SUPPLEMENTING PLANT EFFORTS

SOLUTION OF CHRONIC PROBLEMS

Development of Hydro suction

Used Hydro suction Sedimentation Exclusion System from dam for the first time in India at Salal Power Station. This arrangement has also been used successfully in Tanakpur Power Channel.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST SILT EROSION OF UNDER WATER COMPONENTS

SILT MENANCE Hydroelectric Power Stations located in Himalayan region in general and run-of-the river schemes located in the Northern states of India in particular suffer from silt erosion underwater parts. Particularly in Monsoon Season when 98% of the silt particles of size 0.20 mm and contain smaller quartz with hardness of 7-8 on Moh's scale pass through turbine parts.  It is not cost-effective to construct de-silting arrangement to remove this size of silt particles from flowing water. The operation and maintenance of these power stations is indeed a tremendous task and calls for high degree of dedication and motivation on the part of maintenance staff in grappling with the silt related problems.

FIELD TRIALS   Salal & Baira Siul Power Stations of NHPC have been the worst victims of Silt erosion. Field trials with thermal spray coatings, polymeric coatings & plasma nitrding have been carried out at these power stations, out of which HVOF process WC-Co coating gave some success to retard erosion. Field trials in isolation of active involvement of OEM’s are not likely to be fruitful. NHPC will consider to participate in field trials, if proposed by OEM’s. NHPC is taking up the issue with OEM’s for a joint collaboration for finding solution to mitigate silt erosion.

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE PLAN ON R&D IN THE POWER SECTOR    National R&D Project on “Development of Silt Erosion Resistant Material for Turbines of Hydro Generators” by NML (National Metallurgical Laboratory) Jamshedpur is under execution in which NHPC is also one of the participating agencies in conjunction with CPRI & SJVNL.   Main objective of the project is to develop a new material having better mechanical properties & erosive wear resistance as compared to the presently used 13%Cr-4%Ni Stainless Steel.   The project is funded by MoP, NHPC Ltd. , SJVNL and the approved financial outlay of the project as per ( Standing Financial Committee) SFC is Rs 299.79 Lakhs   MOU has been signed between the participating agencies i.e NHPC, SJVNL, CPRI & National Metallurgical Laboratories (NML) in the Month of Sep 2008 and the project is being under process.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONNEL

Training & Certification of Welders

A sharp vigilance to the quality of welds produced at the Projects/ Power stations reveals the fact that it is imperative to train our welders to international standards to obtain quality weld especially in rebuilding and refurbishing of underwater components.    Subsequently the matter was taken up with the firms viz. WRI, Tiruchirappalli, L&T etc. to explore the best appropriate training to be provided to our welders to improve their efficacy. As a result with the association of HRD Division more than 48 Nos of welders are already trained as per ASME Sec-IX at WRI.   Further training, including refresher & advanced training are in the pipeline.

OTHERS

Adoption of Energy Efficient Technology

Fitch Fuel Catalyst is a pre-combustion, emission reducing and a fuel economy improvement technology comprising of a heterogeneous metal alloy that is installed in the fuel line system of any gasoline, diesel or propane powered equipment.  It is stated to improve engine power, reduce harmful emissions, and reduce maintenance & operating costs.  NHPC has conducted field trails at Chamera-I, Chamera-II, Rangit and Dhauliganga Hydroelectric Power Stations and initial results were found encouraging. Based on the encouraging results of the field trials, NHPC power stations were encouraged to use the catalyst on vehicles/equipments depending upon their usage (working hours) requirement taking into account the return on investment (ROI).

OPTIMIZING USE OF ENERGY & PERFORMANCE

Energy Audit

·   ‘Energy audit ” means the verification, monitoring and analysis of use of energy including submission of technical report containing recommendations for improving energy efficiency with cost benefit analysis and an action plan to reduce energy consumption.  ·   As per the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has identified Energy Intensive Industries as designated consumers. Central Govt. may direct, any designated consumer to get Energy Audit conducted by an accredited Energy Auditor. Without any such directive from Central Govt., NHPC voluntarily taken up the Energy Audit of its Power Stations.   ·   Energy Audit results in cost savings as well as reestablishing the validating of actual performance vis-a-vis design parameter.  ·   Energy audit of Baira Siul, Salal, Tanakpur, Loktak, Rangit, Chamera-I, Uri-I & Chamera-II Power Stations have been completed.  ·   Energy Audit of Dhauliganga & Dulhasti Power Stations have been planned to be carried out during 2009-10.