Construction |
Eyes in the sky, and underground
A crawler crane has been put to work underground at a new pumped storage facility, while new cranes have been launched into the construction market offering powerful capabilities for large infrastructure projects
THE HEART OF THE new Tauernmoos pumped storage power plant owned by ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG is located in Upper Pinzgau, deep inside the mountains near Uttendorf in Salzburg/Austria. The cavern extends over a length of 73m, a width of 25m and a height of 40m. Bit by bit, stage by stage, the infrastructure of the future underground hydropower plant is being built here. Around 15,000m3
of structural concrete and 2000
Below: Palfinger PCC 57.002 working on the Tauernmoos pumped storage power plant in Austria
tons of reinforcing steel, along with formwork panels and machines must be lifted and installed within the cavern in a very confined space and tight schedule. There is not much space for parking machines, and moving them is often associated with a lot of effort. Regular cranes are not suitable for the project’s special lifting operations. With a size of 5.8 by 1.9m, a lifting capacity of 450kg and a working radius of almost 30m – or 3700kg at a height of 18m and a radius of 8m – the extremely compact PCC 57.002 proved to be the perfect crane solution for this complex project. Due to its unique shifting function and 360° geometry monitoring, it can also increase lifting force and reach. The software calculates all centers of gravity of the machine simultaneously to achieve optimum stability. The additional equipment with an articulated knuckle boom (14°) and fly jib (25°) is essential for successful work operations. It means the PCC can be even closer to the scene of action without taking up space there, and can cleverly avoid objects and protruding edges.
Across the cavern with ease, but without emissions
As a special challenge, the crawler crane must complete the tasks on the various levels, the “floors”. These tasks are special in terms of maneuvering in confined spaces. Within a very short time, the crane unit can separate from the crawler module and be transported to the next level in two compact parts. Deep inside the mountain, the crane also features impressive sensitivity and minimal reaction movements. While it can be operated either by diesel or electric drive, inside the cavern for the pumped storage power plant it is electric powered for completely CO2 neutral operation. With no exhaust fumes, reduced noise and vibrations and zero CO2 pollution to the surrounding area, the all-rounder in the cavern ensures the best working conditions for construction workers. Construction group Swietelsky AG is carrying out the work on the ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG power plant project. Civil engineer Arnold Künnert, project manager at Swietelsky AG’s civil engineering team, is responsible on site for the construction of the concrete power plant cavern: “In addition to the technical advantages, Palfinger’s strong service network and customer-oriented support were decisive for us. Our crane operators received four days of training right before the start of the project, where they got to know all the functions of the crane model and practiced health and safety procedures. This enabled them to work efficiently right from the start of the project. The Palfinger service center in Zell am See also guarantees rapid availability of spare parts.” Crane operator Wilfried Pirker is also impressed by the performance of the PCC: “Thanks to the PCC’s shifting function in combination with its long reach, we can transport even the heaviest loads to distant locations in the cavern. This makes our work a lot easier.”
Going larger Just a few months after Manitowoc introduced what it
described as its largest Potain crane built in China – the 40 t MCT 805 – the company has recently returned with an even larger topless tower crane, the MCT 1005. Manufactured at its Zhangjiagang facility in China, the crane has been designed for use in emerging markets and Southeast Asia, and boasts a huge 50 t capacity. The crane is also available with a choice of three counterjib options that will further enhance its seamless integration into confined jobsites, the company said. The MCT 1005 M50 allows for the handling of an
impressive 8 t at the end of its maximum 80m jib, which is configured from 11 sections of either 5m or 10m in length. Only three sections are required to deliver its shortest configuration of 20m, at which distance it
44 | February 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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