Land and sea transportation of very heavy power-station equipment

Abstract

The constant challenge in power technology is to increase output and, at the same time, to reduce both the capital cost and the running cost of the plant installed, thus keeping the cost of energy to the consumer as low as possible. An unremitting effort has been necessary to provide transport facilities for the larger units which have been developed, and, indeed, throughout the whole period of the development, progress has very much depended on the increase in the size and weight of the units that could be moved from works to sites. By the early 1960s the load-carrying capacity was stretched to the limit, and new methods of carrying had to be devised if further development of plant was not to be restricted. The paper describes the novel methods of sea and land transport which have been developed to enable larger, single units of plant to be delivered to power-station and substation sites than has heretofore been possible in Britain or, with very few exceptions, in any other country in the world. The new facilities will enable major savings to be made in construction and operating costs of new power installations and will enable manufacturers to improve their competitive position in the export market by being able to build the largest units more economically than heretofore. The characteristics of the two special ships now in operation are outlined, the philosophy of design and alternative solutions are examined, and the reasons are given for evolving the type selected. The development of the air-cushion equipment now in use for attachment to road transporters to reduce the stress on highways and bridges is described, and its advantages are set out. The development of a prototype vehicle for off-the-road use over ground such as pasture and plough land to aid access and minimise damage during construction of electricity-transmission works is also set out. The paper concludes with a description of the development of a prototype multiple-wheel assisted-lift road transporter for heavy plant as a possible alternative to the air-cushion equipment under certain conditions.