PRESSURE PIPES

Varzo (VB) system

Building of two steel pressure pipes belonging to the ENEL hydroelectric plant of Varzo I (VB) and relative support and anchoring civil works – Execution and construction design.

Cairasca branch

Steel penstock of inner diameter 1200 mm and thickness between 8 mm and 22 mm, with blocked vertices, with telescope-shaped movement joints, with intermediate support pins and running in the open air.

Length of approximately 950 m and hydraulic drop of about 455 m.

Completed by a terminal distribution conjunction with the two production groups, including fork-junctions between the 1200 mm pressure pipe and the 800 mm branches.

The penstock includes a pipe-bridge spanning approximately 39 m, with a square frame transversal section with overall encumbrance 3 x 3 metres. The structure is made of a space reticular beam divided into 3-metre long blocks. By means steel pin supports, spaced 6 metres, the pipe lies on the lower transversal beams of the reticular structure.

The bridge is supported up-stream by a reinforced concrete abutment, built on the left bank of the torrent, and down-stream by the anchoring block of the penstock; at both supports structures were built, which will restrain the nodes connecting the lower beams and the vertical posts, in order to block the movements of the bridge, allowing rotations. The metal elements are made of CORTEN steel. At the sides of the pipe there are two grill-floor walkways, used for maintenance operations.

Diveria branch

Steel penstock of inner diameter 1000 mm and thickness between 8 mm and 10 mm, with blocked vertices, telescope-shaped movement joints, intermediate support pins and running in the open air.

Length of approximately 140 m and hydraulic drop of about 35 m. Completed by a terminal distribution conjunction with the production group.

Services provided: Execution design and construction drawings for steel works and civil works.

Client: PARESA S.p.A.

Site: Municipalities of Trasquera and Varzo, province of Verbania-Cusio-Ossola.

Year: from 2009 to 2011

Cost of works: 7.0 million Euros

La Regeat plant in Haute-Savoie, France

Building of a steel penstock belonging to the EDF hydroelectric plant of La Rageat in Savoy (France) – Execution and construction design.

Steel penstock of inner diameter 900 mm and thickness between 8 mm and 14 mm, with blocked vertices, with intermediate support pins and running in the open air, without movement joints.

Length of approximately 700 m and hydraulic drop of about 370 m.

Completed by a terminal distribution conjunction with the four production groups, including a fork-junction between the 900 mm penstock and the 700 mm branches, and two further 700 mm and 550 mm fork-junction.

Services provided: Execution design and construction drawings for steel works.

Client: PARESA S.p.A.

Site: Municipalities of Fontaine le Puits and Villarlurin, Arrondissement de Albertville, Savoie.

Years: 2010 and 2011

Cost of works: 6.2 million Euros

Passy plant in Haute-Savoie, France

Building of a steel penstock belonging to the EDF hydroelectric plant of Passy in Savoy (France) – Execution and construction design

Steel penstock of inner diameter of 2400 mm and thickness between 13 mm and 26 mm, of the following types:

• First part in the open air, with blocked vertices and intermediate support pins, without movement joints.
• Second part in a vertical pit, approximate length 230 m, with the pipe grouted in the rock.
• Third part in a sub-horizontal tunnel, approximate length 390 m, with blocked vertices and intermediate support pins, without movement joints.
• Terminal distribution element to production groups, grouted in concrete.

Length of approximately 850 m and hydraulic drop of about 395 m.

Services provided: Execution design and construction drawings for steel works

Client: PARESA S.p.A.

Site: Municipality of Passy, Arrondissement de Bonneville, Haute-Savoie

Years: from 2013 to 2018

Cost of works: 11.9 million Euros

La Coche plant in Haute-Savoie, France

Chiampernotto and Rusià (TO) plants

Building of steel penstocks belonging to the ENEL hydroelectric systems of Chiampernotto and Rusià (TO) and related support and anchoring civil works – Execution design and construction drawings

Chiampernotto

Steel penstock with inner diameter 1000 mm and thickness 10 mm, blocked-vertices type, without movement joints, running underground with vertices anchored inside reinforced concrete blocks.

Length of approximately 250 m and hydraulic drop of about 105 m.

Completed with terminal distribution conjunctions to the two production groups, including fork-junctions between the 1000 mm penstock and the 600 mm branches.

Rusià

Steel penstock of inner diameter 1000 mm and thickness 10 mm, blocked-vertices type, without movement joints, running underground, with vertices anchored inside reinforced concrete blocks.

Length of approximately 265 m and hydraulic drop of about 105 m.

Completed with terminal distribution conjunctions to the two production groups, including fork-junctions between the 1000 mm penstock and the 600 mm branches.

Services provided: Execution design and construction drawings for steel works and civil works.

Client: PARESA S.p.A.

Site: Municipality of Ceres, province of Turin.

Year: 2017.

Cost of works: 1.9 million Euros.