Giant truck that left Foz do Iguaçu will travel for 20 days

Measuring almost 40 meters in length, the vehicle will take a transformer from Itaipu to Santa Catarina, where it will undergo maintenance.

The giant truck that will take one of the transformers of the Itaipu power plant.

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At almost 40 meters long, the vehicle required special logistics to travel through the urban perimeter.

According to Itaipu, the equipment transported by the giant truck weighs 122 tons.
According to Itaipu, the equipment weighs 122 tons. Photo: William Brisida/Itaipu Binacional

The giant truck's route, between Itaipu and BR-277, included Tancredo Neves and Juscelino Kubitschek avenues. In addition, it was necessary to pass through José Maria de Brito and Paraná avenues to make the turn, a process that took most of the morning.

The final destination is the city of Blumenau in Santa Catarina, more than 800 kilometers away. According to Itaipu, the journey is expected to take about 20 days, “depending on weather conditions and traffic on the highways.”

Avenida Tancredo Neves was the initial point where the giant truck passed.
Tancredo Neves Avenue was the starting point for the giant truck. Photo: William Brisida/Itaipu Binacional

An axle with 124 tires supports the 39-meter-long giant truck. A second truck, hitched to the rear of the main vehicle, serves as a counterweight and helps with maneuvering.

In the urban perimeter of Foz do Iguaçu, the passage was accompanied by teams from the Transport and Traffic Institute (Foztrans) and the Federal Highway Police (PRF).

The PRF will continue to guard the giant truck along other sections of federal highways. Teams from energy companies will provide support for actions such as raising or removing wires along the way.

According to Itaipu, the transformer is 5,5 meters long, 5,2 meters high and weighs 122 tons. Its function is to increase the voltage produced by Itaipu's generating units from 18 kV to 500 kV.

Corrective maintenance

In material sent to the press, Itaipu reports that the sending of the giant truck with the transformer to the factory in Santa Catarina occurs “due to an anomaly identified early on by the maintenance teams”.

“The service is carried out at the factory, outside the plant, because the procedures for disassembling and assembling the transformer are complex and require a large structure and specialized labor,” explained Itaipu’s deputy superintendent of Maintenance, Marco Aurélio Siqueira Mauro.

Passage under the viaduct on Avenida JK with BR-277.
Passage under the viaduct of Avenida JK with BR-277. Photo: William Brisida/Itaipu Binacional

“In addition, there are specific electrical tests that will be carried out on the transformer, after assembly, which are not feasible at the plant”, added Mauro, mentioning that the part is expected to return in 2026, again with the giant truck.

No stop in production

The Itaipu plant has 60 transformers, three per turbine, plus six spare units. The unit that is being transported by the giant truck was replaced by one of the reserve transformers.

Before the part itself, Itaipu sent 32 thousand liters of oil to the factory in Blumenau, used in the equipment, as well as two other vehicles with accessory parts (heat exchanger, bushings, pumps and valves, among others).

The giant truck's journey to Blumenau should take around 20 days.
The giant truck's journey to Blumenau should take about 20 days. Photo: William Brisida/Itaipu Binacional

(With information from Itaipu Binacional)

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1 comment
  1. Gerson Thief

    The question remains. Isn't it easier and more economical to bring a team with equipment to perform maintenance, or does it require special equipment to perform the maintenance?

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