Mary nears the end of her boring journey
Tunnel boring machine Mary is on course to pass the 3km point of her total 3.5km journey as part of tunnelling works under the Bristol Channel. The tunnel is being lined with concrete rings which are made at Balfour Beatty’s segment factory in Avonmouth. Last month, the segment factory team marked a significant milestone when it completed the manufacture of all the segments required for the rest of the first intake tunnel drive. In total, the HPC Marine Works project requires 38,000 concrete segments to make up the 6,000 rings that will form the three main cooling water tunnels for the power station.
Turbine hall columns take shape
The turbine hall is one of several main structures in the Conventional Island, which is the central section of the power station. The first of 15 Turbine Group columns have been constructed at Unit 1 and will eventually support the weight of the Generator Turbine Alternator table and the turbine itself. Each column is 17m high and weighs 40 tonnes.
MEH team power ahead in gallery
The MEH (Mechanical, Electrical and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning)) team achieved another key milestone with the start of installation works in the Raw Water Storage Liaison Gallery . The works include electrical supplies, forced air ventilation, lighting and emergency systems. Over the next year, the team will be responsible for installing around 3,500m of pipework, along with electrical modules, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) ductwork and supports. The MEH Alliance has mobilised a 30-strong workforce, including welders, pipe-fitters, platers, riggers and electricians, to carry out the gallery works. Once the MEH works are complete, the gallery will be handed back to Bylor for the remaining civils works.
Taken from The Point, November 2020
