On August 25, the open-type hard rock tunnel boring machine "Jianghan Linghang" (Jianghan Navigator), jointly developed by China South-to-North Water Diversion Group Jianghan Water Network Construction and Development Co., Ltd., Sinohydro Bureau 8 Co., Ltd., and China Railway Engineering Equipment Group (CREG), was successfully launched in Yichang City, Hubei Province. The equipment was tailor-made for the water conveyance tunnel of Section 1 of the Jianghan-Han River Diversion Project of the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route, and its single-head tunneling distance sets a domestic record for super-large-diameter TBMs. Zhou Yangzong, Deputy Party Secretary, General Manager, and Chief Engineer of China South-to-North Water Diversion Group Jianghan Water Network Construction and Development Co., Ltd.; Xiao Jun, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of Sinohydro Bureau 8 Co., Ltd.; Zhuo Xingjian, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of CREG; and leaders from the owner, government, design, supervision, and other relevant units attended the event.

The Jianghan-Han River Diversion Project is the follow-up water source project of the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route. The main water conveyance trunk line adopts pressurized single-tunnel gravity flow. The geological conditions along the route are complex and construction is difficult. The project features technical characteristics such as large burial depth, long route, and large tunnel diameter, as well as geological difficulties including "high in-situ stress, high water pressure, high rock strength, and numerous faults."

The "Jianghan Linghang" TBM launched this time has an excavation diameter of 11.93 meters, a total length of about 180 meters, and a total weight of about 3,000 tons. It is assembled inside the tunnel, drives along the downhill slope, and drains against the slope. The total tunneling length is about 18.35 kilometers, making it the longest water conveyance tunnel under excavation along the entire line.

As of now, CREG

has provided 6 TBMs for the Jianghan-Han River Diversion Project

of which 4 have been successfully launched

with total tunneling mileage exceeding the 5,000-meter mark

Jianghan Xianfeng

The "Jianghan Xianfeng" (Jianghan Pioneer) is the first hard rock TBM rolled off the production line for the Jianghan-Han River Diversion Project, and is also the largest-diameter single-shield hard rock TBM currently used in domestic water diversion tunnel projects. It has an excavation diameter of 12.23 meters, a total length of about 160 meters, and a weight of about 2,800 tons.

The equipment integrates monitoring, early warning, and forecasting systems such as a comprehensive geological forecasting system, a cutter wear and condition monitoring system, a shield jamming warning and evaluation system, and a shield body lubrication system, enabling it to effectively address complex geological challenges along the route. At the same time, it innovatively carries synchronous thrusting and segment erection technology.

Jianghan Kaituo

The "Jianghan Kaituo" (Jianghan Pioneer/Pathbreaker) has an excavation diameter of 12.23 meters. It is also currently the largest-diameter single-shield hard rock TBM applied in domestic water conservancy projects, and is the hard rock TBM for the Jianghan-Han River Diversion Project that crosses the largest section and the longest soft rock deformation section. The equipment is designed with a minimum turning radius of 800 meters and can adapt to a maximum slope of ±10%, and can complete the full set of operations including tunnel excavation, mucking, support, guidance, and material transport.

The equipment adopts designs including an eccentric shield body, cutterhead over-excavation, a two-speed reducer, and shield body anti-friction measures, and adds a shield jamming warning and evaluation system to minimize potential construction risks. At the same time, it has developed and applied multiple intelligent technologies such as a station-relocation-free measurement function, intelligent auxiliary tunneling, a digital drilling rig, and an advanced detection system, which can provide strong support for project construction.

Jianghan Ping'an

The "Jianghan Ping'an" (Jianghan Peace), as the double-shield hard rock TBM with the largest diameter, the most advanced technology, the most complete functions, and the highest degree of intelligence currently used in domestic water diversion tunnel projects, has an excavation diameter of 11.93 meters, a total length of about 180 meters, and a total weight of about 3,550 tons. During operation, it can simultaneously perform tunneling and segment installation, achieving safe, efficient, and reliable excavation of super-large tunnel sections.

The equipment is equipped with induced polarization advanced geological detection, jamming warning, cutter wear and condition monitoring systems, as well as the industry-first normal advanced drilling rig system, and can cope with complex geological conditions such as high in-situ stress in large burial depth, ultra-hard rock, rockburst, and high external water pressure.