Bajos del Totuma Hydroelectric Plant
Located on the slopes of the Totuma in the Chiriquí region, the project consists of a 7 Mw hydroelectric power plant.
The project consists of a low-pressure pipeline to a surge chamber where it connects with the DN 1000 locked ductile iron pipe from CONSTRUTEC DUKTIL.
The pipeline runs through an orographic area with a very steep slope, which complicates any alternative requiring concrete blocks due to their high cost given the complex conditions for installing the pipes.
Supply
In the case of the hydroelectric power plant, CONSTRUTEC's engineering services designed the surge chamber with all its elements, developed detailed engineering, installation manual, and supervised the construction phase, as well as the pressure test criteria.
All the necessary equipment was defined and supplied to achieve perfect operation.
DN 1000 ductile iron pipes with all their elbows, tees, connection terminals to the surge chamber and connection to the powerhouse, including all necessary valves and dismantling spools.
The entire penstock pipeline was executed with DN 1000 pipe with the double chamber locked joint system (Lok&Play) with blast furnace cement (BFC) internal lining and 200 g/m2 zinc external protection and black bitumen topcoat.
Project Success Keys
- 40% reduction in the initial budget with anchors, providing greater safety, useful life, and long-term profitability, without maintenance costs
- Supervision and control up to the pressure test by the design team itself
Benefits and Advantages
- No need for concrete blocks. No expansion joints
- Extremely high installation performance: Lok&Play. Plug and play
- Very complex areas. Extreme slopes
- Withstands very high pressures
- With or without trench
- No welding, no problems. Even in flooded trenches
- Minimal head loss
- Operational guarantee, no breakdowns or service interruptions
- Replacements for obsolete steel pipes
