CTG's Xiluodu Hydropower Station Expects to Begin Operations in June 2013

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources China (Beijing, China)--The generator rotor of Unit 5 in the left bank powerhouse of China Three Gorges Group Corporation's (CTG) Xiluodu Hydropower Station was erected onto its final position on March 1, 2013, according to an announcement from China Gezhouba Group Mechanical and Electrical Installation Engineering Company Limited (Yichang, Hubei), the project erection contractor, on March 2.

The Xiluodu Hydropower Project, located at the boundary between Leibo County of the Sichuan province and Yongshan County of the Yunnan province, is the second huge hydropower project developed by CTGC 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, each of 770 megawatts (MW). The left-bank underground powerhouse and the right-bank underground powerhouse each are furnished with nine units.

As the heaviest mechanical and electric part of the project, the rotor of Unit 5 weighs about 1,600 metric tons, with a diameter of about 14.1 meters and a height of 3.8 meters. Construction of the Xiluodu Hydropower Station entered its peak period for aspects such as concrete placement, grouting, metal structure and equipment erection in 2012. By the end of 2012, the dam had been build up to 602 meters above sea level. The diversion tunnels, as well as associated nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6 low-level outlets, had been closed smoothly.

Presently, the erection of units in the left bank powerhouse is progressing smoothly. Units 8, 6 and 9 are under testing. Unit 7 is working on the welding of the lower layer of stator winding bars, and the same layer of Unit 4 has passed the dielectric test.

It's expected that the first unit of the Xiluodu Hydropower Station will begin operations in June 2013. A unit commissioned about a month later. Five or six units are expected to be commissioned within this year.

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