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Rs 500 cr annual loss due to silt erosion in power sector: BHEL
New Delhi, July 07: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd today said it has developed a high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process for preventing silt erosion which costs Indian hydro power stations over Rs 500 crore a year due to loss of efficiency, forced outages and repairs.
New Delhi, July 07: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd today said it has developed a high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process for preventing silt erosion which costs Indian hydro power stations over Rs 500 crore a year due to loss of efficiency, forced outages and repairs.
The existing 33 hydro power stations are affected by
severe silt erosion, BHEL said in a statement here.
"With another 21 hydro electric power projects likely to be commissioned by 2007, the magnitude of losses will mount", it said.
BHEL claimed the life of parts prone to silt erosion can be significantly extended with HVOF coatings. "This will also improve reliability and availability of hydro power plants". The 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. Field trials were conducted in 2002-03.
The coated components showed negligible erosion after one monsoon, whereas the uncoated components were eroded severely.
HVOF coating has proven to be much better than techniques like ceramic coating and plasma nitriding, which were also experimented with at Bairasiul site, it said. BHEL said there lies a great potential for development of hydro-electric power in India, particularly in the Himalayan region. However, components of hydro power stations in the region are prone to severe erosion due to the presence of silt in the water streams.
The company is also working on several technologies like compact distributed power packs based on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology and clean power technologies like integrated gasification combine cycle.
Bureau Report
"With another 21 hydro electric power projects likely to be commissioned by 2007, the magnitude of losses will mount", it said.
BHEL claimed the life of parts prone to silt erosion can be significantly extended with HVOF coatings. "This will also improve reliability and availability of hydro power plants". The 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. Field trials were conducted in 2002-03.
The coated components showed negligible erosion after one monsoon, whereas the uncoated components were eroded severely.
HVOF coating has proven to be much better than techniques like ceramic coating and plasma nitriding, which were also experimented with at Bairasiul site, it said. BHEL said there lies a great potential for development of hydro-electric power in India, particularly in the Himalayan region. However, components of hydro power stations in the region are prone to severe erosion due to the presence of silt in the water streams.
The company is also working on several technologies like compact distributed power packs based on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology and clean power technologies like integrated gasification combine cycle.
Bureau Report