AIPEF seeks probe into turbine failures

yogindra mohan
Patiala

All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has suggested that a crisis management team from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) may be constituted and directed to examine the lapses at the thermal plant in Yamunanagar where both turbines have failed within four years of commissioning. An AIPEF official said this was necessary so that recurrence of such turbine failures could be avoided at other similar thermal plants of the country. Both turbines at 600 MW Yamunanagar thermal plant suffered disastrous failure within four years of commissioning raising a question mark over the quality of Chinese equipment.

Haryana is losing 144 lakh units daily generation after the forced closure of both units of thermal plant at Yamunanagar. Incidentally, this was the first power project in Haryana to be awarded to private developer where boiler turbine and generator equipment was supplied by Shanghai Electric Corp of China. This plant was awarded the gold shield for meritorious performance in 2008. Within four years of commissioning both Chinese units are on prolonged breakdown. The 300 MW Unit-I of this plant suffered failure of turbine blades on March 31 this year and repair work has not yet started. The failure of turbine blades of Unit-II points to poor quality of manufacture. The Unit II suffered damage to turbine rotor in September last year. The rotor has been sent to Baroda works of Siemens for repair at a total cost of about Rs 5 crore.

After the turbine failure, the enquiry conducted by Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) established two major lapses in design and construction. The high pressures as well as low pressure drains of the turbine were connected to a common header which was the cause for back flow of water into the turbine resulting in sudden fall of temperature and bending of rotor. The temperature differential measurement of turbine cover has been provided but the indications have not been provided in the control room. According to sources Reliance infra is not prepared to accept this lapse and on this account is not taking up the rectification of the lapses noted.