Project Challenge
Water consumption in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi amounts to a staggering 550 l per person per day. With its population rising by leaps and bounds, the metropolis recently initiated the construction of an all-new,state-of-the-art sewage and wastewater recycling system with a greatly enhanced capacity. A gravity-driven system based on new tunnels deep underground is to collect all wastewater and deliver it to a large-scalepumping station on the coast.
From darkness to the light of day. –The tunnels beneath the highly developed urban area are constructed via trenchless excavation. Indian crane manufacturer ElectroMech was contracted to manufacture and install large gantry systems at a number of access shafts, where utility platforms can be lowered and lifted to move personnel, machinery, and material into the tunnels and out again.
Hoists in lockstep. – Given a tunnel boring phase of at least two years from start to finish, these hoists call for very robust drive solutions that can be relied on for minimal maintenance requirements. Also, several drives assigned to the same crane must perform in perfectly synchronized operation: in order to safely take people, material and tools up and down long rides on a moving platform, geared motors working in pairs need to ensure that the platform remains level at all times. In addition to this crucial functional requirement, the climate of the Persian Gulf region featuring extraordinary heat is another factor to consider: all drivetechnology has to be tough enough to weather these conditions.