Underwater works in Hidroituango reached 86% progress
- Fecha de publicación
- 2024-03-12 00:00
- Contenido
-
- Along with the underwater works, there is also progress in the civil works of the second stage of the project (units 5 to 8) and in the plugging process of the right diversion tunnel (RDT)
- Hidroituango reached 92.59% of total construction progress
- This week the last 100-ton plug arrived
The underwater works being carried out in Hidroituango have reached 86%. These works allow the rehabilitation of the hydraulic conditions of the water intake tunnels, which are the structures that allow the flow of water from the reservoir to the power generation turbines in the powerhouse.
Last year, before the entry into operation of units three and four, it was possible to rehabilitate tunnels three and four, which are working optimally.
This week, the last hydromechanical plug, weighing 100 tons, arrived from Croatia at the main works site of Hidroituango, which will enable performing civil works inside tunnel two.
Specialized divers will install this new hydromechanical plug in the coming days with the support of hyperbaric chambers, which will allow them to remain pressurized or live at the bottom of the reservoir for up to 28 days. These tasks include the installation, sealing, repair of some concretes and the removal of the plug itself. In other words, the plug will serve to contain the water pressure at a depth of 60 meters in the reservoir and, in dry conditions, to be able to enter construction personnel, specialized divers and machinery with the purpose of carrying out civil and mechanical works that are missing in this area. After this, the plug will be removed and the passage of water through the tunnel 2 will be enabled again.
“We have been working at a very good pace, in accordance with the schedule, both from the operation of the Plant and from projects and, in an articulated way, we are going to take advantage of the fact that unit two is going into maintenance for its 8,000 hours of operation so that the divers can enter to carry out the work that is missing in the water intake tunnel two”, said John Maya, CEO of EPM.
These gates were designed, manufactured, and tested exclusively for the characteristics and geometry of Hidroituango’ s water intake tunnels. This equipment which is not mass-produced or standardized, do meet criteria and technical standards for the engineering of structural and hydromechanical equipment to ensure proper operation and functioning.
Works of the second stage of Hidroituango
Hidroituango registers 92.59% of construction progress, where the most representative works, currently, are focused on the second stage and corresponds to its civil works; as well as the plugging of the right diversion tunnel (RDT).
The CYS Consortium, in charge of these works, is making progress in the adaptation of industrial areas for the start of works on the different fronts, including the adaptation of discharge three, a place that will serve as access for the entry of all the equipment for the underground excavations of the southern area of the powerhouse. It is also advancing in the acquisition of equipment and the hiring of personnel.
“In relation to the plugging of the RDT, we are continuing with the sphere insertion activities. We have already completed the drilling for the injection of resins that will enable the final plugging of this tunnel, approximately in the second half of this year. The project is progressing satisfactorily, and as the year goes on, the work will be further increased”, said William Giraldo, Vice President of Power Generation Projects at EPM.
Hidroituango contributes to the energy stability and development of the country, as well as to the quality of life of Colombians, even more at a challenging period due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.