Grande diâmetro – Central elétrica de Susten, na Suíça

Viking Johnson has supplied a bespoke high pressure large diameter coupling to Swiss hydroelectric power station, KW Dala AG. The coupling (813.9mm OD) was selected due to its ability to withstand high pressure surges of up to 100 bar after severe floods in 2011 caused older pipes to burst leaving significant damage to the power station and a 12 month outage.

A solução

During October 2011, the village of Susten in Southern Switzerland, home to the power station, experienced devastating flooding. The flood water, initiated by a combination of high rainfall and snow melt, deposited a substantial amount of sediment into the Dala, a mountain stream which supplies the power station. The total run-off volume on 11 October was estimated at 1.2 million m3/s and caused pipes to burst leaving severe damage to machinery and sediment measuring several metres high inside the power station buildings.

Following the disaster, the Department of Road and River Engineering (DFSB) began to implement a flood protection programme. As part of this programme, a Viking Johnson custom made-to-fit large diameter coupling was installed around the main pipe which feeds water directly into the power station. The coupling, specifically selected, is able to withstand surges in pressure of up to 100 bar and is also able to compensate for dilatation of pipework, should such high pressure surges occur again.