OREANDA-NEWS. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved yet another milestone by commissioning a 160 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) in Rajasthan. The commissioning of the steam turbine on May 1, has enabled the gas turbine, which was commissioned earlier, to operate in combined cycle mode.

Reposing confidence in BHEL's proven technological excellence, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL) had placed the order on the company, for setting up a Frame 9E Gas Turbine-based 160 MW CCPP as an expansion project (Stage III) of Ramgarh power plant in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. The order reinforced BHEL's leadership status in the execution of Gas-based Combined Cycle Power Projects.

With the commissioning of Stage III, the cumulative capacity of Ramgarh CCPP has now reached 273.8 MW, taking the gas based generating capacity of RRVUNL to 603.8 MW. The main plant equipment of all these gas-based units has been supplied and commissioned by BHEL.

Significantly, BHEL has been RRVUNL's major partner in its power generating capacity addition program. BHEL has commissioned 4,344 MW of thermal and gas-based sets in Rajasthan which amounts to 88% of the utility's thermal & gas generating capacity. For RRVUNL, BHEL is also executing the 250 MW Unit 4 at Chhabra TPS, which is expected to be commissioned in May, 2014, and the 2x660 MW super-critical units at Suratgarh TPS.

BHEL's scope of work in the contract envisaged design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of the Main Plant & equipment for the Gas-based power project comprising one Frame 9E Gas Turbine with Generator, one Heat Recovery Steam Generator, one Steam Turbine Generator and Associated Auxiliaries with state-of-the-art Controls & Instrumentation (C&I) system. The equipment for the project was supplied by BHEL's Hyderabad, Trichy and Bangalore plants, while BHEL's Power Sector - Northern Region undertook erection and commissioning of the equipment.

BHEL has fully established state-of-the-art technology for Gas-based Combined Cycle Power Plants with Gas Turbines of ratings up to 290 MW and Coal-based Thermal sets up to 1,000 MW rating. BHEL has so far commissioned more than 15,000 MW of combined cycle gas based sets for the Utility Sector and captive/ industrial applications. To meet customer demand, BHEL has introduced new rating Thermal sets of 150 MW, 270 MW, 300 MW, 525 MW and 600 MW, in addition to 250 MW and 500 MW sets in the sub-critical range. The company has also established technology for Supercritical thermal sets of 660/700/800 MW unit ratings, suited to Indian conditions, using Indian as well as imported coal.

BHEL has been committed to the nation's power development programme and has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian Power Sector by equipping itself by way of contemporary technology, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and skilled technical manpower. Responding to the growth in the nation's demand for power equipment, BHEL has enhanced its manufacturing capacity to 20,000 MW per annum.