India successfully completes online testing of 765kV transformer
- September 19, 2017
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The Indian electrical equipment industry recently crossed a new milestone when the newly-commissioned National High Power Test Laboratory Pvt Ltd (NHPTL) successfully tested a 765kV power transformer at its Bina test centre in Madhya Pradesh.
A senior official of NHPTL confirmed that NHPTL has successfully commissioned its grid-based 765kV class state-of-the-art Short Circuit Testing Laboratory at Bina, Madhya Pradesh. The first commercial short circuit test on a 765kV class transformer was conducted on September 11, 2017. With respect to online testing, this is indeed the first instance of its kind in the world.
NHPTL—a five-way joint venture between NTPC, NHPC, Power Grid Corporation of India, Damodar Valley Corporation and Central Power Research Institute—began commercial operations in on July 1, 2017, when it completed the short-circuit testing of a 400kV transformer.
In an earlier interaction with T&D India, R. Ranjan, CEO, NHPTL observed that the new laboratory will help save significant amount of foreign exchange. The lab will also help India help earn foreign exchange, given that facilities of NHPTL will also be availed by neighbouring countries.
“The test facility will save foreign exchange. With the commencement of commercial operations of the facility, there is no need to send the transformers to foreign test laboratory. In terms of saving on foreign exchange, whatever is the (sales) turnover of NHPTL with respect to 400kV class and 765kV class transformers, shall be the saving of foreign exchange in future. The test services of NHPTL may also be utilized by SAARC countries, ASEAN & Middle East countries. This will also have lower testing and shipping cost as compared to the testing facilities in other countries. Hence, the facility will also earn foreign exchange,” was how Ranjan put it in an exclusive exchange with T&D India.
NHPTL, a new-age testing laboratory for electrical equipment, is the first online grid-based testing facility in the world, for equipment up to 765kV level. NHPTL is expected to complement the working of existing local laboratories like CPRI and ERDA.
[Photo shows front view of NHPTL’s high voltage transformer (HVTR) cell equipped to handle transformers up to 765kV]
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Exclusive interview with R. Ranjan, CEO, NHPTL