E-Power Pipe
The E-Power Pipe method is used for the trenchless installation of small diameter product pipes at shallow depths. Over long distances of up to two kilometres pipes are installed quickly, reliably and precisely. The two-stage process integrates aspects of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and pipe jacking (microtunnelling) technologies. Even with the most diverse project requirements, E-Power Pipe enables installing near-surface protective pipes and pipelines – cable protection pipes or underground cables for the expansion of the power grid as well as pipelines for gas supply, district heating or the transport of hydrogen.
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Image courtesy: Herrenknecht AG
The installation process is in two stages:
Stage 1: A jacking frame is installed in the launch pit (at the left in the above graphic). The special tunnel boring machine and the reusable steel jacking pipes developed for the E-Power Pipe method are pushed through the ground along the specified alignment. After breakthrough at the target point (right centre in the above graphic), the TBM is separated from the steel jacking pipes which remain in the ground.
E-Power Pipe - Launch Pit & Jacking/Pulling Frame Image courtesy: Herrehknecht AG
Stage 2: In the target pit a pulling head is now attached to the jacking pipe string. The prefabricated product pipe lying ready for installation is connected to the pulling head. As the jacking pipes are pulled back to the launch pit by the jacking frame, the product pipe is successively pulled in as with HDD.
The reusable steel jacking pipes are sufficiently flexible for the method to install curved sections of pipe. The installed pipe may be up to 900mm in diameter and lenghts of up to 2000m can be installed from a single launch pit.
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