In tunnel engineering, the demand for concrete is large, the working environment is narrow, and it is difficult for large equipment to access. But there is a flexible small machine especially suitable for such tunnel engineerings. That is electric concrete pump.

Electric concrete pump, the name from its main electric power motor, is consisted of pump body and conveying pipeline. It is a set of concrete delivering equipment, which continuously send concrete liquid through pipeline basing on high pressure, mainly used in constructions of house building, bridge and tunnel projects, road and highway projects, and so on.

Today, let’s get known of somethings about electric concrete pump working in the tunnel engineering.

Features of Electric Concrete Pump

1. The power system, hydraulic system and pumping system are reasonably matched to effectively exert the maximum power of the motor.
2. High material absorption, the actual pumping efficiency reaches more than 80% of the theoretical value.
3. The configuration is more optimized, and the imported hydraulic parts and electrical components in the electric pump product greatly improves the reliability of the equipment.
4. The unique distribution oil circuit buffer technology ensures that the S tube swings in place and prolongs the service life of the S tube.
5. The application of high and low voltage switching simplifies the operation mode.
6. The lubricating system adopts forced filtration and pre-pressing dual-pump energy-saving automatic centralized oil supply system, which provides sufficient oil supply, better lubrication effect, and saves consumption, which reduces consumption by more than 50% compared with ordinary continuous oil injection.
7. The application of new wear-resistant materials and welding processes doubles the service life of commonly used wearing parts.
8. The power system adopts international brand hydraulic main pump, and the motor adopts domestic famous brand to provide strong power.
9. The unique open hydraulic system and proprietary hydraulic buffer technology of the hydraulic system make the system less impact on reversing and less heat generation.
10. The humanized and intelligent electronic control system optimizes the man-machine interface, making man-machine integration and easy operation. Intelligent control, accurate monitoring of the whole machine, and text display of the working status of the whole machine, and timely warning

Advantages and disadvantages of Electric Concrete Pump

Advantages

1.Simple structure

Electric motor in concrete pump has simple structure and compact body, which provides the whole pump machine a small volume and light weight.

2.Low consumption

Compared with diesel concrete pump, electric concrete pump consumes lower.

Take JBS40 concrete batching plant as an example.

The production capacity of JBS40 is 40m³/h, and the total electrical engine power is 55kW. That means this electric machine consumes electric about 1.4kWh. Calculated by $0.14 for 1kWh of electricity, it costs $0.2 for electricity.

To produce the same amount of concrete, the diesel pump consumes about 0.5-0.7 liters of diesel fuel. Calculated at $1.1 per liter of diesel, it will cost $0.6-0.8 for diesel oil fuel.

Obviously, the cost of using an electric pump is less.

3.Easy maintenance

Electric concrete pump with simple-structure motor and standard components is easy to maintain and repair.

4.Stable Performance

Electric motor in concrete pump performs stable and reliable once supplied with stable electric power. It also ensures an easy operation and long-term service life of electric concrete pump.

Disadvantages

1.Limited by electric power supply

High quality performance of electric concrete pump origins from stable and reliable electricity supply.
Unstable voltage and current will cause shock or even damage to the motor, so it is not suitable to use electric concrete pumps in areas where the power supply is unstable and the store lacks.
However, at large tunnel construction sites, there is usually a dedicated power supply, which is nothing to worry about.

2.Lower Driving Power
Compared with strong diesel concrete pump, electric pump seems not so powerful as diesel engine. Diesel engine with high fuel-conversion ratio and high torque is always the favorite power engine of large scale heavy construction machinery in spite of high cost.

High quality performance of electric concrete pump origins from stable and reliable electricity supply.
Unstable voltage and current will cause shock or even damage to the motor, so it is not suitable to use electric concrete pumps in areas where the power supply is unstable and the store lacks.

However, at large tunnel construction sites, there is usually a dedicated power supply, which is nothing to worry about.

Some Brief Precaution

1.Problems that should be paid attention to when operating electric pumps

• Inspection before operation

The power switch of the operating table should be in the “off” position. The concrete displacement handle and the reversing handle of the mixing device should be in the neutral position.

• Pumping operation

When starting or stopping pumping, you should contact the operator at the end hose.
The bending radius of the end hose should not be less than 1m, and it is not allowed to bend.
After confirming that there is no residual pressure in the pipeline, disassemble it.

• Post-work inspection

The boom should be fully retracted on the boom support; the outriggers should also be fully retracted with locking pins inserted. The console’s power switch should be in the “off” position.

2. Swing Valve Failures in Concrete Pumps

• The support seal of the hopper and the swing rod wears slowly due to lack of oil

And finally the cement mortar in the hopper leaks into the journal, which greatly increases the resistance, and finally makes the S valve unable to rotate or unable to rotate in place. The S valve is not in place, the inlet (outlet) material port cannot be sealed, and the pumping pressure cannot be established.

• Directly unable to rotate at all

In pumping concrete construction, once such failure occurs, it is quite difficult to deal with. This requires the construction personnel to check carefully before work, add grease frequently during work, and always keep the rotating auxiliary cavity filled with hot grease, so that the cement mortar in the hopper cannot penetrate.

How to clean the hydraulic oil of the concrete pump

a: Regularly check the color of the hydraulic oil.

The normal situation is light yellow, transparent, no turbid milky white phenomenon, otherwise the hydraulic oil in the system inlet water is emulsified.

b: Check the contaminants accumulated outside the cooler.

If there are contaminants, they should be cleaned immediately to avoid increasing the oil temperature and causing damage to the oil.

c: Check the indicator light of the oil filter of the pump truck.

When it is time to replace, it should be replaced in time, and the service validity period of the filter element cannot be exceeded, otherwise it will affect the work of the system.

Pump products are efficient and powerful. They bring large convenience to our tunnel construction job. There are also other types of concrete pumps widely used in various construction projects.

Modern construction job is sped by these economical and practical machines.