In the energy sector, security of supply is the highest priority. Whether it concerns conventional power plants (gas, nuclear), waste incineration (Waste-to-Energy), or high-voltage infrastructure: the concrete structures must perform for decades, often beyond their originally designed lifespan.
Sanacon is your partner for Lifetime Extension projects and condition assessments of critical assets. We focus on the specific degradation mechanisms within energy production:
Cooling water infrastructure: Inlet structures and channels are continuously exposed to flowing water, erosion and (if located at sea) chloride intrusion, which threatens the reinforcement.
Waste and biomass bunkers: At incineration plants, grabs cause heavy mechanical wear, while the stored waste can leak chemically aggressive leachate that attacks the concrete.
Turbine foundations: The foundations of generators and turbines must withstand enormous dynamic loads and vibrations without losing their stiffness.
With our expertise in damage analysis and remaining lifespan determination, we ensure that your infrastructure remains safe and operational, essential for a stable energy grid.
In heavy industry and (petro)chemicals, concrete infrastructure is exposed to the most aggressive conditions imaginable. From foundations beneath vibrating turbines to pipe racks and disaster recovery basins, these structures must perform under extreme thermal, mechanical, and chemical loads.
Sanacon helps you manage the risks of contamination and structural damage. We focus on:
We help you map the remaining lifespan of your assets without unnecessarily disrupting your processes.
Within the storage and distribution sector, liquid tanks and silos constitute the critical infrastructure of your logistics chain. Whether storing chemicals, fuels, grains, or liquid foodstuffs, the structural integrity of these assets is essential to prevent leaks, contamination, and economic losses.
As an expert engineering firm, Sanacon specializes in assessing the condition of these specific concrete structures. The challenges associated with silos and tanks are often complex:
Static and dynamic loading: Silo walls are subjected to enormous pressure differences and friction forces during filling and unloading, which can lead to crack formation.
Chemical degradation: The stored products can attack the concrete matrix from within, while external factors such as carbonation or chloride ingress threaten the reinforcement.
Liquid tightness: For tanks, water tightness (or liquid tightness according to current legislation) is crucial. Small defects can have major consequences for soil safety and your environmental permit.
Sanacon supports you with targeted advice and advanced techniques. We perform wall thickness measurements, assess the corrosion level of the reinforcement, and analyze the remaining lifespan of your storage capacity. With our customized repair advice, we ensure that your distribution process continues and your installations comply with all safety and environmental standards.
In the food industry, the integrity of your infrastructure is inextricably linked to food safety and business continuity. Concrete, specifically in environments like meat processing plants and cheese factories, is under constant pressure. As a specialized engineering firm, Sanacon understands the unique challenges of this sector.
The culprits are often invisible but destructive: organic acids and brine slowly but surely penetrate the concrete matrix. In cheese factories, lactic acids attack the cement paste, while in meat processing, aggressive cleaning agents and salts corrode the reinforcement. Without timely intervention, this leads not only to structural damage but also to hygiene risks and unplanned production stops.
Cathodic protection is a proven repair method for permanently halting reinforcement corrosion in reinforced concrete when it has been affected by chlorides. Trust our experts for a thorough concrete investigation and the design of a working CP system.
We assess the current load-bearing capacity of buildings and infrastructure, conduct stability studies, and recommend targeted reinforcement measures. From bonded reinforcement to temporary shoring, we engineer solutions that safely and sustainably extend the lifespan of existing structures.
