Hydroelectric power plant, Casale Monferrato

The new hydroelectric plant of Casale Monferrato

Building for water can sometimes mean having to build underwater too. The new Casale Monferrato hydroelectric power plant was built below the left bank of the Po, and the river also completely flooded the construction site during the 18 months in which the work was carried out.

The natural flooding in the floodplain area where the construction site was opened did not represent a problem for the Drytech Tank, because the construction characteristics and materials of the system cannot be altered by the presence of water, not even during construction.

The same DRYflex resin, which is injected into the construction details to seal them, is effective in the presence of water, even under pressure.

Built by Allara SpA of Casale Monferrato, the system consists of a mobile weir in the riverbed, an intake structure upstream of the weir from which the diversion canal begins which conveys the water to the central building which houses the groups of energy production and, downstream of this, the return channel into the riverbed.
The work is completed by two access ladders – one on each bank – for the ichthyofauna and the ramp for the passage of canoes.

The mobile barrier crosspiece, made up of a tubular structure in water-inflatable rubberized fabric, guarantees the diversion of the water flow to the lateral intake work of the left bank.

When the water level upstream reaches the maximum authorized level, the crossbar is depressed under the pressure of the water that overcomes it, avoiding flooding.

With its 200 meters of longitudinal development, it is the largest flexible dam in the world built with this technology.

The production plant hosts four turbines that generate an average power of approximately 3000 kW, for an annual production of 21 GWh.

Access to the turbine room is guaranteed by an underground tunnel connected to an entrance hatch. The tunnel is also a full Drytech Tank (waterproof floor, walls and slab), connected to the main body by a movement joint which has been waterproofed with DRYset injectable Waterstop Tape.

Owner: Idropana, Turin

Technical direction: STA Engineering, Pinerolo

Structure:
Eng. Gianluca Odetto – SERTECH, Loranzè

Construction:
Allara SpA, Casale Monferrato

Drytech Tank: 1,200 m2

Hotel Il Sereno, Torno

The symbiosis between Il Sereno di Torno and Lake Como began right from the laying of the first stone. The design hotel has literally risen from the waters of the Lario.

The charming country road that leads to the hotel is in fact not passable by heavy vehicles, so all the material for the construction arrived by lake on board barges.

The dominus of this complex construction site was the architect Fabio Curcio Valentini, construction manager and coordinator of the architectural project of Patricia Urquiola, who also created the contemporary interior design of the Luxury Hotel.

The construction was consolidated with poles placed in the water, and the area dedicated to the technical systems was obtained by digging into the granite rock without using explosives, up to a depth of seven meters below the level of the lake and creating the waterproof structures with the Drytech Tank system.

The old dock was incorporated into the new building of four floors above ground and two underground floors.

The lake-front wing towards Como hosted the underground garage and the heated outdoor swimming pool, also a Drytech tank and covered in Brazilian karst stone.

Project and Interior Design: Architetto Patricia Urquiola, Milano

Works management: Architetto Fabio Curcio Valentini, Como

Garden Design: Patrick Blanc, Parigi

Structure: Studio Faber, Parma

Construction: Costruzioni Carboncini & C., Lomazzo – Setten Genesio, Oderzo

Drytech Tank: 4’335 m²

Algiers subway restoration

ytech restored the waterproofing of 5 tunnels and 5 stations of the Algiers metro, sealing over 4 km of underground tunnels.

Drytech restored the waterproofing of 5 tunnels and 5 stations of the Algiers metro, sealing over 4 km of underground tunnels.

The proximity to the sea exposes the structure to a water table of 6-8 meters.

During the construction phase, various systems were used to waterproof tunnels and stations, but none of these managed to guarantee 100% waterproofness.

Hence the need for definitive reorganization. The Algerian Ministry of Transport has commissioned the Eurometro company – London consultants specialized in the subway sector – to identify a solution to the problem of infiltrations.

After a worldwide survey, Eurometro proposed the Drytech Restoration System, based on injections from the inside of the DRYflex acrylic resin structure.

The Line 1 tunnel is made up of 10 meters long waterproof concrete segments, connected by 2 recovery joints interspersed with an anti-seismic movement joint.

Waterstop tapes were inserted into the joints, which only worked in 45% of the joints.

The joints of the adjacent structures, of the stations, of the ventilation ducts etc., were instead waterproofed with bentonite expansive profiles, the expansion of which however proved to be limited compared to the shrinkage of the concrete.

Even the jet shots at the air intakes showed infiltrations.

The thermal changes to which they are naturally exposed produce structural movements that split the polyurethane used to waterproof them.

Polyurethane, in fact, being semi-rigid and adhesive, undergoes the movements of the structure and, when they are particularly large, it cracks or loses adhesion.

Finally, shrinkage cracks were produced in the concrete which represented as many points of permeability of the structure.

The Drytech rehabilitation intervention for the waterproofing of the Algiers Metro was cataloged with the REAL system of Sir of Turin.

The application creates a virtual reconstruction of the structure, with all the information relating to the remediation intervention.

An X-ray that allows a quick and interactive consultation of images and data relating to the individual interventions performed.

Vetropack water tower, Corsico

Drytech restored the water tower of the Vetropack plant in Corsico with injections of waterproofing resin carried out from the outside, without having to empty the barrel.

The fire-fighting water reserve was thus guaranteed to the continuous-cycle industrial plants and the company did not have to rent a tanker for the fire brigade.

With the Drytech system it is no longer necessary to dive into the barrels, with all the related logistical and safety implications.

For the intervention, Drytech technicians exploited a scaffolding already set up by a company to restore the external surface of the tower.

Normally the Drytech Rehabilitation System allows the practical use of aerial platforms, with a consequent saving on costs and time for setting up the scaffold.

Client: Vetropack, Corsico

Restoration: Drytech Italia, Como