Vitebsk HPP: Report from the most powerful hydroelectric power station in the country
The facility is truly impressive. The Western Dvina River now flows into the created reservoir, the banks of which are reinforced and landscaped. The HPP offers a beautiful view of the riverbed with picturesque surroundings. All this is accompanied by the sound of water passing through the turbines, reminding man of its power.
– The Vitebsk HPP is the most powerful in the country. The hydraulic structure consists of four turbines with a total capacity of 40 megawatts. Transformation and transmission of electricity to the grid is carried out through the substation installed here, – says leading HPP engineer Maxim Baranov, who met us at the entrance.
The hydraulic structure has been operating in test mode since the end of December. First, the units were launched one by one for a 72-hour test, and then they were switched to a 720-hour trial run.
– In spring, while the water level was rising, all turbines were operating at full capacity in test mode, and excess water was even being discharged. During the spring, the system for cleaning water from debris carried by the river proved particularly relevant. Currently, the station is generating the power output allowed by the water level in the Western Dvina; specifically, 2 turbines of 8.5 megawatts each are operational, – says Maxim Germanovich, accompanying us around the HPP. Chinese workers are still employed in some areas here. – The acceptance certificate has been signed, and there are no significant remarks affecting the operation of the main equipment from the general contractor; only individual nuances regarding landscaping remain.
We remind you that the general contractor, as well as the equipment supplier, was the Chinese company CNEEC. The majority of workers from China have already left the construction site; warehouses and the concrete plant have been dismantled, and the temporary settlement for accommodation is being taken down. However, some Chinese specialists still remain at the station for warranty service.
– We have already learned to understand each other without translation, – notes Maxim Baranov with a smile. – "Ni hao" is heard here no less often than "hello."
Those Vitebsk specialists who underwent a two-week internship in China at HPPs with similar equipment have also learned some Chinese. Among them is **station shift supervisor Sergey Tumovich**. Before that, he worked as a dispatcher for the Vitebsk rural district of electric networks, and has a total of 16 years in the energy system.
– Our station has new equipment for Belarus, there are no analogues in the country, so there are no ready-made solutions. The internship helped us a lot to figure it out, there were 10 of us, including the station chief, shift supervisors, foremen, and an electronics engineer, – says Sergey Vladimirovich. – We lived on the territory of the HPP. Before lunch, there were theoretical classes, and then practical training, we watched how the station functions. The principle is the same as ours, but the Chinese one has four times the power. Two translators helped us. And the people who directly service the HPP trained us. The most important thing I learned for myself is that attentiveness and knowledge of the equipment are necessary for successful work.
A total of 30 people work at the Vitebsk HPP under the leadership of Oleg Trashkov. The work is responsible, the facility is unique, so the personnel selection was carried out with particular care, taking into account the experience and education of the employees. In addition to the internship in China, future employees familiarized themselves with the equipment during its installation to know everything from the inside. The Belarusian contractors involved in the construction of the station also provided relevant explanations. All necessary living conditions have been created for the personnel, including equipped dining rooms, showers, etc.
A separate administrative building is located next to the navigation lock, from where personnel will manage it. This facility was also created as part of the HPP construction investment project for the passage of vessels. This is a relevant issue for the Vitebsk river port. In addition, the navigation lock will be used for the passage of fish during the spawning period. It is worth noting that fishing is currently prohibited on the river within 800 meters of the dam. However, great prospects are opening up for recreation on the banks of the reservoir. Its bed stretches from the dam upstream all the way to Surazh.
– 9 pumping stations have been installed along the entire perimeter of the reservoir, with drainage pipes near them to prevent flooding; everything is regulated automatically, – reports the leading engineer of the HPP. – In addition, along this entire stretch, we have carried out bank protection and landscaping, repaired the access roads to the Western Dvina, and in Surazh, we have reconstructed the ferry crossing, the access road to it, and installed lighting. I think people will appreciate these transformations.
IMPORTANT
"Construction of the Vitebsk HPP on the Western Dvina River in the Vitebsk region" is an investment project of RUP "Vitebskenergo" in cooperation with the Chinese company CNEEC. The expected annual electricity generation of the station will be 138 million kWh.
Olga Maslovskaya. Photos by Dmitry OSIPOV. "Vitebskiye vesti".