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BHEL innovation to check erosion in hydropower plants
Monday, 07 July 2003, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: India's engineering major Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) has developed a new process to prevent silt erosion in vital components of hydropower plants.
The innovation is called the high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process, state-owned BHEL stated Monday.
"HVOF coating has proven to be much better than techniques like ceramic coating and plasma nitriding, which were also experimented with at Bairasiul site in Himachal Pradesh," the BHEL said.
Field trials conducted in 2002-03 show that "when HVOF coatings were applied to Pelton turbine needles at Shanan Hydro Electric Project and guide vanes, top cover and lower ring at Bairasiul Hydro Electric Project, the coated components showed negligible erosion after one monsoon," it said in a press statement.
At present, 33 hydropower stations have been affected by severe silt erosion.
As per BHEL's estimates, silt erosion costs Indian hydropower stations over 
5 billion annually due to loss of efficiency, forced outages and repairs.
"With another 21 hydroelectric power projects likely to be commissioned by 2007, the magnitude of losses will mount. The life of parts prone to silt erosion can be significantly extended with HVOF coatings.
"This will also improve the reliability and availability of hydropower plants," BHEL stated.
As India aims to add 100,000 MW of power generation capacity by 2012, a considerable part of this new capacity will be added through hydropower.
The Himalayan region in particular has been identified for new power plants. However, the components of hydropower stations in that region are prone to severe erosion due to the presence of silt in the water streams.
During 2002-03, BHEL spent 890 million on research and development in areas like systems and products for improvement in quality, reduction in losses and enhancement of power transfer capability in transmission and distribution.
Specialising in power equipment, BHEL is also working on futuristic technologies like compact distributed power packs based on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology and clean coal technologies such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC).
Source: IANS
5 billion annually due to loss of efficiency, forced outages and repairs.
"With another 21 hydroelectric power projects likely to be commissioned by 2007, the magnitude of losses will mount. The life of parts prone to silt erosion can be significantly extended with HVOF coatings.
"This will also improve the reliability and availability of hydropower plants," BHEL stated.
As India aims to add 100,000 MW of power generation capacity by 2012, a considerable part of this new capacity will be added through hydropower.
The Himalayan region in particular has been identified for new power plants. However, the components of hydropower stations in that region are prone to severe erosion due to the presence of silt in the water streams.
During 2002-03, BHEL spent 890 million on research and development in areas like systems and products for improvement in quality, reduction in losses and enhancement of power transfer capability in transmission and distribution.
Specialising in power equipment, BHEL is also working on futuristic technologies like compact distributed power packs based on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology and clean coal technologies such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC).
Source: IANS