Say Goodbye To Traditional Construction! A New Mechanized Construction Approach for Pumped-storage Tunnels—from Excavation To Lining Maintenance.

At the critical stage of transitioning towards mechanization and intelligentization in the construction of pumped-storage power stations, tunnel group construction still faces numerous challenges, including diverse cross-section types, numerous tunnel bends with small turning radii, extensive rock bolt installation requirements, low mechanization levels, and high labor intensity. How to achieve fully mechanized operations throughout the entire process from excavation and support to lining and maintenance, thereby enhancing both construction efficiency and safety, has become an urgent core issue for the industry to address.

Traditional construction machinery fails to meet the demands of tunnel group construction. To effectively tackle the challenges in drilling operations within tunnel groups, Wuxin Equipment has successively introduced a suite of intelligent construction equipment for tunnel groups, capable of covering all tunnel cross-section types in pumped-storage power stations. These include construction tunnels such as outlet shafts, diversion tunnels, tailrace tunnels, ventilation tunnels, access tunnels, safety tunnels, main and auxiliary powerhouses, transformer caverns, tailgate chambers, as well as various construction adits, exploration tunnels, spillway tunnels, and drainage galleries.

A Full-Cycle Solution: Achieving Seamless Mechanization Integration

Face Drill Rig WD561--For cross-sections below 5m × 5m

For small cross-section tunnels with limited space, such as exploration tunnels and drainage galleries, conventional large-section drilling equipment faces difficulties in accessing and operating. To address this, Wuxin Equipment has introduced the WD561 Intelligent Tunneling Jumbo. Designed with a compact structure, it overcomes the challenges posed by confined spaces and achieves full mechanization of drilling operations in small cross-sections, significantly enhancing both construction efficiency and safety.

◆ Compact Dimensions: Capable of operating in working sections as small as 1.9m × 1.9m.
◆ High Drilling Speed: Equipped with an 18kW rock drill, reaching a maximum drilling speed of 3m/min.
◆ Remote Operation: Simple to learn and safe to operate through remote control.

Face Drill Rig WD632DS--For cross-sections larger than 5m × 5m

Given the prevalent challenges in large cross-section tunnel construction (above 5m × 5m) for pumped-storage power stations—such as the inability of traditional straight-boom drilling jumbos to adapt to multiple cross-section types, difficulty navigating tunnel bends, extensive rock bolt installation requirements, and the need for frequent repositioning—Wuxin Equipment has introduced an innovative solution: the Dual-Slide-Boom Computerized Drilling Jumbo. This system is designed to meet the excavation needs of various tunnel cross-sections and the installation of rock-anchored beams and rock bolts, effectively addressing the difficulties associated with large cross-section tunnel drilling.

◆ Strong Cross-Section Adaptability:
Featuring a pioneering slide-boom structure, this jumbo offers a large working range while significantly reducing overall machine length. It accommodates multiple cross-section types and ensures smooth passage through bends, enabling construction in diverse sections such as inclined shafts, cross passages, and pilot tunnels.

◆ Enhanced Adaptability to Construction Methods and Bolt Installation:
Equipped with a slide-boom structure and a dual-layer feed beam, the jumbo overcomes the limitations of traditional drilling booms in adapting to various cross-sections and construction methods. It allows simultaneous drilling of excavation holes and bolt holes, reducing the need for equipment changes. During bolt installation in powerhouse sections, the machine requires only a single setup to cover a wide area, minimizing repositioning. Both booms can operate concurrently without obstructing tunnel traffic. For rock-anchored beam bolt installation, it features automatic rod-changing capability, easily completing 12-meter bolt holes.

◆ Improved Operator Adaptability:
Fitted with a sliding and lifting operator cabin, the jumbo enables close observation of sidewall and arch drilling conditions, ensuring effective control over overbreak and underbreak.

Rock Bolting Rig HLG312M

For the construction of soft surrounding rock sections in pumped-storage power stations, which require simultaneous completion of multiple high-altitude tasks such as arch installation, reinforcement mesh laying, explosive charging, and rock bolt installation, conventional methods suffer from the need for multiple equipment rotations and time-consuming process transitions. To address these challenges, Uniroc has introduced the rock bolting rig HLG312M. This multi-functional vehicle integrates arch erection, explosive charging, and rock bolt installation into a single unit, meeting the demand for simultaneous multi-process operations within tunnels.

◆ High Efficiency:
Equipped with a dedicated rock bolt boom, the jumbo enables immediate installation of foot-lock bolts, systematic bolts, and forepoling pipes once the arch is erected, eliminating equipment rotation downtime and significantly enhancing operational efficiency.

◆ Multi-Functionality:
Featuring hole-cleaning capabilities and an expansive work platform that accommodates 6–8 personnel simultaneously, the jumbo allows for rapid and efficient explosive charging operations.

Face Drill Rig WD100E

For tunnel sections in pumped-storage power stations with small turning radii and variable cross-sections, traditional rock bolt installation equipment often struggles due to its large size and limited coverage, making it difficult to perform both blast hole drilling and bolt hole installation efficiently. To overcome these challenges, Uniroc has developed the face drill rig WD100E, which enables simultaneous execution of blast hole drilling and rock bolt hole installation.

◆ Strong Adaptability to Varied Cross-Sections:
Featuring a pioneering curved-boom structure—an industry first in China—this jumbo boasts a compact overall design capable of meeting the construction requirements for most tunnel and cavern cross-section types.

◆ High Flexibility in Construction Methods:
It supports both rock bolt hole and excavation hole drilling, as well as forepoling pipe installation. An optional rod-changing attachment is available to facilitate bolt hole drilling with depths of up to 12 meters.

◆ Enhanced Operator Adaptability:
Designed for remote control operation, the jumbo is easy to learn and operate, ensuring both efficiency and safety on site.

To address the challenge of limited space in certain caverns of pumped-storage power stations, where mechanized concrete spraying is often unfeasible, Wuxin Equipment has developed the WHP38H and KHP20 concrete wet shotcreting units. These systems enable remote-controlled wet spraying, significantly enhancing support efficiency while greatly improving the working environment and safety. Capable of operating in cross-sections as small as 3.6m × 3.6m, they provide efficient and adaptable concrete spraying solutions for confined spaces.

Shotcrete Machine WHP38H

◆ Equipped with a mechanical four-wheel drive system and front-wheel steering, the unit delivers robust power and a maximum climbing capacity of 46%.

◆ The eighth-generation boom design has undergone over 10 million fatigue cycle tests, ensuring significantly enhanced durability and longevity.

◆ Featuring a dual diesel-electric power system, the unit operates on electric drive during normal construction while seamlessly switching to diesel power for emergency backup during power outages.

Shotcrete Machine KHP20

◆ The manipulator operates with flexible movements, enabling construction without blind spots and offering a wide working range.

◆ Featuring four-wheel drive and articulated steering, the unit ensures agile maneuverability and strong climbing capability.

◆ The boom has undergone rigorous fatigue testing, guaranteeing reliable and durable performance.

◆ With a modular split design, maintenance and servicing are made more convenient and efficient.

Digital Pouring Lining Trolley 

To address construction challenges such as segregation and cold joints during concrete pouring in long-distance, complex cross-section tunnels like diversion tunnels and tailrace tunnels of pumped-storage power stations, Uniroc has introduced an automatic concrete pouring needle beam jumbo. This system enables layered multi-point concrete pouring, significantly improving the quality of concrete placement.

◆ Equipped with a layered concrete distribution system, it effectively enhances the pouring quality of secondary lining concrete, reduces pouring time, improves operational efficiency, and lowers construction costs and safety risks.

◆ Integrated with an information-based monitoring system, the jumbo allows real-time tracking of pouring positions and concrete volumes within the working chamber, ensuring process controllability and traceability.

Digital Pouring Lining Trolley SY1200

To address the stringent requirements for concrete structure curing in tunnels of pumped-storage power stations—where traditional manual curing often fails to ensure timeliness and uniformity, leading to quality defects such as cracks and surface pitting—Uniroc has developed a dedicated curing jumbo. Equipped with automated spraying and temperature control functions, it performs timed and metered curing of concrete surfaces according to preset programs, ensuring effective curing and significantly reducing concrete defects.

◆ Unmanned Operation:
Automated unmanned curing with simple operation, reducing labor costs.

◆ Enhanced Safety:
Runs on an independent dedicated track for stable movement, minimizing safety risks.

◆ Cost-Effective:
Adaptable to various tunnel cross-sections, allowing repeated use across multiple project sites and reducing equipment investment costs.

To address long-standing industry challenges such as poor cross-section adaptability, limited maneuverability in tight bends, and the diverse and extensive requirements for tunnel bolt installation, Uniroc has developed a comprehensive equipment system that covers the entire construction process. This system enables a single machine to perform efficiently across different cross-sections and under varying working conditions, achieving a transformative leap from "one machine, one function" to "one machine, multiple functions."