Pump-Fed Power Station - Sealing of Construction Joints

The pump-fed power station Hohenwarte II is located south of the Saale valley in the charming Thuringian landscape in the middle of the chain of hills called Amalienhöhe, Frankenhügel and Lerchenhügel.

Built from 1956 to 1963, this environmentally friendly and cost-saving power station uses cheap off-peak electricity in order to pump water into an elevated storing reservoir. During the daily peak electricity consumption, the stored water is diverted via turbines and thus generates additional energy. But suddenly this "cost-cutting water reservoir" comprising over three million cubic meters of water was in danger of literally "drying up".

Both the horizontal construction joints and the vertical block joints, which go vertically through the entire construction from the foundation level to the wall top, were full of water in certain areas. More and more seepage water began penetrating the inspection manholes, water shafts and drainage ducts - the entire building needed to be repaired. Thanks to its very low viscosity and high dynamic stress-resistance, our polyacrylic gel WEBAC_® 240 was chosen for injecting the joints in order to durably seal the structure. This gel is characterized by its flexibility and excellent adhesion so that it is able to absorb the movement of the inlet building, caused by the pump and turbine operation in particular.
Our PUR injection resin WEBAC_® 1403 was used for sealing the horizontal construction joints whose opening width is significantly lower than that of the block joints. Upon contact or mixing with water, this material forms a closed and water-repellent porous structure, and also increases the overall flexibility.

Following the successful repair work, Hohenwarte II will remain a "cost-cutting water reservoir" for many decades.