Herrenknecht giants prepare the way for subterranean lifelines in China's megacities
Nov 06, 2009
On the German-Chinese Esplanade in Wuhan, the technology and market leader in mechanized tunnelling presents examples of innovative high-performance technology for the construction of transport and supply tunnels under the motto "Sustainable Solutions".
Rapidly growing megacities and overused traffic and transportation systems are concomitant effects of economic growth and urbanization in China. Only an infrastructure which grows together with the population can guarantee the quality of life in the cities. Therefore, the extension and modernization of traffic tunnels and efficient supply and disposal systems are a top priority in the Peoples’ Republic. With mechanized tunnelling technology Herrenknecht was providing the key technology “made in Germany” to create new links within densely built-up cities. Tunnel construction takes place almost completely underground, without noise and impact on aboveground traffic and people. At the same time, mechanized tunnelling is faster, more environmentally friendly and safer for tunnel workers than conventional procedures (e.g. drill & blast).
Mechanized tunnelling technology from Herrenknecht is opening up new transport and supply channels for several large cities in China. The new construction of Wuhan’s subway line 2 is being carried out using Herrenknecht tunnel boring machines. Seven machines are excavating almost 17 kilometers of tunnel. 5 Earth Pressure Balance Shields are crossing beneath inner-city areas, two Mixshields - specialized in multi-layered, highly water-bearing grounds - will cross beneath the Yangtze River. In Guangzhou, the subway network has been constantly extended over the past years. Of a total of approx. 140 kilometers of subway tunnel which are to be produced using Herrenknecht tunnel boring machines (EPB Shields and Mixshields) with diameters of 6.25 meters, more than 105 kilometers have been excavated since 2000.
Herrenknecht supplied the two largest tunnel boring machines in the world with a diameter of 15.43 meters each for two gigantic traffic tunnels in Shanghai. The two colossal machines, with a weight of 2,300 tonnes and a length of 125 meters each, crossed beneath the Yangtze River at a depth of down to 65 meters. The two tubes of the “Shanghai Yangtze Under River Tunnel“ provide a connection for the inhabitants of the nearby river island Changxing to the Shanghai city district of Pudong. The two breakthroughs in May and September 2008 respectively, set an international milestone in mechanized tunnelling due to the extremely large tunnel profiles and the corresponding high requirements regarding efficiency and safety. The project also set new standards with respect to the construction time. The two tunnels, each almost 7.5 kilometers long, were completed after only 20 months - 10 and/or 12 months faster than scheduled. The completion of tunnelling work ahead of schedule provides the ideal conditions to open the tunnel on time for the 2010 World Exhibition in Shanghai.
Contact:
Herrenknecht AG
Schlehenweg 2
77963 Schwanau
Tel.: +49 (0)7824 302-540
Fax: +49 (0)7824 302-473
E-Mail: pr@herrenknecht.de
Internet: www.herrenknecht.com
More News and Articles
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
Mar 26, 2024
News
Update BE-21: New Material in Course and Modules on Trenchless Pipe Installation
Online training on the topic of pipeline installation in civil engineering: Trenchless technology for underground drainage construction can be a resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, time-saving, and cost-effective alternative to open cut methods. The UNITRACC e-learning course "Utility Tunnelling" has been enhanced …
Mar 25, 2024
Article
Bacteria as a new weapon in wastewater treatment
In early November, San Diego based startup Aquacycl officially opened its first European office and test center at the Water Campus in Leeuwarden. The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and the Investment and Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands (NOM) …
Mar 22, 2024
News
A superior HDD offering
Building on its relationships with leading horizontal directional drilling companies, TRACTO Australia has delivered three new rigs to operator Superior HDD.
Mar 20, 2024
News
New portable water filtration technology could improve access to clean drinking water worldwide
The University of Texas at Austin has developed an injectable water filtration system with the aim to aid the over two billion people worldwide who are without clean drinking water.
Mar 18, 2024
News
Global Student Innovation Challenge Calls on Next-Generation Leaders to Tackle Water Security
High School and University Students Worldwide Invited to Expand Water Access and Community Resilience
Mar 15, 2024
News
New water treatment wins Prestigious Award
Introducing a advancement in water treatment, developed by Cardiff University researchers in collaboration with Origin Aqua, the FreeOxTM technology has garnered acclaim by winning a prestigious challenge award at the World Water Tech Innovation Summit. This single-step process not only …
Mar 13, 2024
News
Satellite-based river monitoring technique could provide early warning of flooding
A satellite-based method for monitoring the flow of rivers from orbit could provide a valuable early warning system for flood risk, University of Glasgow researchers have claimed.
Mar 11, 2024
News
Revitalising infrastructure with HDD
Through the use of horizontal directional drilling, TasWater is delivering a new sewer pipeline to improve sewer and stormwater transfer capacity in Launceston, Tasmania.
Mar 06, 2024
News
Picking up the pace on climate action: Building momentum from COP28
At the halfway point of the Paris Agreement, the legally binding international treaty on climate action, average global temperatures are already hitting 1.8°C above pre-industrial levels and future projections are stark. At COP28 in December, we could not escape the reality …
Mar 01, 2024
News
Luminescent sensor detects ‘forever chemical’ pollution in water
Researchers in the UK and Germany have developed a new approach for detecting pollution from ‘forever chemicals’ in water through luminescence.
Feb 28, 2024
Article
BETT installation demonstrating GHG emissions reduction of wastewater treatment
This study presents BioElectrochemical Treatment Technology (BETT) as a new wastewater management solution toward the Net-Zero future. The results reported herein were collected from a BETT pilot system installed at a large brewery in Los Angeles, CA, United States processing …
Contact
Herrenknecht AG
77963 Schwanau
Phone:
+49 (0) 7824-302-0
Fax:
+49 (0) 7824-34-03