Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved a major milestone with the despatch of its 40th nuclear steam generator to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). The steam generator, to be installed in NPCIL’s Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP), was flagged off recently from BHEL’s Trichy plant in the presence of senior officials of BHEL and NPCIL. BHEL has been catering to the nation’s Nuclear Programme since 1976 by way of design, manufacture, testing and supply of critical nuclear components like reactor headers, steam generators, other heat exchangers and pressure vessels.
The first stage of the indigenous nuclear power program of the country has attained maturity with 18 operating Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). Twelve PHWRs accounting for 74 per cent of the nuclear power capacity are equipped with BHEL-supplied steam turbine generator sets (10 units of 220 MW each and two units of 540 MW). Notably, BHEL is the only Indian company associated with all the three stages of the Indian Nuclear Power Programme-the first stage PHWR, the second stage Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) and the third stage Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) and has been a partner for over four decades in the development of the indigenous Nuclear Power Programme since its inception.
