Alstom successfully delivers worlds first self-closing ring gate system to Ahai dam in China
Alstom successfully delivers worlds first self-closing ring gate system to Ahai dam in China
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Tianjin Alstom Hydro Co. Ltd. (TAH) has successfully delivered the worlds first self-closing electronic ring gate control system to the Ahai hydro power station in China, representing a major technical advance for the safety of the dam.
The system supplied by Alstom is a unique innovation that boasts the worlds first electronic ring gate control system with hydraulic synchronisation meaning that in an emergency, the system can close by itself, cutting the flow of water to stop the turbine.
The system is extremely reliable, offering easy operation and maintenance, high precision and outstanding safety compared with traditional ring gate systems. The process of model and product development, design, manufacture, assembly and testing took just 8½ months and is the result of effective collaboration between Tianjin Alstom Hydro Co. Ltd (TAH) and the Alstom research and development centre in Grenoble, France.
The Ahai dam, owned by Yunnan Jinsha River Hydropower Co. Ltd, is currently under construction and comprises 5×400 MW Francis hydro turbine generator units, for which the five turbines are being supplied by Alstom under a contract worth RMB 885 million (approximately 88.5 million). The first unit will be commissioned in spring 2012.
With a diameter of 10 metres, a height of 2.6 metres and weighing 110 tonnes, the Ahai ring gate is the biggest one in the world.
The project milestone is another testimony to Alstoms hydro power technology, which is leading the global hydro equipment market. The successful application of this revolutionary ring gate control system and positive test results will ensure the continued successful delivery of the Ahai project to our customer, said Richard Yeung, Head of Alstom Power China.
As one of Chinas leading hydro equipment producers, Alstom is involved in all the countrys major hydro power projects including Three Gorges Dam (14×700 MW units), Guanyinyan (3×600 MW units), Liyuan (4×600 MW units) and Xianjiaba (4×800 MW units). The 800 MW turbines designed, engineered and manufactured by Alstom for Xianjiaba are the worlds largest hydro turbines ever manufactured to date.
Tianjin Alstom Hydro is Alstoms largest hydro power manufacturing base and has long enjoyed a leading postion in Chinese and other Asian markets. To further expand TAHs production capacity and meet growing market demands, Alstom inaugurated a new hydro power manufacturing site in November 2010, capable of delivering up to 30 turbine and generator units per year with outputs ranging from 20 MW to 1000 MW.
Press Contacts
Li Ding - Tel: +86 10 84 60 9338, li.ding@crn.alstom.com
Susanne Shields - Tel: +33 1 41 49 2722, susanne.shields@power.alstom.com