Tunnel boring machine

Abstract

In a tunnel boring machine (103) intended for liquid-supported advancement, an overflow line flow measurement arrangement (136) is provided in an overflow line arrangement (133) which connects a excavation chamber (115) and a working chamber (127), said overflow line flow measurement arrangement being configured to detect flow in the overflow line arrangement (133). As a result, operationally reliable liquid-supported advancement can be achieved in particular in that backflows from the excavation chamber (115) to the working chamber (127) are detectable.

Description

[0001] Tunnel boring machine

[0002] The invention relates to a tunnel boring machine having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Such a tunnel boring machine is known from EP 1 172 522 A1. The previously known tunnel boring machine has a cutting wheel and is equipped with a baffle and a pressure wall. An excavation chamber is formed between the cutting wheel and the baffle, while a working chamber is formed between the baffle and the pressure wall. Furthermore, an overflow line arrangement is provided that fluidically connects the working chamber and the excavation chamber.

[0004] From DE 10 2020 105 345 A1 a tunnel boring machine with a gas measuring arrangement is known for measuring the composition of gas present in the area of ​​a working chamber.

[0005] From CN 214149194 U and from JP-H03271495 A a tunnel boring machine with a measuring device for detecting a quantity of waste is known.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a tunnel boring machine of the type mentioned at the outset which is characterized by relatively simple and reliable handling during fluid-supported excavation.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention in a tunnel boring machine of the type mentioned at the outset with the characterizing features of claim 1.

[0008] Because the tunnel boring machine according to the invention features an overflow line flow measurement arrangement, the flow in the overflow line arrangement can be characterized, in particular, with regard to whether a flow is occurring from the working chamber into the excavation chamber or an undesired flow from the excavation chamber into the working chamber. With this knowledge of the flow conditions, the tunnel boring machine can be controlled relatively easily and reliably by adjusting the pressure conditions in the working chamber accordingly to reverse the flow direction if an undesired backflow from the excavation chamber into the working chamber occurs.

[0009] Appropriate embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0010] Further useful embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the figures of the drawing. They show:

[0011] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a tunnel boring machine designed for fluid-supported excavation,

[0012] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a tunnel space created by the tunnel boring machine according to Fig. 1 in its rear area in the direction of advance,

[0013] Fig. 3 shows a schematic flow diagram of an exemplary procedure for monitoring the flow conditions in an overflow line arrangement and

[0014] Fig. 4 shows a schematic flow diagram of an example procedure for monitoring an overpressure line.

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a tunnel boring machine 103 according to the invention, configured for fluid-supported excavation, which is arranged in a gas-containing geology 106. The tunnel boring machine 103 has a rotatable cutting wheel 109 equipped with excavation tools (not shown in Fig. 1) for excavating a tunnel in the geology 106 in an excavation direction. A baffle 112 is provided to the rear of the cutting wheel 109 in the excavation direction, which defines an excavation chamber 115 at the rear in the excavation direction.

[0016] An open end of a screw conveyor unit 118 opens into the bottom of the excavation chamber 115 as a removal unit, which is designed to remove material present in the excavation chamber 115 and enriched with mined geology 106 as overburden from the excavation chamber 115. At the end of the screw conveyor unit 118 opposite the excavation chamber 115, there is an overburden processing container 121, into which the material removed by the screw conveyor unit 118 can be deposited.

[0017] On the side of the baffle 112 facing away from the cutting wheel 109, the tunnel boring machine 103 has a pressure wall 124 which defines a pressure-tight separation between a working chamber 127 formed at the rear of the baffle 112 in the direction of advance and a tunnel chamber 130 formed on the side of the pressure wall 124 facing away from the baffle 112 and which is usually at atmospheric pressure.

[0018] The excavation chamber 115 and the working chamber 127 are fluidically connected via at least one overflow line 133 of an overflow line arrangement, wherein the overflow line 133 opens into the excavation chamber 115 in the upper region near the ridge and extends from there in the direction of the bottom-side region of the working chamber 127. An overflow line flow meter 136 of a device operating, for example, on the basis of a volumetric measurement, a differential pressure method, a magnetic-inductive flow measurement or a flow measurement based on ultrasound is integrated into the overflow line 133.

[0019] Overflow line flow measuring arrangement integrated, which is designed to detect a flow of fluid flowing in the overflow line 133 both with regard to the direction and with regard to the quantity, preferably the volume, but in principle also the mass.

[0020] The overflow line flow meter 136 is connected to a flow data processing unit 139 via a passage 137 integrated in the pressure wall 124.

[0021] The tunnel boring machine 103 is further equipped with a feed line 142 which extends through the tunnel space 130 and which, with a first branch 142.1, extends via a further passage through the pressure wall 124 into the inverted region of the working chamber 127. A liquid such as a bentonite suspension with a predetermined density can be fed in via the feed line 142 via a distributor switch 143 in order to condition the material present in the excavation chamber 115, on the one hand directly and on the other hand indirectly via the working chamber 127 and the overflow line 133. A further second branch 142.2 of the feed line 142 opens into the overburden processing container 121 in order to condition the discharge of removed material.

[0022] For liquid-supported propulsion, a gas, typically air present in the tunnel space 130, can be fed into the working chamber 127 via an air supply control unit 145 through a passage formed in the pressure wall 124 at an adjustable pressure, so that a phase separation level 148 is formed in the working chamber 127 between the gas present in the ridge-side region of the working chamber 127 and the liquid material present in the bottom-side region of the working chamber 127. The position of the phase separation level 148 can be determined on the one hand by a level sensor 151 arranged on the ridge side in the working chamber 127 and on the other hand by a number of level point sensors 154 attached to the pressure wall 124.

[0023] To influence the pressure in the working chamber 127, in addition to the supply air control unit 145, an exhaust air control unit 157 is provided, which is fluidly connected to the region of the working chamber 127 near the roof via a feedthrough through the pressure wall 124 and which is designed to discharge gas from the working chamber 127 into the tunnel space 130 as needed. In order to limit a particularly safety-relevant contamination of the tunnel space 130 with gas originating from the gas-containing geology 106, in particular gas which also poses a risk of explosion, a working chamber gas sensor 160 is provided which is designed to measure gas concentrations and whose measured values ​​can be fed to a gas concentration processing unit 163.

[0024] Furthermore, a tunnel space gas sensor 166 is provided as a room gas sensor, which is arranged in the region of the tunnel space 130 near the ridge and is configured to detect the gas composition in the tunnel space 130. The output values ​​of the tunnel space gas sensor 166 can be fed to the gas concentration processing unit 163. Furthermore, in the rear area, preferably in the vicinity of pipe extensions 164 with the risk of gas escaping and opposite the tunnel space gas sensor 166 arranged in the ridge area of ​​the tunnel space 130, there is another tunnel space gas sensor 166 arranged closer to the floor of the tunnel space 130 as a room gas sensor, the output values ​​of which can also be fed to the gas concentration processing unit 163. Thus, by means of the tunnel space gas sensors 166, the tunnel space 130 can be comprehensively monitored with regard to the gas conditions.For discharging the overburden conveyed into the overburden processing container 121 from the excavation chamber 115, a discharge line 169 is provided, one end of which opens into the overburden processing container 121 and leads out of the tunnel space 130. Furthermore, the overburden processing container 121 is connected to the working chamber 127 via an overpressure line 172 of an overpressure line arrangement, which is passed through the pressure wall 124 via a passage. The overpressure line 172, in conjunction with a pressure relief valve 175 integrated therein, is designed to reduce an undesirably high overpressure prevailing in the overburden processing container 121 by transferring material from the overburden processing container 121 into the working chamber 127.

[0025] At least one further overpressure line 172, which is assigned to the overpressure line arrangement and has an integrated pressure relief valve 175, extends between the screw conveyor unit 118 and via a passage through the pressure wall 124 into the working chamber 127, so that when a critical overpressure prevails in the screw conveyor unit 118, material from the screw conveyor unit 118 can be transferred via the or each relevant overpressure line 172 into the working chamber 127. Furthermore, a backflow prevention valve 178 for protecting against backflow of material from the working chamber 127 into the respective overpressure line 172 when there is an overpressure prevailing therein, and an overpressure line flow meter 181 are integrated in each of the overpressure lines 172. The output values ​​of the overpressure line flow meter 181 can be fed to the flow data processing unit 139.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the tunnel space 130 created by the tunnel boring machine 103 explained with reference to Fig. 1 in its rear area in the direction of advance, with a tunnel access space 203 which creates a connection between an outer space 206 located on the earth's surface and the tunnel space 130. From Fig. 2 it can be seen that the discharge line 169 is led through the tunnel access space 203 and, with its end facing away from the spoil processing container 121, opens into a separation system 209 with which solids, in particular above a certain particle size, can be separated from the liquid components of the spoil removed from the excavation chamber 115.

[0027] The liquid components provided by the separation system 209 can be fed as processed material by means of a pump 212 via the feed line 142, which is connected to the separation system 209 at its end facing away from the overburden processing container 121 and is also connected to the feed line 142, into the two branches 142.1, 142.2 of the feed line 142, which lead on the one hand into the overburden processing container 121 and on the other hand into the excavation chamber 115 and into the working chamber 127.

[0028] In the area of ​​the separation plant 209, a separation plant gas sensor 215 is arranged as a room gas sensor, which is designed to detect gas escaping from the waste material transferred from the discharge line 169 into the separation plant 209. The output values ​​of the separation plant gas sensor 215 are as shown in Fig. 2.

[0029] Gas concentration processing unit 163 can be fed in.

[0030] From the previous description with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, it is thus evident that, by means of the flow data processing unit 139, relevant flow parameters for liquid-supported operation of the tunnel boring machine 103 can be recorded, and in particular undesired backflows from the excavation chamber 115 into the working chamber 127, which lead to an undesired entry of mined geology 106 with an enrichment of critical gases in the working chamber 127 through outgassing, and, on the other hand, by means of the gas concentration processing unit 163, the output signals of the gas sensors in the form of the working chamber gas sensor 160, the tunnel space gas sensors 166 and the separation system gas sensor 215 can be recorded and output, for example, via a traffic light-like gas sensor display module with a regular display "green" for non-critical, a warning display "yellow" for still tolerable and a risk display "red" for critical conditions.This results in a relatively simple and safe handling of the tunnel boring machine 103 during excavation.

[0031] Furthermore, the flow data processing unit 139 can detect, in particular, undesirable, permanent inflows from the screw conveyor unit 118 and / or from the spoil processing tank 121 into the working chamber 127, which are caused by a permanent, undesirably high overpressure in the screw conveyor unit 118 or in the spoil processing tank 121. This also leads to relatively simple and reliable handling of the tunnel boring machine 103 during fluid-supported excavation.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows, in a schematic flow diagram, an exemplary procedure for monitoring the flow conditions in the or an overflow line 133 by means of the relevant overflow line flow meter 136 and the downstream flow data processing unit 139 with modules explained below that are integrated in the flow data processing unit 139. The output data of the overflow line flow meter 136 can be fed to a sensor data evaluation module 303, which is configured, on the one hand, to detect a flow passing through the overflow line 133, expediently in the form of a flow volume, and, on the other hand, to detect a flow direction of this flow between the excavation chamber 115 and the working chamber 127.

[0033] In the following, as a convention for the flow direction in the overflow line 133, a flow from the working chamber 127 into the excavation chamber 115 is referred to as a desired positive direction of flow and a flow from the excavation chamber 115 into the working chamber 127 is referred to as an undesired negative direction of flow.

[0034] Furthermore, in the following, "limit volume" is understood to mean the internal volume of a monitored line such as the overflow line 133 or one of the overpressure lines 172, which can be used for a flow through the line in question.

[0035] Using a flow test module 306 arranged downstream of the sensor data evaluation module 303, the output data of the sensor evaluation module 303 can be evaluated to determine whether flow is present or not. If no flow is present, a flow information output module 309 can output a regular signal for non-critical flow conditions, for example, as a green regular display, and the evaluation process can be restarted from the beginning after resetting.

[0036] If the flow testing module 306 detects that a flow is present, a flow differential testing module 312 downstream of the flow testing module 306 detects quantitative changes in the flow, and a downstream flow quantity decision module 315 checks the flow to determine whether the flow is quantitatively constant or quantitatively changing. If the flow is constant, a flow direction testing module 318 downstream of the flow quantity decision module 315 checks whether the flow is positive or negative, in accordance with the convention introduced above.

[0037] In a flow direction decision module 321 arranged downstream of the flow direction test module 318, if the direction is positive, the flow information output module 309 can be controlled such that non-critical flow conditions are displayed as a regular signal, for example in the form of a green regular display, and a new evaluation process then begins. Otherwise, the flow information output module 309 can be controlled such that, due to a backflow of material from the excavation chamber 115 into the working chamber 127 that is assessed as supercritical, a risk signal is output, for example in the form of a red risk display.

[0038] If the flow quantity decision module 315 outputs that the flow is not constant, a flow-steady differential module 324 arranged downstream of the flow quantity decision module 315 determines whether a pendulum-like back-and-forth flow in the overflow line 133 has an overall tendency toward a positive flow direction or toward a negative flow direction.

[0039] With a flow tendency decision module 327 arranged downstream of the flow tendency differential module 324, in the case of a tendency towards a negative direction of the flow, a

[0040] Negative limit volume monitoring module 330 can be controlled, which is set up to monitor a volume with a negative tendency.

[0041] A negative limit volume decision module 333 arranged downstream of the negative limit volume monitoring module 330 can determine whether or not a negative limit volume has been exceeded in the overflow line 133. If the negative limit volume has not been exceeded, the flow data processing unit 139 is controlled such that the flow information output module 309 outputs a warning signal, for example in the form of a yellow warning indicator, indicating that critical, but possibly still tolerable flow conditions prevail in the overflow line 133. Otherwise, the flow information output module 309 outputs a risk signal, for example in the form of a red risk indicator, indicating that supercritical, possibly no longer tolerable flow conditions prevail in the overflow line 133.

[0042] In the case of a positive flow tendency, the flow tendency decision module 327 can also control a positive limit volume monitoring module 336, which is configured to monitor a volume with a positive tendency.

[0043] A positive limit volume decision module 339 downstream of the positive limit volume monitoring module 336 determines whether or not a positive limit volume has been exceeded in the overflow line 133. If the positive limit volume has not been exceeded, the flow data processing unit 139 is controlled such that the flow information output module 309 outputs a warning signal, for example in the form of a yellow warning indicator, indicating that critical, but possibly still tolerable, flow conditions prevail in the overflow line 133. Otherwise, the flow information output module 309 outputs a regular signal, for example in the form of a green regular indicator, indicating that non-critical, regular flow conditions prevail in the overflow line 133.

[0044] This exemplary output of clearly distinguishable displays characteristic of the flow conditions in the overflow line 133, including the recording of the flow conditions in the area of ​​the boundary volumes as early indicators of potentially impending risks, leads to a relatively simple transfer of information on the operating status of the tunnel boring machine 103 to an operator.

[0045] Fig. 4 shows a schematic flow diagram of an exemplary procedure for monitoring an overpressure line 172 using an overpressure line flow meter 181 and the downstream flow data processing unit 139 with modules explained below that are integrated into the flow data processing unit 139. The output values ​​of the overpressure line flow meter 181 can be fed to a sensor data evaluation module 403, which is configured to detect a flow and its quantity, particularly in the form of a volume, in the monitored overpressure line 172.

[0046] A flow test module 406 is arranged downstream of the sensor data evaluation module 403 and is configured to check whether or not a flow is present. If no flow is present in the overpressure line 172, a regular signal, for example in the form of a green regular indicator, is output in an overpressure line output module 409, indicating that no flow attributable to an undesirable excessive overpressure is present.

[0047] If the presence of a flow is detected, a check is carried out in a flow differential test module 412 arranged downstream of the flow test module 406 to determine whether the flow is a constant flow or not. With a flow decision module 415 arranged downstream of the flow differential test module 412, in the event that the flow is a constant flow, the overpressure line output module 409 can be controlled such that a risk signal, for example in the form of a red risk indicator, can be output and the monitoring process is restarted. Otherwise, the flow decision module 415 triggers a

[0048] Negative limit volume monitoring module 418 , with which the amount of flow can be recorded. With a negative limit volume monitoring module 418 downstream

[0049] Negative limit volume decision module 421 can determine whether the limit volume of the flow in the relevant overpressure line 172 has been exceeded or not.

[0050] Is the limit volume of the monitored

[0051] If the overpressure line 172 is exceeded, a risk signal is output by means of the overpressure line output module 409, for example in the form of a red risk indicator, otherwise a warning signal is output, for example in the form of a yellow warning indicator.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Tunnel boring machine with a cutting wheel (109), with a baffle (112) and with a pressure wall (124), wherein between the cutting wheel (109) and the baffle (112) a Extraction chamber (115) is formed and wherein a working chamber (127) is formed between the immersion wall (112) and the pressure wall (124), and with an overflow line arrangement (133) which fluid-mechanically connects the working chamber (127) and the extraction chamber (115) to one another, characterized in that an overflow line flow measuring arrangement (136) is present which is designed to detect flow in an overflow line arrangement (133).

2. Tunnel boring machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the overflow line flow measuring arrangement (136) is designed to detect the amount and direction of the flow.

3. Tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the overflow line flow measuring arrangement (136) is connected to a flow data processing unit (139) which is designed to Flow information output module (309) to display predetermined flow conditions.

4. Tunnel boring machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a discharge unit (118) is provided, with which material can be discharged from the excavation chamber (115), and that an overpressure line (172) is provided, which is located between the Discharge unit (118) and the working chamber (127).

5. Tunnel boring machine according to claim 4, characterized in that an overpressure line flow measuring arrangement (181) is present which is designed to detect flow in the overpressure line (172) connecting the discharge unit (118) and the working chamber (127).

6. Tunnel boring machine according to claim 5, characterized in that a An overburden processing arrangement (121) cooperating with the conveying unit (118) is present, and an overpressure line (172) is present which extends between the overburden processing arrangement (121) and the working chamber (127).

7. Tunnel boring machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the overpressure line flow measuring arrangement (181) is designed to measure flow in which the Overburden processing arrangement (121) and the working chamber (127) connecting the overpressure line (172).

8. Tunnel boring machine according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the overpressure line flow measuring arrangement (181) is designed to detect the amount of flow present in the or each overpressure line (172).

9. Tunnel boring machine according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that in the or each overpressure line (172) there is a pressure relief valve (175) which can be opened in the direction of the working chamber (127).

10. Tunnel boring machine according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a working chamber gas sensor (160) is provided with which gas concentrations in the working chamber (127) can be detected.

11. Tunnel boring machine according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one room gas sensor (166, 215) is present, with which gas concentrations in a tunnel space (130) and / or in an outside space (206) can be detected.

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