On April 22, the "Yuehai Huanbei No. 8 TBM" and the "Yuehai Huanbei No. 6 Shield" of the B4 bid section of the Huanbei Bay Guangdong Water Resources Allocation Project, constructed by Sinohydro Bureau 14 Co., Ltd., were successfully launched.

The "Yuehai Huanbei No. 8 TBM" is a double-shield TBM with an excavation diameter of 8.8 meters, a total length of about 150 meters, a weight of about 1,700 tons, an installed power of 6,927 kilowatts, a minimum turning radius of 500 meters, and a maximum boring speed of 120 millimeters per minute. The "Yuehai Huanbei No. 6 Shield" is an earth pressure balance shield machine with an excavation diameter of 8.6 meters, a total length of about 115 meters, a weight of about 1,100 tons, an installed power of 4,636 kilowatts, a minimum turning radius of 350 meters, and a maximum boring speed of 80 millimeters per minute. Both are equipped with advanced devices such as advanced geological prediction systems to adapt to complex geology.

It is understood that the B4 bid section of the Huanbei Guangdong Project undertakes the construction task of 22.55 kilometers of the Gaohe Trunk Line, involving a variety of construction techniques. The "Yuehai Huanbei No. 8 TBM" launched this time undertakes the tunneling of the 9.9062-kilometer Hejiang Inverted Siphon Tunnel and the 5.15-kilometer empty-push stepping task, while the "Yuehai Huanbei No. 6 Shield" is responsible for the tunneling of the 2.2-kilometer Nali Tunnel. The simultaneous launch of the two machines can accelerate the project progress, solve the water shortage problem in western Guangdong as soon as possible, and promote regional development.

To speed up project construction, the team of the B4 bid section of the Huanbei Guangdong Project has taken multiple measures to break through key technologies. They have repeatedly invited internal and external experts to conduct targeted design and research on the adaptability and reliability of the TBM and shield, respectively, in response to problems faced during shield tunneling such as soft upper and hard lower strata, shallow cover, and crossing fish ponds and buildings, as well as problems faced during TBM tunneling such as crossing fault fracture zones and long-distance hard rock. They optimized equipment functions, increased thrust and torque, and strictly supervised equipment manufacturing to ensure that equipment performance meets standards, thereby ensuring the safe launch and tunneling of the shield machine and TBM.

This double launch ceremony is not only an important milestone in project construction, but also a key step in optimizing water resources allocation in western Guangdong. Once completed, the project will benefit 18 million people along the route and enhance the economic carrying capacity of western Guangdong.

Launch Ceremony

Aerial front view of the "Yuehai Huanbei No. 6 Shield"