CTG-owned Baihetan hydropower plant finishes hoisting 10th rotor

Baihetan hydropower plant, owned by China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), announced on June 28 that it has successfully installed the rotor for its No.12 power unit, the 10th rotor hoisted for the massive power plant.

"The quality of rotor hoisting is critical to the long-term safe and stable operation of the power unit," said Kang Yonglin, director of the engineering and construction department of Baihetan hydropower project under China Three Gorges Construction Engineering Corporation, a subsidiary of CTG. "We worked with Harbin Electric Machinery Company Limited, the manufacturer of our power units, and other suppliers to ensure the quality and precision as we assembled the rotor."

The rotor is a rotating component of the hydraulic generator. When put in operation, the rotor rotates to produce rotating magnetic field which cuts through the stator winding, producing magnetic induction and thus outputting electric power. The rotor hoisted on the right bank of Baihetan hydropower plant weighs 2,295 tons, making it the heaviest of all core components being installed in the project.

"The on-site testing shows the rotor of No.12 power unit was hoisted into the precise position, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent installation and commissioning of the power unit," said Kang.

Baihetan hydropower plant has eight generators, each with a capacity of 1 GW, on the left and right banks of the river respectively. With an installed capacity of 16 GW, it will top the global hydropower industry in terms of installed capacity for a single unit. It put its first two units into operation on June 28, 2021 and is on track to install and commission the remaining units. It is expected to be fully operational by July 2022.