Study on Running Operation Risk Analysis of the Advanced Hydraulic-type Ship Lift

It is well-known that ship lift is one of the most important navigation hydraulic structures that can effectively assist the ship through the dam, and has widespread applied in the world, such as creeping-type ship lift (Niederfinow, Germany), winding-type ship lift (Stroeby, Belgium), pressure-type ship lift (Peterborough, Canada), and the advanced hydraulic-type ship lift (Jinghong, China). Compared with other types, there was a big progress that hydraulic-type ship lift was driven to run by using hydraulic power instead of electric. However, for the reason of the hydraulic-type ship lift runs under the conditions of complex hydrodynamic loads, increased the fault probability of its equipment and system, which would give rise to the probability of running operation risk. Thus, the running operation risk of hydraulic-type ship lift will have been focused in the field of inland waterway navigation.

Recently, a lot of research achievements have been reported about the running and operation of hydraulic-type ship lift, such as the fundamental construction theory, the three-dimensional numerical simulation technology and the operation safety guarantee technology. In the aspect of the fundamental construction theory, the hydraulic drive system, mechanical system and anti-capsizing guidance system of hydraulic-type ship lift were built. On the three-dimensional numerical simulation technology, the hydraulic characteristics simulation model of water conveyance system was established. Compared with the above-mentioned techniques, the operation safety guarantee technologies were also gradual developed because of its capability to control risks and ensure the safety of life and property. Unfortunately, the theoretical calculation methods and counter-measures of the running operation risk were still rarely put forward．Therefore, it is of great significance for us to develop valuable and helpful assessment methods and counter-measures to deal with the running risk of the hydraulic-type ship lift.

Based on above considerations, a method for running risk analysis of hydraulic-type ship lift was presented. This method had a progress of (1) risk indicator in consideration of risk factors, system potential risk in running and fault loss, (2) study on fault level classified into three major kinds of categories in detail, (3) the countermeasures to deal with the running fault in point.