Documentary on the Application of Diesel Generators in the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge Project

Over the vast blue waves between Xiamen and Jinmen, the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge (Xiamen Section) is rising majestically. As a super project connecting the two sides of the strait, its construction faces extreme challenges throughout the process: deep offshore waters, high salt and humidity, strong winds and huge waves. In this great endeavor to bridge the natural barrier, high-power diesel generator sets, with their robust strengths of stability, reliability, high efficiency and ruggedness, have become the heart supporting the project’s 24-hour uninterrupted operation, injecting a steady stream of powerful power for every tunneling, hoisting and pouring of this maritime giant.

I.Building a Bridge in the Deep Blue Sea – Power Supply as the "Lifeline"

The Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge (Xiamen Section) has a total length of approximately 19.6 kilometers, with a main line of 17.34 kilometers. It is the first fully offshore suspension bridge in Fujian Province, featuring a 178-meter-high main tower and a 928-meter main span, setting regional records in both construction scale and difficulty.

Core construction scenarios – including offshore operation platforms, the 5,500-ton crane ship Erhang Zhuoyue, the 16-meter extra-large diameter shield machine Xiamen-Jinmen Hao, concrete batching plants, and intelligent monitoring systems – impose extremely strict requirements on power supply: 24-hour continuous full-load operation, millisecond-level voltage stability, salt spray corrosion resistance, strong anti-interference performance, and rapid emergency response.

Far from the onshore power grid and with a rapidly changing marine environment, conventional power supply solutions are difficult to adapt. With core advantages such as independent power generation, freedom from grid restrictions, fast startup, wide power coverage and strong environmental adaptability, diesel generator sets have become the preferred temporary main power source and emergency backup power source for the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge Project, building a solid power lifeline for the entire construction process.

II.Top-tier Configuration to Build a Maritime "Power Fortress"

To adapt to the extreme construction conditions of the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge, the diesel generator sets selected for the project are all equipped with world-class brands and high-end customized configurations, supplied in complete sets by Xiamen Jiashun Sutong Electric Co., Ltd. and other leading local enterprises. Their core configurations and performance set an industry benchmark.

(1) Core Power Supported by World-renowned Brands

Engine lineup: Mainly adopts engineering-grade high-power models from Cummins, Perkins and Weichai, with a single unit power range of 500kW–1200kW, meeting the power supply demands of super-large equipment such as shield machines and crane ships. All three brands meet China National Stage III / IV emission standards, delivering strong power, lower fuel consumption and extremely low failure rates, making them standard power for cross-sea projects and deep-sea operations.

Generator matching: Paired with high-end brushless generators from Stamford, Marathon and Leroy Somer, with voltage stability ≤ ±0.5% and strong harmonic interference resistance. They are perfectly suitable for parallel operation of multiple units and power supply for precision instruments, ensuring construction accuracy and equipment safety.

(2) Customized Protection Against Extreme Marine Environments

In response to the characteristics of high salt spray, high humidity, severe corrosion and large rocking at sea, the units are fully customized for protection:

Anti-corrosion upgrade: The whole machine adopts C4-grade anti-corrosion coating and IP55 or higher protection level. Key components are equipped with salt spray-proof sealing covers to resist sea water droplets and salt spray corrosion, extending service life by more than 30%.

Structural reinforcement: Integrated containerized / silent design with rolling and pitching resistance, enabling stable operation on inclined ships and offshore platforms. The silent enclosure controls noise to 75dB(A)@1m, balancing construction efficiency and marine ecological protection.

Intelligent operation and maintenance: Equipped with an IoT remote monitoring system that tracks oil temperature, oil pressure, voltage, frequency, load rate and other parameters in real time. It supports fault early warning, remote diagnosis, automatic start-stop and parallel redundancy, eliminating the need for 24-hour on-duty personnel and greatly reducing operation and maintenance costs.

III.Integration of Diesel and Energy Storage – A New Model of Green Construction

The Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge Project has always adhered to the concept of green and low-carbon construction. Breaking through the single mode of traditional diesel power generation, it innovatively adopts a hybrid smart power station scheme of "diesel power generation + photovoltaic energy storage", supported by new energy enterprises, achieving both efficient energy utilization and energy conservation and emission reduction.

During the day, the 26.88kW photovoltaic systems mounted on construction platforms and crane ships convert solar energy into electricity, which is stored in 783.92kWh lithium iron phosphate energy storage battery packs. At night or on rainy days, the energy storage system discharges first, with diesel generator sets intelligently supplementing power. Precise scheduling through an intelligent energy efficiency management system realizes peak shaving and valley filling, as well as staggered power generation.

This innovative model has saved nearly 6 tons of fuel and reduced carbon emissions by more than 15 tons during the construction of the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge. It not only ensures 24-hour uninterrupted power supply but also significantly reduces energy consumption and environmental pollution, setting a benchmark for green power applications in domestic cross-sea projects.

IV.Full-scenario Empowerment Supporting Every Step of Construction

From undersea tunnel boring to main tower pouring, from steel box girder hoisting to deck paving, diesel generator sets are present throughout the entire construction cycle of the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge, safeguarding every key node:

Shield construction: Provides stable and continuous power for the Xiamen-Jinmen Hao shield machine (installed power 10,997kW), supporting its long-distance continuous tunneling in seabed rock formations and ensuring tunnel construction progress and safety.

Offshore hoisting: Supplies power to the 5,500-ton Erhang Zhuoyue crane ship, assisting in the millimeter-level precise hoisting of super-large components such as 4,225-ton pile cap steel boxed cofferdams and 4,586-ton steel box girders.

Batching production: Drives two 180m³/h concrete batching plants to provide a steady supply of high-quality concrete for key structures such as main towers and piers, guaranteeing project quality.

Emergency support: Equipped with an ATS automatic switching system, which can automatically start and load within 10 seconds in case of mains power interruption, providing reliable power for fire protection, lighting, communication and other emergency systems, and building a solid construction safety line.

V.Ingenious Support Helping Realize the Dream of a Cross-Strait Passage

From land to deep sea, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, every breakthrough in the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge Project cannot be achieved without the silent support of diesel generator sets. With stable and reliable performance, extreme environmental adaptability, intelligent and efficient operation and maintenance, and green and low-carbon innovation, they have built an indestructible maritime power fortress above the vast blue waves.