First Elbow Draft Tube Part Was Installed at the Right-Bank Underground Powerhouse of Baihetan Hydropower Station

 Following the installation of major embedded parts at the left-bank underground powerhouse of the Baihetan Hydropower Station, the right-bank powerhouse installation kicked off on August 6, with the first elbow draft tube part installed in No.9 generating unit, nine days ahead of schedule.

The right-bank powerhouse has eight 1000-MW hydro-turbine generating units, each equipped with an elbow draft tube that consists of 13 sections varying in weight between 42.8 to 16.9 tons. The tube features a round inlet 9,750 mm in diameter, and an oval outlet measuring 9,165 in minor axis and 15,559 in major axis. The elbow tube for No.9 generating unit weighed 337.5 tons in total (including internal supporting structure).

The tube sections were coupled before installation. According to construction workers, “while ensuring safe and quality construction, we pre-assembled two tube sections in the installation room, which means fewer joints to be sealed on site and less time needed for construction. However, with the preassembly also comes the additional challenge of turning the part during lifting.” Thanks to coordinated efforts, the first elbow tube part of the No.9 generating unit was moved from the installation room to the designated place of the turbine in merely four hours, an operation that was up to standard.