Grundinstandsetzung der Kaminkühler auf Zollverein

Overhaul of cooling towers at Zollverein

After decommissioning, two steel lattice cooling towers showed corrosion damage. As a result, an application was submitted for the demolition of these two listed buildings, which are also part of the entire ensemble of the Zeche Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, a structural analysis proved that the greater parts of the tower walls sustained only minor damage. According to a calculation with more detailed design loads the buildings were generally able to support and to carry reliably all loads after the restoration of seriously damaged individual parts. Thanks to financial funding offered by the investment programme of the German Federal Government "Nationale UNESCO-Weltkulturerbestätten" (national UNESCO world heritage sites), it was possible to renovate both cooling towers as well as to prepare the later placement of a textile membrane in order to broaden the range of potential uses of the cooling towers. Key challenges faced during the renovation process were twofold: concerning steel construction the weak lateral stiffness of the towers in particular, and concerning corrosion protection how to handle crevice corrosion and PAH-contaminated old coating.