Efficiency of turbines at the Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP reaches 96.6% after modernisation
In 2018, the Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydroelectric Power Plant is experiencing a rebirth as the station's capacity has increased, which was made possible thanks to the implemented projects for the modernisation of the hydroelectric power station. Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP is one of the oldest hydropower plants in Kazakhstan, 65-year-old.
This year, the station underwent a procedure for remarking two hydraulic units due to an increase in their capacity. The installed capacity of the plant increased from 331.2 MW to 355.6 MW. In terms of daily production, this is an increase of more than 400,000 kWh. In the period from 2013 to 2017, in accordance with the investment program approved by the Ministry of Energy, three out of four hydraulic units were modernised.
Modernisation projects included the replacement of a hydro generator, a turbine impeller, and step-up transformers. “Modern automated control systems for hydraulic units, stationary monitoring, an ultrasonic system for controlling the flow of water passing through hydraulic turbines were introduced. Outdated excitation system2 replaced by modern. The maximum level of efficiency of the updated turbines now reaches 96.6%, against the previous 90%,” Oleg Izotov, technical director of the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric station, said. In early August of this year, the hydraulic unit No. 4 was put into overhaul. The planned completion time is April 2019.
The overhaul of the hydraulic unit is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the technical operation rules. In addition to the standard volume of the overhaul, the scope of this repair includes the modernisation of the thermal control system of the unit, the introduction of an ultrasonic system for measuring the flow of water through the hydraulic unit, the survey and the calculation of the residual life of hydro turbine equipment. Also, during the overhaul of hydraulic unit No. 4, the power transformers of their own needs will be replaced and the fire and explosion prevention systems will be installed on transformers.
In recent years, in accordance with the implementation of the state program approved by the Government Decree for various groups of electricity producers, the Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP has completed a number of projects, such as the replacement of hydro-mechanical equipment (operating gates, trash grids), implementation of a dam condition diagnostic system construction of a household and engineering building, a central checkpoint, a fire station, the restoration of the protective layer of the dam.
“Being aware of social responsibility towards the community and the staff of the station, in particular, the station management pays great attention to projects aimed at ensuring safety at workplaces, labor protection, and environmental protection and successfully implementing them, along with the station modernisation projects,” the executive director, Tlek Aydabulov said. “Guided by the state program of industrial-innovative development, we are investing in the development of human potential.”
Over the 65-year period of operation, the station produced over 96.4 billion kWh. The highest record figures for the production of electric energy in the entire history of its existence occurred in 2017 - then more than 1 billion 943 million kWh of electric energy was generated, with an average annual output of 1.6 billion kWh.
