L&T & Mitsubishi tie-up to make super-critical steam turbines, generators in India

05 November 2007

This follows a technology licensing and technical assistance agreement for manufacturing super-critical turbines and generators, signed between L&T Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.

Supercritical turbines use higher steam temperatures and pressures than sub-critical pressure power generation, and are more fuel-efficient and environment friendly. Coal-based plants using super critical technology reduce coal consumption relative to power output thus reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions can be reduced by roughly 2.5 per cent.

An integral component of energy efficient coal based power plants, supercritical turbines are expected to meet the demand-supply gap for power plant equipment as envisaged in the country''s plan for a mega ramp up in power generation capacity using super-critical technology.

However, supercritical generation requires more sophisticated technology in equipment design to withstand the high temperature and pressure levels, and machining of high-strength component materials is a complex task, as they are engineered to operate at steam pressures above the critical point of water: 22.12MPa and 374.15°C (705.5°F/647.3K).

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has vast experience in these systems, having already delivered approximately 70 units in Japan and abroad.

L&T says the establishment of the joint venture represents a further strengthening of its already established relationship with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It already has a joint venture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for manufacturing super critical boilers.