Dutch transport engineering and heavy lifting specialist Mammoet delivered and intalled reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) and steam generators at Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset, UK.

Mammoet on hand at Hinkley Point C 1

Source: Mammoet

Mammoet’s gantry system lifting a steam generator into place at Hinkley Point C.

Mammoet was approached by Framatome to handle the sensitive components, which weigh up to 520 tonnes apiece. The biggest challenge came in deciding how to deliver all components through a small opening in the plant’s reactor building.

“The congestion around the unit, and the spatial limitations within which we were required to perform our activities, gave Mammoet an interesting challenge,” explained Darren Watson, sales director at Mammoet.

Mammoet opted for a gantry system, which began at the marked pickup location and would bring the components to the required height to enter the reactor building. This system was also used to lift and manoeuvre the large components.

To achieve this, Mammoet’s engineers designed and constructed the outside lifting system (OLS), which – using a combination of winches and strand jacks – lifted the components directly from a SPMT and lowered them onto a skid system, ultimately allowing for their move into the building. Given the shape of the building, a 30-degree curve was needed so that the components could enter the structure at the correct angle for ensuing installation. The OLS incorporated a turntable, allowing the units to be rotated as they travelled along the skid path.

Mammoet on hand at Hinkley Point C 2

Source: Mammoet

Skidding systems are typically laid in straight lines; however, the shape of the reactor building meant that a 30-degree curve was needed.

Once inside the building, the components were lifted and rotated from horizontal to vertical orientation before being lowered into their final installation position. For this task, two Mammoet temporary lifting devices (TLDs) were fitted to the existing polar crane. The larger, 600-tonne capacity TLD performed the main lifting operation using a containerised winch for the hoist, meanwhile the second TLD – with a capacity of 320 tonnes – used strand jacks to complete the reorientation of the units.

With construction beginning in 2017, Hinkley Point C owner EDF expects the plant to be operational by 2029.

HLPFI reported last week that Mammoet had added a pair of Liebherr crawler cranes to its fleet.

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