OREANDA-NEWS. January 28, 2013.  The fourth new hydropower unit No. 9 has been commissioned at Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP, in accordance with the recovery work schedule. The new hydropower units for Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP are manufactured and installed by Power Machines OJSC. The scope of works includes installation supervision, commissioning and start-up services. 

During reconstruction of hydropower unit No. 9, the turbine wheel space and the pressure conduit flow parts were inspected. The new embedded parts of the turbine were installed; installation and adjustment of the main and auxiliary equipment, automatic control and safety systems were also performed. A gas-insulated series generator set was assembled; the power generating unit transformer group (for power delivery to hydropower units No. 9 and 10) was replaced. During installation works, the power generating unit and hydropower unit equipment underwent all the required tests for interim quality control of the main processes. 

Prior to the commissioning of hydropower unit No. 9, a series of commissioning and start-up tests was also performed, including testing of individual equipment and systems of the hydropower unit, idle running of the turbine, as well as reliability run of the hydropower unit equipment and systems during 72 hours. The tests were conducted according to the program specified by the manufacturer, with continuous control of all the key technological parameters. After having analyzed the results of the reliability run, the working commission consisting of representatives of RusHydro OJSC, Power Machines OJSC, Rostekhnadzor, the general designer Lenhydroproject JSC and the Head Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Republic of Khakassia signed an act permitting commissioning of hydropower unit No. 9. 

Hydropower unit No. 9 has the same functions as hydropower units 1, 7 and 8 commissioned in 2011–2012, regulating the daily workload of the power system in accordance with the pre-determined dispatcher schedules of the Interregional Dispatching Office of Siberia. The output of hydropower unit No. 9 is regulated either in accordance with the daily schedule with hourly changes, or by the switching off of the unit. At the moment, the daily regulation of the effective output of hydropower units No. 1, 7, 8 and 9 can be performed within the range approved by the equipment manufacturer.

Today, the operating capacity of Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP is 3840 MW. Hydropower units No. 1, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 are being operated now. The first reconstructed hydropower units Nos. 5 and 6 have been put out of operation in order to replace their equipment. Repair works of hydropower unit No. 10 are underway; as of now, installation of the embedded parts of the turbine and assembly of the generator stator and rotor have been completed. The upper bracket is being assembled; the process water supply, automatic control and regulation systems and the fire extinguishing systems are being installed. The commissioning of hydropower unit No. 10 is scheduled for March 2013. 

By 2014, Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP will be fully provided with brand new and state-of-the-art equipment having enhanced operational characteristics and meeting all reliability and safety requirements. The new units’ service life is extended up to 40 years, while the maximum hydroturbine’s efficiency amounts to 96.6%. The turbines are also equipped with an advanced process safeguard system, which automatically shuts down a unit in case of unacceptable deviations of the monitored performance parameters.