OREANDA-NEWS. On October 4, cargo aircraft An-124-100 “Ruslan” arrived from St. Petersburg to Bratsk; it delivered a new impeller for the water-wheel No.17 of Bratsk HPS, the press service of Irkutskenergo reported. A special road-train was used for transportation of the impeller to the place of destination. This is the second impeller made by Silovye Mashiny Concern ("Power Machines"). Its diameter equals 5.58 meters, height is about 3 meters, weight amounts to 92 tons. Re-equipment will result in the increase in capacity of each impeller up to 255 megawatt that will allow to increase production of the electric power  at higher efficiency.

The contract for delivery of six impellers for modernization of hydraulic turbines of Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station was signed between JSC Silovye Mashiny and JSC Irkutskenergo in October 2004 (the first impeller for the hydraulic unit No.16 of BHPS was delivered to Bratsk on October 6, 2006 also by a special flight by plane An-124 “Ruslan”). The reconstruction of hydraulic units with replacement of impellers is carried out within the limits of the investment program of JSC Irkutskenergo for increase of the equipment's operational efficiency at the station.

According to the contract with JSC Silovye Mashiny, the first six impellers will be replaced, which were mounted and started up during the lowered pressure period before filling of the water basin up to the design mark. Test of the impeller for the hydraulic units No. 16 showed that its maximum operational efficiency factor equals 95.18 % at the head of 100 m. The check was held by independent experts from Slovenia during 13 hours.

According to the terms of the contract, Silovye Mashiny should install one impeller a year at Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station in 2006-2007, and two impellers a year in 2008-2009, as well as carry out the chief supervision over installation of the equipment. Delivery of the third impeller for the next power unit of the station is scheduled for January 2008. The total price of the contract is 395 million rubles.