State-of-the-art deep mixing barge equipped with eco-friendly engines and ICT systems

Abstract

In recent years, Japan has been facing a labor shortage due to a declining population. Greenhouse gas emission measures are required to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This paper introduces newly installed systems on a deep mixing barge to deal with these problems. (1) Eco-friendly energy-saving engines have been installed. The hydraulic drive systems have been converted to the electric drive systems. The energy transfer efficiency has been improved because the only energy transfer medium is electricity. The drive unit of the lifting winch of the mixing machine has been replaced with an inverter-controlled electric motor. Energy conversion and CO2 reduction has achieved by installing a regenerative power system. This system can store the excess power generated during the downstroke of the mixing machine and make effective use of it during the upstroke. (2) 4D (3D + time axis) construction management system utilizing ICT has been installed. By utilizing this system, even young engineers with limited on-site experience were able to perform high-quality construction, leading to early independence of operators. Since it visualizes the construction history and construction status in 3D and allows the construction status to be monitored from various perspectives. (3) Automated normal construction. Fine-tuning of the mixing machine to match the construction conditions required experience, knowledge, and skill of the operator, and it took time to learn the operation. By programming the knowledge and skills of skilled operators, one cycle of creating a soil cement column was fully automated. Since it is not affected by the operator’s proficiency level, quality is stabilized, and human errors are prevented. Safety is ensured by a fail-safe foolproof function that can pause construction or perform an emergency stop in the event of irregular or unset operations.