development Company Ltd., is located 17 km (10.5 mi) downstream from the Jinping-I Hydropower station, which is slated for completion in 2014 and will have an annual generating capacity of 3600 MW.
Contact:
The Robbins Company
Brianna Home, Marketing Director
29100 Hall Street
Solon, OH 44139
USA
Phone: +1 Direct: 253 872 4484
Email: homeb@robbinstbm.com
Internet: www.robbinstbm.com
More News and Articles
Apr 29, 2024
News
Minimising cultural impacts with trenchless
Through the benefits of trenchless technology, Yarra Valley Water is minimising impacts on the Upper Darebin Creek branch sewer project.
The project consists of building a 2.7km sewer pipe in Epping, …
Apr 26, 2024
News
Bothar’s cutting head innovation
The trenchless industry in Australia continues to grow and the need to provide customised solutions becomes vital for a leading subsurface contractor.
Recognising the need for advanced solutions to meet the growing …
Apr 24, 2024
News
Sustainable drainage solutions: German Start-up transforms urban water management.
Germany boasts a well-established infrastructure for managing rainwater and wastewater, yet many developing countries lack such systems. Addressing this gap, …
Apr 22, 2024
News
HDD tooling that gets the job done
Horizontal directional drilling is a dynamic process that constantly changes and adapts to suit a range of applications across utilities and infrastructure. Operators looking to get the most from their equipment …
Apr 19, 2024
News
WATCH: Overnight with SAERTEX-LINER H20 in São Paulo
Available through Pipe Core, high-quality liner SAERTEX-LINER H20 performed under pressure in São Paulo, Brazil.
Maintaining aging potable water pipe infrastructure is a constant challenge …
Apr 17, 2024
News
Immersive media provides wastewater experience in Denmark
An immersive media experience (IMX) may not be what most people want when they think about industrial wastewater, but that is exactly what visitors can expect when they visit a new installation …
Apr 15, 2024
News
Spotlight on gender diversity at Pipe Core
Since founding in 2008, Pipe Core’s team has grown across all areas of the business and is now in a position where there are more females than males across the organisation. Research published in Harvard …
Apr 12, 2024
News
New Wave of Startups Scale Innovation to Solve Global Water Challenges
Innovators from Around the World Join Xylem’s 2024 Accelerator Program to Deploy Breakthrough Innovations for Utilities and Industrial Users of Water
A new group of startups …
Apr 08, 2024
News
Integrated sustainable electricity and clean drinking water systems
Altitude Water and New Use Energy Solutions have partnered to create integrated, mobile solar-plus-water generation systems that produce sustainable electricity and clean drinking …
Apr 05, 2024
News
How to Evaluate Hydraulic Fracture Risk in HDD Design
The design of horizontal directional drill (HDD) installations often requires an evaluation of the potential for hydraulic fracture of the soil layers through which an HDD passes. Evaluating …
Apr 02, 2024
News
Historic Project Linking Rome and Vatican City Uses Advanced Technology and Local Knowledge to Keep Water Flowing
Relocation of Major Sewer Infrastructure Enables Construction of Pedestrian Link for 35 Million Visitors to the 2025 Jubilee
Water …
Mar 27, 2024
News
USU Study Looks at Water Main Break Rates in the U.S. and Canada
Report Highlights Correlation Between Material and Diameter
Utah State University (USU) has published new research on water main breaks in the United States and Canada, examining …
Contact
The Robbins Company
44139 Solon, OH. USA
Phone:
+1 440 248 3303
Fax:
+1 440 248 1702