By Lynda Myer
Following successful pass of the acceptance inspection, in February CRCHI (China Railway Construction Heavy Industry) completed assembly of its slurry pipe jacking machine in Changsha, China, wheras this landmark marks the first export of a China-made pipe jacking machine to the Colombian market.
Being located in Bogotá, advancing municipal sewage treatment project spanning around 2.1 kilometers is up to this machine and considering that this project crosses beneath the Bogotá River, it encounters various strata. The cover depth of the tunnel roof is about 7-11 meters. The poor stability of crossing strata, poor slag discharge from clay strata, small launching wells, as well as long single jacking distances, are the engineering challenges in the path of this project.
Considering estimation of these challenges, CRCHI’s R&D team has equipped the machine with multiple proprietary technologies and the cutterhead features a small opening rate panel design, coupled with a high-speed, a high-torque hydraulic drive, and a circulation system boasting high power and displacement. These innovations ensure safe and efficient jacking construction across diverse and complex strata.
Using sea transportion, tthis he pipe jacking machine will be dismantled and reached to the construction site. As a significant step forward in Colombia’s infrastructure development, the machine will officially commence excavation after completing its assembling and commissioning.
