High Girder Bridge Makes Light Work of Inaugural Haul
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August 25, 2015 - Even if the transformer weighed “only” 288 tons the new G²â”‚K 600 high girder bridge with a load capacity of 661 tons developed in collaboration with Greiner GmbH (Neuenstein) by Goldhofer Aktiengesellschaft (Memmingen) and delivered to Kahl Schwerlast GmbH (Moers) in mid-May can be said to have passed its first test with flying colors.
The load was a 300 MVA transformer (37 x 12.4 x 14.4 ft.) built by Siemens, which was first shipped by barge to the Westfalen power plant in Hamm and from there taken by road to the TenneT substation in Paderborn-Elsen. For the journey of just over 50 mi., the heavy-haulage specialists at the Kahl Schwerlast company reckoned with two nights on the road.
Following roll-on roll-off transshipment using a Goldhofer 14-axle self-propelled vehicle to the additional expense of using cranes, the transformer set off on a journey that included eight roundabouts and a 90° turn onto a level crossing. Thanks to the exceptional maneuverability of the vehicles—Goldhofer’s heavy-duty modules come with a 60° steering angle—and the exceptional performance of the hydraulics of the high girder bridge, the operation was no problem for Kahl’s experienced team. Only a few traffic signs and some traffic lights had to be dismantled prior to the arrival of the gigantic rig, which had an overall width of 15 ft. With an enormous stroke of 84 in., the G²â”‚K 600 was simply raised to negotiate the roundabouts along the route.
The complete push-pull tractor trailer rig, with 2x16 axles, had a total weight of no less than 606 tons. The transport dimensions of 275 x 15 x 15 ft. made for an axle load of only 16.5 tons, which was compliant with the regulations. “I am delighted to see that our high girder bridge has now made its debut on the road and done a great job, too,” says Stefan Fuchs, CEO of Goldhofer Aktiengesellschaft.
The priorities for the design engineers working on the high girder bridge included an optimized deadweight to payload ratio and innovative load distribution to the axles for an axle load of less than 12 tons. The reduction in loads imposed on roads and bridges when using the G²â”‚K 600 to transport extremely heavy items like generators, transformers, motors and turbines means that fewer detours have to be made so that journey times and costs are also reduced.
With a power rating of 300MVA, the transformer is used to convert the voltage from 380kV to 110kV as a link between the extra-high voltage and high-voltage grids. According to TenneT, the situation is comparable with a slip-road connecting a motorway with a lower-level road. Theoretically, a 300MVA transformer has the capacity to supply electricity to about 450,000 households.
