NHI Headlines

Media Focus | Liaoning Daily - [Extension of TBM Technology Across Scenarios and Industries - Observation of NHI's Innovation Drive High Quality Development]

Published:2024-12-11

CORE PROMPT

Enterprises are the solid foundation and important force for the comprehensive revitalization of Liaoning, while industrial revitalization is the foundation and prerequisite for the comprehensive revitalization of Liaoning. Since the beginning of this year, industries in the province have firmly grasped the primary task of high-quality development, solidly promoted new industrialization, and accelerated the development of new quality productivity.

History of NHI can be traced back to 1921, and it is known as the cradle of China's heavy machinery industry and the core backbone enterprise in China's equipment manufacturing field - Northern Heavy Industries Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "NHI"). A series of new technologies and products have emerged one after another, and the development of new fields and tracks continues to expand.

By promoting industrial innovation through technological innovation and continuously advancing high-quality development, century old enterprises are showing a vigorous new posture, forging ahead towards new, green, and high directions with great strides.

MAGIC:TBM can excavate vertically from top to bottom

When it comes to NHI, the first thing that comes to mind is the TBM. TBM, known as the "underground aircraft carrier", is a key equipment that directly serves large-scale projects. NHI is the earliest enterprise in China to conduct research and development in this field, and also the earliest enterprise in China to achieve mass production. In key projects such as subways and tunnels in Shenyang and many other regions of China, NHI' TBMs are present.

The well-known TBM is usually with a "big face" and "flat head" giant dragon that excavates horizontally in underground spaces. Now the vertical shaft TBM that excavates vertically from top to bottom is a rarely known "new thing".

The vertical shaft TBM has changed its conventional appearance, with a conical head and a giant pencil like structure that vertically drills into the ground, crushing soil and rock, and opening up tunnels. To meet the geological conditions of the project and the requirements of long-distance vertical excavation, NHI adopts the method of drilling holes and discharging slag to avoid the accumulation of rock slag, ensuring construction safety and efficiency.

“The most difficult parts are the design, welding, and other processes. On the conical cutter head, the angle of each blade is different, and any deviation of a millimeter can lead to a huge mistake and cause major problems,” Zhang Jianmin said, “In the research and development, design, and manufacturing processes, NHI has applied 3D intelligent modeling, laser cutting, robot welding, and other modes to fully ensure the quality and accuracy of the first equipment.”

NEW:Extending technological manufacturing advantages and opening up new spaces

Key products have undergone a transformation and upgrade, which helps NHI attract attention from the industry. At the 2024 China (Shanghai) International Heavy Machinery Equipment Exhibition held in early November, various TBM models for pumped storage power station construction brought by NHI made a brilliant debut, and their magical new products overturned people's usual understanding of TBM.

With the large-scale development of renewable energy such as wind power and photovoltaics in recent years, the characteristics of intermittent and fluctuating have posed challenges to the stability of power system. Pumped storage power stations have the advantages of flexible start-up, fast speed, and large energy storage capacity. They can effectively deal with the instability of new energy generation and are an important support for new energy industry development. Therefore, in order to better absorb new energy, the demand for pumped storage energy in the power system is increasing day by day.

NHI has completely independent intellectual property rights in the field of tunnel engineering, and its products are suitable for various underground construction. With its profound accumulation in the field of tunnel engineering, NHI actively explores the differentiated development path of advantageous technologies, expands the cross scenario and cross industry extension application of TBM technology, and independently develops and designs various types and models of tunnel engineering equipment including vertical shaft TBM, flat and inclined integrated variable diameter TBM, and small turning radius TBMs. It has achieved a series of new breakthroughs in the construction of pumped storage power stations.

At the same time, NHI has been continuously deepening the technology of tunnel engineering equipment. Through cooperation with the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it has overcome more than ten key core technical problems, and finally opened up the "last mile" of tunnel TBM's independent and controllable manufacturing. On the eve of this year's National Day, the "FENJIN" TBM designed and produced by NHI successfully completed the excavation task, setting a world record for the longest single machine excavation of 26.521 kilometers, further consolidating its technological leading position in the world TBM market and demonstrating the mighty power of the "national treasure".