The machine, called Tianhe I, is China’s first independently developed turbid-water air balanced compound tunnel boring machine and is claimed to be the world’s largest of its type. It was manufactured by CCCC Tianhe Machinery & Equipment Manufacturing.
The TBM has a diameter of 14.93m, a total weight of 4,500t, a driving speed of 5cm/min and a maximum daily driving capacity of 20m. Tianhe I has been customised by CCCC Tianhe for a project to cross the Yangtze River in Nanjing.
The equipment integrates existing and new technologies, and owns 13 independent intellectual properties, of which five are original in the world and five original in the country. All ‘super large’ TBM previously used in the country were imported. CCCC claimed that Tianhe I will reduce the cost of production and maintenance.
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