China Gezhouba Group Completes Wet Startup Test for Key Unit at CTG's Xiluodu Hydropower Station

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources China (Beijing, China)--The wet startup and over-speed test for the first unit (Unit 6) in the left bank powerhouse of China Three Gorges Group Corporation's (CTG) Xiluodu Hydropower Station was completed on June 29, 2013, according to an announcement from China Gezhouba Group Mechanical and Electrical Installation Engineering Company Limited (Yichang, Hubei), the project erection contractor and a subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Corporation (Beijing), on June 29, 2013.

As reported, the test kicked off on the night of June 28, 2013. Following the gradual increase of the unit speed to 25%, 50% and 75%, the unit reached 100% of its nominal speed, where it was maintained for three hours. The over-speed test was then performed during the early morning of June 29, 2013. During the test, various operation-monitoring indicators were rated at an "excellent" level.

Unit 6 is a 770-megawatt (MW), Francis-type hydraulic turbine generating unit manufactured by Harbin Electrical Machinery Company Limited (Harbin, Heilongjiang). Erection of the unit kicked off on October 27, 2011. On September 22, 2012, the generator rotor was erected onto its final position. Mechanical erection and dry testing for the unit were completed on June 23, 2013. Tailrace filling began on June 24, 2013. On June 28, the unit started up.

The Xiluodu Hydropower Project, located at the boundary between Leibo County of Sichuan province and Yongshan County of Yunnan province, is the second huge hydropower project developed by CTG on the Changjiang River. The project mainly comprises a 278-meter-high concrete double curvature arch dam, the spillway, the power diversion works and the two underground powerhouses located at both banks with a total planned capacity of 13.86 GW, including 18 huge hydraulic turbine generating units of 770 MW each. The left-bank underground powerhouse and the right-bank underground powerhouse are each furnished with nine units.

So far, the project has four units that have achieved mechanical completion with dry test completed. According to the schedule, 10 units in the project will begin operations within this year, accounting for more than 40% of the capacity of new hydropower units planned to be commissioned within this year.

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