Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), in a statement, highlighted its contribution in the recently commissioned Raigarh-Pugalur UHVDC link.
The statement said that BHEL has achieved a major landmark with its equipment enabling record power transmission of 6,000 mw, over the recently commissioned ±800kV, 6,000 MW ultra high voltage direct current (UHVDC) link between the Western Region Grid (Raigarh, Chhattisgarh) and the Southern Region Grid (Pugalur, Tamil Nadu).
BHEL’s scope
For this project, among other equipment and systems, BHEL’s significant contribution included converter transformers, shunt reactors, filter bank capacitors and instrument transformers from its Bhopal Plant and thyristor valves from its Electronics Division, Bengaluru plant.
Second UHVDC project
This is the second UHVDC power transmission project by BHEL. Prior to this, the first of its kind in the world, Agra Converter Terminal for North-East Agra ±800 kV, 6,000 mw, multi-terminal HVDC link was commissioned by BHEL in September 2016 (Bipole-1) and September-2017 (Bipole-2).
HVDC engagement
BHEL has been associated with HVDC projects in India since their inception by establishing the first HVDC link in the country between Barsoor in Chhattisgarh and Lower Sileru in Andhra Pradesh. This project, according to information available with T&D India, was commissioned in two stages – in 1989 and 2013. It is further learnt that HVDC technology was adopted for this project as the two grids involved—Western and Southern—were asynchronous, which means that they operated at different frequencies. Incidentally, the five elements of the National Grid became synchronous in January 2014. Subsequently, BHEL has been involved in several HVDC links like Rihand-Dadri, Chandrapur-Padghe and Ballia-Bhiwadi links, the Central PSU said.
HVDC capabilities
BHEL said that it has established state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities for HVDC products up to 800kV and undertakes turnkey projects from concept to commissioning as an EPC contractor for EHV substations, HVDC converter stations and FACTS solutions, backed by power system studies, the statement said.
Raigarh-Pugalur Link
BHEL said that it has been proudly associated in building the Raigarh-Pugalur HVDC link, a prestigious project of national importance that will supplement power availability in the Southern Grid. AC power generated at the IPPs at Raigarh is converted into DC power for transmitting it over 1,800 km and then converting it back into AC power at the Pugalur end for interconnection with the Southern Grid through the HVDC transmission system. (For more stories on the Raigarh-Pugalur link, click here)
Featured photograph (source: CPRI) shows HVDC equipment under testing. Image for representation only
