Steel Bulkheads – Hinkley Point C

Ensuring Safety and Accessibility in Nuclear Power Infrastructure

TWD supported Balfour Beatty plc in the construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant by designing secondary steel bulkheads for the intake and outfall tunnels. These tunnels are made to transport cooling water between the Bristol Channel and the plant.

To ensure flood protection during these works, the bulkheads were designed to withstand full water pressure in the event of tunnel flooding. Under normal conditions, they provide:

• Safe access for personnel and vehicles
• Ventilation to maintain air circulation
• Passage for electrical and service cables

Constructed entirely from steel and designed with boltable segments, the bulkheads were fabricated off-site to minimize on-site assembly time and allow for efficient future disassembly.

This project is one of the excellent examples of how we make safety a top priority in all our designs.

Project highlights

• Flood protection with rapid closing capability in case of an emergency
• Multi-functional design allowing safe access and service integration
• Modular steel construction for efficient fabrication, installation, and disassembly