Comments on Press Reports comparing Chinese Power equipment with BHEL supplied equipment.

I have started my career as Engineer Trainee in BHEL Haridwar in 1973. I was Erection Engineer and erected 4 out of 5 Turbines of 200 MW at Obra from 1977 to 1982.

Later on I joined NTPC Corporate Office and was involved in Performance Guarantee Tests of Steam Turbines of 200 MW of Singrauli, Korba and Ramagundam. We use to discuss the gap between the Design Heat Rate and actual Station Heat Rate extensively. Being pioneer in India in acceptance testing of Steam Turbines I claim a proficiency and expertise in this area which very few people could match.

I was transferred to Vindhyachal STPS in 1987 and worked in O&M of 6x210 MW Units. In these units I discovered the importance of CW Chlorination in maintaining good Condenser Vacuum which is primarily responsible for Turbine Heat Rate.

I left NTPC in 1996 and worked in DLF Industries, ALSTOM and NASL.

I joined Steag after the company was entrusted with O&M of 4x600 MW IPP at Jharsuguda. I was entrusted with Turbine Maintenance but was also associated with Performance Guarantee Tests of Steam Turbines due to past experience.

My experience at Jharsuguda tells me that Dongfang Steam Turbines are no way inferior to BHEL Steam Turbines and I am shocked to read the following news reports:

Business Standard: CEA shock for Chinese power equipment

The Indian Express: Bhel equipment outperforms Chinese gear on critical parameters, says study

The Financial Express: Bhel equipment outperforms Chinese gear on critical parameters, says study

The Economic Times: Chinese equipment less efficient than supplied by BHEL: Government

I am quoting below from these reports and responding:

The Financial Express: The CEA report found that the operating heat rate of Chinese power equipment works out to 2,719 kcal/kWh compared to 2,520 kcal/kWh for Bhel gear.
The load factor of Chinese equipment averaged 57.2% during the study while it stood at 71.6% for Bhel gear.
Bhel equipment also outdid Chinese hardware on secondary fuel oil consumption. The fuel oil consumption of Chinese equipment was 6.13 ml/kWh while it was just 3.06 ml/kWh for Bhel gear.

The Operating Heat Rate mainly depends upon the Loading Factor. When the Loading Factors are different the comparison is unfair. The Loading Factor does not depend upon the machines but what Load Schedule you get from the grid. The Power Grids are under the control of Government Bodies and give less schedule to Private Companies who are operating the Chinese supplied power plants. Once again the Fuel Oil consumption parameter is based on units generated (kWh) which will be less and the specific fuel oil consumption is more.

As an expert in the field I can say that the report has been prepared just to blackmail the Chinese suppliers and please the Politicians who might be seeking such report.

I am waiting for the Report to be made public and examine it thoroughly.