SM Ramanathan Executive Director BHEL, Bhopal on Sunday inaugurated the largest vertical Kaplan runner manufactured in India for Polavaram Hydro Electrical Plant. On this occasion Shri V S Rao, General Manager (Hydro), Rajesh Kumar Agrawal General Manager (SOM), G P Baghel General Manager (Quality), Shri Alok Sengar General Manager (Fabrication) and Manoj Nilamwar AGM & HOD (WTM) were present. The runner has been manufactured & assembled by Bhopal unit's Water Turbine Manufacturing Division using state-of-the-art technology.
The runner has a rated height of 27 meters, speed of 100 rpm, diameter of 6.85 meters, height of 4.2 meters and weighs 125 tonnes. Each runner has 5 nos. runner blades, making it the largest Vertical Kaplan runner in India.
BHEL, Bhopal will supply 12 units, each with a capacity of 80 Megawatt. BHEL, Bhopal is leading manufacturer in the supply of hydro turbines. Ramanathan in his address said that "This runner is a critical component for the Polavaram Hydro Electrical Plant and we are proud to be manufacturing it in India".