Transportation of Tunnel Muck by Pipeline

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Centerhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15268591978PDFTech ReportFaddick, Robert R.Martin, James W.Colorado School of MinesJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited StatesBelt conveyorsDewateringExcavation and tunnelingTunnelingMuckingPipelinesPipeline transportationPneumatic equipmentHydraulic equipmentMaterials managementTeachersDOT-TSC-UMTA-78-7DOT-TSC-1114The view reflected herein is that if the advancement of the technology of muck removal does not keep pace with advances in tunneling machine technology, muck removal can become the limiting constraint on the forward movement of the tunnel face, and hence on the growth of tunneling. The objective of this study is to advance the technology of tunnel excavation by increasing the rate of muck removal from the tunnel face. The highlights in this report are on muck haulage systems by pipeline, and the emphasis is on investigating better techniques and technology, rather than costs. This report updates muck quantities and to some extent muck quality (in terms of its hardness and geology). Crushing equipment is examined as is extensible conveyor belt equipment. A survey of extensible equipment is made to aid in suggesting approaches for their application in tunnels to pipeline muck haulage. Recent headloss data for coarse slurries are presented for the hydraulic muck haulage system. Consideration is given to a jet pump eductor for feeding a centrifugal pump from a mixing tank. A more compact and less expensive dewatering system is also analyzed. Appendixes A through D provide background material for the systems and concepts herein and include: Pneumatic Pipeline Systems, CONOCO-CONSOL System, Dewatering Equipment, and Coal Hoisting in the U.K. A previous and related study, 'Pneumatic-Hydraulic Material Transport System for the Rapid Excavation of Tunnels' (DOT-TSC-75-17), suggested a transportation system for muck haulage with a pneumatic pipeline or a slurry pipeline.138