[ Water Handling ]
[ Water Handling ]
Europe ’ s largest stainless water reservoir
The largest stainless steel drinking water storage facility in Europe was constructed largely of 316L stainless steel , lean duplex and super duplex . With a total volume of 12,000 m ³ ( 3 x 4,000 m ³), the massive facility was built for Stadtwerke Ulm ( SWU ) in Kuhberg , Germany , and started operation at the end of 2023 .
By Joanne McIntyre , Stainless Steel World
In Ulm , Germany , a substantial water infrastructure project has been completed . A large drinking water storage facility , built for Stadtwerke Ulm ( SWU ), began operations in late 2023 . The facility has a total volume of 12,000 m ³, divided among three 4,000 m ³ tanks , and utilises stainless steel for largescale water storage . The facility ’ s design incorporates several engineering features . Hydro-Elektrik GmbH , the company responsible for this project , optimised the steel supporting structure to reduce material usage while maintaining structural integrity . A notable element is the use of three stainless steel pillars centrally positioned in each tank to support the roof , which is an uncommon approach for stainless steel drinking water storage tanks . The tanks themselves represent stateof-the-art metallurgy , employing three distinct grades of stainless steel to address specific requirements : 1 . The central columns , essential for supporting the building ’ s flat roof , are constructed from thick-walled
A view of the interior of the stainless steel tank .
External building covering with Corten steel panels .
DN 250 ( D273x12.5 ) pipes using grade 1.4404 ( 316L ) stainless steel .
2 . Tank bottoms and the lower 6.4 metres of the shell are fabricated from 1.4162 ( Lean Duplex 2101 / S32101 ) steel . This duplex steel , recognised for its high strength and corrosion resistance , is used in 3mm thickness for the bottom plates and 4mm for the lower shell .
3 . The upper section of the shell and the roof are composed of Super Duplex 1.4462 ( 318LN / S31803 ) steel . This strategic material selection addresses particular challenges , notably the presence of chlorine dioxide used to stabilise the incoming drinking water . Chlorine dioxide , which partially evaporates , can compromise less alloyed stainless steels in the upper reservoir space , necessitating more resistant grades in these areas . Each tank incorporates approximately 21 tonnes of duplex steel , 30 tonnes of super-duplex steel , and 0.3 tonnes of 316L steel for the pillars . The tank shells were manufactured using Hydro-Elektrik GmbH ’ s proprietary spiral winding process . This method continuously unwinds sheet metal from 10-tonne coils , forming it into a spiral shape to create the tank shell .
30 Stainless Steel World October 2024 www . stainless-steel-world . net