BHEL renovates a unit of Baira Siul hydro project

New Delhi: BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) has successfully renovated and modernised one unit of the 3×60 MW Baira Siul hydropower project in Himachal Pradesh. Notably, Baira Siul is the first hydro station of NHPC Ltd to have been taken up for comprehensive renovation and modernisation (R&M).

Significantly, BHEL won the order for R&M of three units of the Baira Siul Hydro Power Station located in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, amidst stiff competitive bidding. The renovation and modernisation of the other two units is under various stages of execution.

What is BHEL going to do?

BHEL's scope in the project comprises design, manufacture, supply, replacement and commissioning of critical parts of turbines & auxiliaries, governors, generators and control and monitoring. The equipment has been supplied from BHEL's manufacturing units at Bhopal, Bengaluru and Jhansi, while the on-site installation activities were carried out by the company's power sector — Northern Region division, Noida.

The R&M will result in restoration of output capacity

The R&M of the project will result in the restoration of output capacity and improvement in efficiency, in addition to leading to better plant availability and life extension of equipment. Significantly, the capacity of the turbine for each unit is designed for a rated output of 60 MW at a reduced rated head of 238.1 metres. The turbines installed in 1980-81 were designed for a rated head of 260 metres.

"BHEL is also the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of these hydro units. BHEL is fully geared up to take up R&M jobs of hydro units of BHEL and non-BHEL make sets," a press release said.

The backdrop

BHEL is presently executing hydroelectric projects of more than 6,000 MW, which includes 2,910 MW of projects within the country and 3,224 MW abroad. In addition, BHEL is also carrying out comprehensive renovation and modernisation of more than 699 MW hydro projects across the country. Significantly, more than 500 hydroelectric generating sets of various ratings have been ordered on BHEL with a cumulative capacity of more than 30,000 MW, including 6,720 MW for overseas projects. BHEL's hydro plants are successfully performing in India and across the world, including in countries such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Rwanda, Thailand, New Zealand, Nepal and Vietnam.