Alstom has delivered the first 700MW turbine runner for the Three Gorges Right Bank, one and a half months earlier than expected by China Three Gorges Project Corporation.
The manufacturing of the runner, including assembly, welding, heat treatment, machining and balancing, was accomplished in a record nine months. This achievement was made possible thanks to Alstom’s local unit in Tianjin, which built a special temporary workshop 6km downstream from the main dam with the specific aim of shortening the delivery time.
Weighing 460 tons, the runner has a height of 4.9m and a diameter of 10.9m. It was part of a contract Alstom won in 2004 for the supply of four hydro turbine and generator units for the Three Gorges Right Bank power house. Delivery is scheduled for completion in August 2007.