A 50-m-high cooling tower to prevent ecological damage to marine life by water discharge has been completed in Saudi Arabia by Dywidag using the Doka climbing formwork system.

It is the first cooling tower to be built in Saudi Arabia for environmental reasons.
The MF 240 climbing formwork from Doka allowed the rapid construction of the cooling tower in Jubail. Just five months use of the Doka system brought the tower to its full height, says a Doka spokesman.
Dywidag Saudi Arabia was commissioned to build the structure so that hot water resulting from a production process could be cooled before being discharged to sea. Left uncooled, the hot water could cause ecological damage.
The MF climbing formwork was used in conjunction with Doka Top 50 large area formwork panels, which were assembled on site. The tower’s structure was formed using 40 5-m-wide adjustable panels both on the inside and outside outer faces. Each panel was supported by two MF climbing units, which secure connection to the wall formwork elements by means of waling-to-bracket holder.
Vast 8-m-diameter fans needed to be positioned around the base to achieve the cooling and so the 70 m diameter tower has large openings spaced 2.5 m apart and sited about 2.5 m above ground level.
Universal climbing cones were used to form anchor points for the climbing unit. After casting the next section of wall, the fixings could then be removed. This enabled the MF climbing formwork to be retracted and held securely against wind loading, while the next suspension point was made ready.
The Doka formwork could be readily adjusted throughout the project to achieve the changing wall thicknesses required. Lower sections are 600 mm thick, reducing to 200 mm at the top. Another difference at the top of the structure is that a gangway runs all the way around the inside. The climbing form was able to be modified to provide support for the slab for this inner walkway, he adds.