"Turboatom" have performed a unique operation of replacing hydraulic valve at Nurekskaya HPP

The equipment has operated at the station for over 40 years and exhausted its resource.

The transportation of hydraulic valve is a particularly difficult process, because it is a rather overall cargo weighing about 600 t and with inside diameter of 4,2 m. Therefore, there was decided to perform all works in terms of the station. The engineering supervisors of OJSC "Turboatom" together with the specialists of "Spetshydroenergomontazh" completed dismantling of equipment, replaced spare parts, seals and bearings, assembled hydraulic valve, tested and put into operation. All repair works lasted for six months. The replacement of hydroturbine runner was carried out at the same time.

According to Aleksandr Linnik, Chief Designer on Hydraulic Turbines, nobody carried out similar works in terms of stations in the world, "This is the first and quite successful experience for us. These activities are aimed at improving the reliability of equipment and will allow to ensure safe operation of hydraulic power plant in future", he said.

Nurekskaya HPP is the largest hydraulic power plant in Central Asia, where 9 Francis hydraulic turbines with a unit capacity of 310 MW and 9 spherical valves manufactured by OJSC "Turboatom" operate. Installed capacity of the power plant is 2,700 MW. The first supplies of the equipment began in 1971.