OREANDA-NEWS. July 07, 2010. In March 2010, a new gas-turbine unit GTPP-16PA was put in commercial operation at Perm CHPP-13 (part of IES Holding's Generation Urals Division). Due to the launch of the new gas turbine unit, Perm CHPP-13 has significantly increased its efficiency in the wholesale electric power and capacity market. During the first 250 hours of operation the gas turbine unit generated over 3.8 million kWh of electricity and 4,741 Gcal of heat.

The Garnet Project for reconstruction of Perm CHPP-13 is a part of IES Holding's Diadem investment program. Due to the implementation of this project, the installed electric power capacity of Perm CHPP-13 has almost doubled: from 18 to 34 MW. Thermal power of the new equipment is 19.2 Gcal/hr. The gas turbine unit parameters provide for up to 8,000 operation hours per year, covering basic (summer) heating loads for hot water supply alongside maximum possible electric power production. The new unit's heat production efficiency is 86.9%.

The installation of the new gas turbine unit and all major related infrastructure facilities at CHPP-13 was completed in spring 2009. Pre-commissioning works that lasted for several months included performance tests of all mechanisms, connections, power transmission lines, turbine control assemblies - hundreds of equipment units in total.

The mandatory pre-commissioning test run of GTPP-16PA was completed in November 2009. After the test run and acknowledgement of equipment performance, the System Operator signed a successful test report. All the necessary permits for industrial operation of the gas turbine unit were received in winter 2009/2010.

The gas turbine unit installed at Perm CHPP-13 was developed and produced in Perm, by OJSC Aviadvigatel and OJSC Perm Engine Company. Thus, the investment project will both enhance the power budget of the Perm Territory and contribute to the development of national power plant engineering.

Perm CHPP-13 of the "Generation Urals" Division is located in the city of Perm, on the right bank of the river, in the Ordzhonikidze district. The power plant supplies electric power to social facilities and numerous local industrial enterprises including OJSC Kamkabel, Russia's largest manufacturer of cables and wires; it also provides heat for Gayva, a nearby large residential area.