Largely automated maintenance of Tunnel Drainage Systems
To ensure that tunnel drainage systems continue to function reliably in the long term, they must be regularly maintained. Mineral deposits gradually narrow drainage pipes and increase groundwater pressure behind tunnel structures. Until now, removing these deposits required extensive cleaning activities involving multiple track closures every year.
Significant Reduction in Track Closures
With the MDB02 system not only does tunnel cleaning become automated and more efficient, it is also fundamentally transformed. In future, maintenance activities can be carried out regularly while rail traffic continues uninterrupted. This can be carried out safely and flexibly without disrupting operations. During the drainage flushing process, the state-of-the-art cleaning system is positioned directly above the central flushing shaft in the tunnel. This enables all drainages in both tunnel tubes to be cleaned remotely. Thanks to this new technology, significantly greater lengths can be cleaned in a single operation. Regular rail traffic can continue throughout the flushing operation.
Smart, autonomous Inspection Robot
During the train operation the Tunnel Drainage rover collects information on the condition of the drainage pipes and the extent of scale deposits. It classifies the condition of drainage pipes using AI (Artificial Intelligence) and provides the foundation for condition-based maintenance. These are the objectives for future maintenance of Tunnel Drainage Systems: autonomous & robotic tunnel drainage inspection without disrupting rail operations, automatic classification of drainage condition, AI-supported maintenance planning, optimized use of tunnel closures and reduced labor and costs.
Tunnel Drainage Rover
To be able to meet requirements like tight spaces in the pipe system, must navigate bends, autonomous operating, safe return, travel distances of several kilometers, etc., the Tunnel Drainage Rover has special features:
- 3-Module Prototype
- Wheel Drive
- Dual-Sense Sensor Lance
- Range: ~7 km max.
- Average speed: ~0.8 km/h
