Here’s An Opinion On:
Trenchless Pipe Boring Machines Bid Farewell To Noise, Disruption And Disturbance
by
William Penworthy
Trenchless pipe boring machines have revolutionised the way in which pipes are being laid, massively decreasing the amount of disruption and delay that is normally associated with open trench pipe laying and repair. Underground thrust boring is a fast, efficient and safe means by which pipes and tunnels can be laid without having to disrupt the ground surface. Ground heave is virtually nonexistent, and whether the pipe is being laid under a road, a railway line, a building or a river makes relatively little difference.
But how do trenchless pipe boring machines work? How is it possible to ensure that a pipe being laid is properly in place, and isnt running too close to existing pipes or cables, or encounters solid items such as tree roots or foundations?
In order for underground thrust boring to take place, two small bore holes are created either end of where the new section of pipe is to be laid. If the pipe is to be run underground across the width of a road, or under a railway track or even from one side of a building to the other, the only work required is to dig the two small bore holes. These are unlikely to cause much, if any disruption at all.
Another advantage of underground thrust boring is that it is significantly quieter than traditional open trench work, meaning that far less disruption and disturbance is caused to neighbouring homes and businesses. Normally one assumes that the laying of a new pipe will involve heavy plant machinery and pneumatic drills – all of which causes harsh noise and unpleasant vibrations which carry significant distances. The sharp vibrations from pneumatic machinery can also cause damage to nearby pipes and cables in some instances.
Instead of using pneumatic machinery, trenchless pipe boring machines use hydraulic power instead. Hydraulics are more powerful than pneumatics, and very much quieter. There are no vibrations, meaning that local businesses and homes may be entirely unaware of the fact that work is going on at all. Very little risk of damage to nearby cables or pipes is likely since the hydraulic action is smooth and controlled.
The moling equipment, so named because of its similarity to the creatures which tunnel away underground, is lowered into the first bore hole. An auger or drill head is fixed to the front of the boring machine, and this then begins to drill or bore its way horizontally towards the second bore hole. Additional auger heads may be fitted if necessary, and in some cases the pipe is attached to the rear of the thrust boring machine. As the moling equipment drills its way through the ground, the pipe is then pulled in behind it, filling the excavated tunnel.
Once the pipe boring machine has reached the second bore hole, the auger head is uncoupled, and the moling equipment detached from the pipe. In some instances the pipe is not attached the rear of the moling equipment, and once the tunnel has been created, the machine is then reinserted into the second bore hole, and pulls the pipe into the tunnel. In a few cases the tunnel may be slightly widened during this process if, for example, the pipe required is of a particularly large diameter.
But how do those using the trenchless pipe boring machines know where to drill? Even drilling a hole in your wall at home can be risky if you havent checked for live electrical cables or existing pipes. The solution is to equip the head of the underground thrust boring machine with a set of sensors which transmit radio signals through the ground. These are then bounced back from anything reasonably solid, allowing those using the moling equipment to capture a virtual 3D map of the ground. Any nearby pipes, cables, foundations or even tree roots are detected.
The pipe boring machines are guided manually, so that if an obstacle is detected, the drilling equipment can be steered and manoeuvred around it. Sensors allow for very accurate positioning of the boring equipment – to within a few millimetres, meaning that the tunnel created is always laid along a safe path. This is particularly important in cases where pipes are being laid in urban or industrial areas, where a large number of pipes or cables may already exist underground, or where foundations may otherwise prove awkward.
Although the humble mole has been digging tunnels for many years, this kind of technology is still relatively new. However, those industries and utility companies who are now using trenchless pipe boring machines are finding that they can lay pipes more safely, more quickly and at less cost – as well as drastically reducing the disruption, disturbance and damage normally associated with open trench work. Underground thrust boring may be invisible to most of us, but it is in its very discreetness that the advantages lie.
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Trenchless Pipe Boring Machines Bid Farewell To Noise, Disruption And Disturbance}