OREANDA-NEWS. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved yet another landmark in its After-Market-Service business by successfully renovating, modernizing and uprating 110 MW Unit-7 at Harduaganj Thermal Power Station (TPS) Plant of Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL). After successfully running for over 30 years, this unit, originally supplied and commissioned by BHEL, was undertaken for Renovation & Modernization (R&M).

Following the R&M, not only was the working life of the machine extended by another 15-20 years, the capacity was also uprated to 120 MW from its original capacity of 110 MW. With this, BHEL has once again showcased its inherent strength of being fully geared for R&M and uprating of old thermal power plants through in-house state-of-the-art technology, engineering capabilities and by incorporating the latest products/systems in renovated units. Significantly, this is the 8th such unit successfully renovated, modernised and uprated by BHEL from its original rating of 110 MW to 120 MW.

The achievement of full load of this unit comes close on the heels of the successful commissioning of Rihand Hydro Unit-3 (50 MW) of Uttar Pradesh Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UPJVNL), following R&M. Notably, the unit was more than 50 years old and supplied by M/s English Electric in 1962. In order to bridge the gap between demand and supply, especially in the context of limited financial resources available and difficulty in land acquisition and environment clearance it has become imperative for the country to look for other options for cheaper and faster generating capacity enhancement.

In this regard, optimum utilization of existing capacity in the country to maximize generation through R&M and life extension (LE) of existing power plants is considered to be the most cost effective option. Of the 205 sets of 110/120/200/210 MW rating supplied by BHEL in the country, about 135 have outlived their designed economic life of 25 years. Of these 135 sets, R&M of 29 sets has already been completed while R&M of 8 sets is in progress. Power utilities would find this an opportunity for capacity uprating and life extension, which would not only improve their performance level in terms of improving efficiency and reducing emissions but also extend their useful life.