The Delta Power Intake Tunnel project consisted of a 565-Megawatt power-generating facility that recovers heat from gas exhaust leaving gas turbines. The turbines burn natural gas or low-sulfur diesel fuel oil. Bradshaw helped develop a microtunnel solution to installing the cooling water intake. The tunneling involved mining though 400 linear feet of hard rock and transitioning to 1,000 linear feet of very soft river mud. Mining was performed on a 24/7 basis. In all, 1,515 feet of 60-inch steel casing was jacked under a lake and a 16-inch high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe was installed inside. The HDPE pipe transports cooling water to the plant, and the annular space between the carrier pipe and the casing returns the water to the lake. The tunnel boring machine was recovered by divers from under Conowingo Lake along the Susquehanna River.
What makes it interesting?
Bradshaw worked with the owner to develop a microtunnel solution to installing the cooling water intake and return, installing HDPE pipe inside a steel casing under the lake.
How HCSS Software assisted with this project
This job required that Bradshaw analyze multiple options to determine the best solution. HeavyBid allowed them do that quickly and easily.