Baihetan Hydropower Plant Shows Domestic Expertise
Date: 2019-01-17
The world’s first 1 million-kilowatt hydropower turbine generator rotor, developed and manufactured independently by China with locally produced materials, was delivered on January 12, marking another breakthrough by the country in the world’s hydropower equipment manufacturing field.
The rotor was completely assembled after nearly one year of welding and processing at the rotor processing plant at the construction site of Baihetan hydropowe plant, the world’s largest hydropower project under construction.
The rotor, used in the No.1 turbine at the underground plant on the left bank of the Baihetan, weighs 359 tons, equivalent to 5,129 people weighing 70 kilograms each. It is because of this enormous weight that it had to be welded and processed in the rotor processing plant in the construction area of Baihetan, which is being constructed by China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG).
Rotors, known as the heart of hydropower turbine generators, have a direct bearing on the stability of the generation unit and its energy conversion efficiency. Rotors are a core part of the power unit, but they are also the most difficult to develop and manufacture.
Compared with other rotors in operation in the world, this 1 million-kilowatt rotor represents a historic leap in operational efficiency. CTG and Dongfang Electric Machinery jointly developed and manufactured the rotor and mastered the related core technologies with proprietary intellectual property rights. In addition, both companies have continuously optimized the production process, improving the efficiency of the Baihetan unit beyond that of the Three Gorges project or the Xiluodu Dam.
All Copyrigh
By China Three Gorges Corporation
Reprinting or mirroring is strictly prohibited without written authorization,
and offenders will be held liable.
