Solution for Beer Tank Installation in an Urbanization Project Near a River

[Yiou Yang]

Hello everyone,

I’m working on an urbanization, landscaping, and parking project next to a river. The final pathways have already been built using stamped concrete with a 10 cm curb. However, the project has been updated to include a food truck area, requiring the installation of a 3 m³ beer tank in a designated zone.

Due to hydrographic regulations, the tank cannot be placed less than 100 meters from the river, meaning it must be installed on the opposite side of the existing pathway. To distribute the beer to the food trucks, a pipeline needs to be installed from the tank to the designated food truck area.

The problem is that, since the pathway was already built, no conduit or sleeve was planned for the pipeline, and using 60L beer barrels is not an option—the client insists on installing the central tank.

Given this situation, what solutions could be considered besides demolishing and reconstructing the pathway? Or is demolition the most cost-effective solution?

I appreciate any technical insights and recommendations.

Thanks!

 

[phamENG]

How wide is the path? If it's a typical 5 foot wide sidewalk, then it should be fine to just dig out underneath it, set some sleeves up, and back fill with a flowable fill material. Then slide the pipes through the sleeves and back fill your pipe trench.

If it's a lot wider, then a small directional drilling rig could be used, but cutting out a section of path (maybe being creative and following the lines of whatever pattern was used) and replacing it would probably be more cost effective.

 

[HTURKAK]

I do not think that shifting the tank to 100 m far from the river is good idea.
I would consider secondary containment ( diked area ) to control the spill.

 

[Yiou Yang]

How wide is the path? If it's a typical 5 foot wide sidewalk, then it should be fine to just dig out underneath it, set some sleeves up, and back fill with a flowable fill material. Then slide the pipes through the sleeves and back fill your pipe trench.

If it's a lot wider, then a small directional drilling rig could be used, but cutting out a section of path (maybe being creative and following the lines of whatever pattern was used) and replacing it would probably be more cost effective.

Thanks for your reply!

The path is actually 4.6 meters wide (around 15 feet), so it was designed to be wide enough for vehicular traffic. Given that, I agree that digging underneath might be complicated, especially considering the structural load the path was designed for.

I’m leaning toward the solution of cutting a section of the path. It might be the most practical and cost-effective approach given the width and intended use of the path.

Thanks again for the input!

 

[phamENG]

If it was designed for vehicle traffic, make sure you're going wide enough to adequately dowel into the existing to avoid differential movement across the joint.

 

[LittleInch]

There are many ways to cross paths, roads etc using "trenchless" technology.

If this is say a 2" pipe, pipe ramming would be possible.

Most utility companies do this to install water pipes and gas pipes of small diameter.

Look up impact moling or trenchless small bore utility e.g. https://jeutilities.co.uk/trenchless-technologies.html

Impact Moling

IMPACT MOLING - TECHNIQUE Impact moling is one of the most widely used and simplest of the trenchless technologies . It is ideally suited for installation of small diameter PE100 pipes in...

www.pe100plus.com

In the US it seems its called "earth piercing tools"

Using Earth-Piercing Tools to Install Up to 3,000 ft of Fiber-Optic — Complete with Restoration — by Lunchtime

Stitch boring is ideal for the narrow residential lots of suburban neighborhoods that consist of soft to medium-hard ground conditions.

trenchlesstechnology.com

go down about 3ft or maybe even 2ft and there is no issue with loading from the road. How many services do you think you drive over every day? Probably hundreds.

Don't over think this - it is very easy and straightforward. Any excavation or trench across the road will be liable to sag, break up and be very obvious.

 

[XR250]

I do not think that shifting the tank to 100 m far from the river is good idea.
I would consider secondary containment ( diked area ) to control the spill.

There has to be a Fish-n-Chips joke in here somewhere

 

[LittleInch]

I'm actually trying to think about how much beer is being dispensed that you need a tank!!

3000 litres is 5,300 pints.

That's 90 pints every 10 minutes for TEN HOURS STRAIGHT.

REALLY???

 

[dold]

Any excavation or trench across the road will be liable to sag, break up and be very obvious.

Many times we will spec concrete encased duct banks for road crossings. I.e., flowable fill. Contractors often fail to properly compact backfill which causes bumps and dips in the road crossing. I'd probably recommend running several large conduits (ducts) under the road and the actual "beer lines" are fed through the duct bank.

That's 90 pints every 10 minutes for TEN HOURS STRAIGHT.

REALLY???

Never seen the Hofbräuhaus, eh?

 

[Pinwards]

I think we're going to need to investigate... in person... with steins in hand.

#

 

[EdStainless]

Directional drill and install 2" or 3" pipe (or even multiples) to pull the individual beer lines through.
Around here drilling would cost less than cutting, burying, and repairing.

 

[LittleInch]

What happened Yiou?

Did you drink all the beer?

 

[Yiou Yang]

There are many ways to cross paths, roads etc using "trenchless" technology.

If this is say a 2" pipe, pipe ramming would be possible.

Most utility companies do this to install water pipes and gas pipes of small diameter.

Look up impact moling or trenchless small bore utility e.g. https://jeutilities.co.uk/trenchless-technologies.html

Impact Moling

IMPACT MOLING - TECHNIQUE Impact moling is one of the most widely used and simplest of the trenchless technologies . It is ideally suited for installation of small diameter PE100 pipes in...

www.pe100plus.com

In the US it seems its called "earth piercing tools"

Using Earth-Piercing Tools to Install Up to 3,000 ft of Fiber-Optic — Complete with Restoration — by Lunchtime

Stitch boring is ideal for the narrow residential lots of suburban neighborhoods that consist of soft to medium-hard ground conditions.

trenchlesstechnology.com

go down about 3ft or maybe even 2ft and there is no issue with loading from the road. How many services do you think you drive over every day? Probably hundreds.

Don't over think this - it is very easy and straightforward. Any excavation or trench across the road will be liable to sag, break up and be very obvious.

Thanks for the detailed explanation and the references, really helpful!

At the moment, works are actually on hold here in Madrid due to heavy rains and the river flooding. The water level has risen significantly, so everything is paralyzed until conditions improve.

Once things settle, I’ll definitely look into impact moling or earth piercing as you suggested. It sounds like a great alternative to avoid cutting the road, especially considering the potential issues with settlement or cracking later on.

Appreciate the advice!

 

[Yiou Yang]

Directional drill and install 2" or 3" pipe (or even multiples) to pull the individual beer lines through.
Around here drilling would cost less than cutting, burying, and repairing.

Thanks for the suggestion! That actually sounds like a very good option.

Once the weather improves (we’re currently on hold due to river flooding from heavy rains here in Madrid), I’ll check local pricing for directional drilling. If the cost is competitive, installing a 2" or 3" sleeve to run the beer lines could definitely be the cleanest and least invasive solution—avoiding the need to cut and patch the stamped concrete path.

Appreciate the input!

 

[Yiou Yang]

What happened Yiou?

Did you drink all the beer?

Haha! Sorry for the delay... I was personally testing the supply system to make sure the beer quality meets the project standards ... Turns out, quality control takes longer than expected!

But I’m back now—no beer left (for now)!

 

[LittleInch]

Thanks for getting back to us.

Cost wise for 5m one off connection it could be more, but not digging up the path already laid is more than worth it.

Most of the guys now turn up with a little caterpillar tracked machine no bigger than a mini digger or smaller.

Impact Moling

IMPACT MOLING - TECHNIQUE Impact moling is one of the most widely used and simplest of the trenchless technologies . It is ideally suited for installation of small diameter PE100 pipes in...

www.pe100plus.com

The impact moling is prob your best bet for such a short distance and basically just uses compressed air to hammer a mole into the ground. Two pits either side and you're there.

 

[Yiou Yang]

Thanks for getting back to us.

Cost wise for 5m one off connection it could be more, but not digging up the path already laid is more than worth it.

Most of the guys now turn up with a little caterpillar tracked machine no bigger than a mini digger or smaller.

Impact Moling

IMPACT MOLING - TECHNIQUE Impact moling is one of the most widely used and simplest of the trenchless technologies . It is ideally suited for installation of small diameter PE100 pipes in...

www.pe100plus.com

The impact moling is prob your best bet for such a short distance and basically just uses compressed air to hammer a mole into the ground. Two pits either side and you're there.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion! That actually sounds like a really practical solution. I’ll definitely look into impact moling—it seems like the least invasive option and perfect for this kind of setup.

Really appreciate the advice!

 

[LittleInch]

No problem. Send a photo of the work when you get it done for curiosity.