Leak-free under extreme conditions: Titelstory in the 6+7/2022 Issue of the Austrian Trade Magazine 'Betriebstechnik'

3 Ausgabe 6/7–2022 COVER The only conceivable leakage path is additionally secured with a Viton seal. In contrast to this, a cutting ring connection is produced when a metal ring with two edges cuts – as the name al- ready indicates – into the tube surface when a union nut is tightened. This incision into the material limits the vibration resistance. The forming system, on the other hand, has a higher tear- out strength, which adds to the safety under extreme condi- tions – such as the strong pres- sure surges and vibrations at the Limmern pumped storage plant. This is a crucial aspect for mechanical engineering and plant engineering manufactur- ers in safety-critical fields, such as ship building, offshore plants or cranes and lifting devices. Battery in the mountains Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern AG now also use STAUFF Form Evo. The Limmern pumped storage plant, which is built completely under- ground, is located in the Swiss Alps approximately 100 km from Zurich, at an altitude of around 1700 m. 160 cubic me- tres of water per second can be pumped from the Limmernsee lake to the Muttsee lake 630 m higher up and then drained again to generate energy on demand. After a seven-year construction period, the plant was commissioned in stages in 2016/17. It has four turbines, each with a capacity of 250 MW. Oswald Hauser, Head of the Mechanical Engineering divi- sion, and his maintenance team decided to successively replace the stainless steel cutting ring fittings in the hydraulic line system with the STAUFF Form Evo forming system. “Our focus is on operatio- nal safety, leak protection and preventing environmental da- mage,” explains Oswald Hau- ser. “By using a permanently sealed tube connection system, we are also significantly redu - cing our expenditures for main- tenance and service work.” After all, several dozen kilo- metres of lines have to be che- cked at the Limmern pumped storage plant in tightly spaced maintenance intervals. Personal introduction into analogue and digital operation The support from Fluidtec played an important role in the decision for STAUFF Form. “We are in very good hands with Mr Bröllos. We have be- en working with him in other areas for many years and he has helped us out of a fix ma - ny times, for example when we needed spare parts at short Uwe Bröllos (right) advises Oswald Hauser (left) and his maintenance team. Foto: Uwe Bröllos Fotos: STAUFF The Stauff Form EVO tube forming system is completely based on standard components and is available with the Viton seal. A positive-locking con- nection is tear-proof even under high strain.

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