EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) and Pumped Muck Systems

Benefits of Earth Pressure Balance tunnelling

  • Control and regulation of face pressure
  • Control of face water
  • Preventing over and under mining
  • Small surface plant
  • Flexible response to changing face conditions
  • Muck can be re-used

But sometimes there are problems...

Tunnels have to be mined in ground where the EPB TBM needs a little help, such as:

  • Alternating hard and soft ground
  • Mixed face
  • Wet running sand
  • Fragile surface and underground assets
  • Dry non-flowing sands and clays
  • Gravels, pebbles, boulders
  • All of the above

Soils overview (PDF download):

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Mudtech have the solutions

  • Morrison Mud EPB foam and polymer spoil conditioning works by:
  • Converting muck as it is mined into a good EPB or pumpable consistency
  • Allowing mixed face (for example, wet running sand plus hard rock) to be mined efficiently
  • Making a waterproofing plug in the screw
  • Mining sticky clay with a rock head

Mudtech offer complete spoil conditioning systems (EPB foam generator and polymer injection systems) to contractors and manufacturers, Contact us for hire and sale prices. Designed for all major additive types including Morrison, MBT, BASF and Condat foam.

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