Kakrapara atomic plant to run on BHEL steam generators

28 March 2009

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved a significant breakthrough in the nuclear power segment with the first-ever order for steam generators for the  700 MWe nuclear sets worth Rs345 crore to the Kakrapara Atomic Power Project.

For the first time in India, NPCIL is installing two units of 700 MWe rating at KAPP, the highest rating developed indigenously, based on pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR).

KAPS-1 went critical on 3 September 1992 and began commercial electricity production a few months later on 6 May 1993. KAPS-2 went critical on 8 January 1995 and began commercial production in September 1995.

In January 2003 the CANDU Owners Group (COG) rated KAPS-1 as the world-wide best PHWR of its class. Its onstruction cost was Rs1,335 crore.

Won against stiff competition, the order has been placed on BHEL by Nuclear Power Corporation of India limited (NPCIL) for Kakrapara Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in Gujarat.

The order envisages manufacture and supply of four steam generators, for use in the primary cycle of the Nuclear Power Plant for one reactor of 700 MWe unit rating.

The 700 MWe steam generator is based on the design developed by BHEL for the first 540 MWe steam generators installed at Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant. BHEL had also earlier supplied steam generators for 220 MWe nuclear reactors installed by NPCIL.