Major Breakthrough Achieved in High-End Large Forgings!
Recently, the world’s largest single-unit capacity 500MW-class high-head large-capacity impulse turbine super large wheel hub forging component jointly developed by China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC) and Oriental Motor successfully passed the pre-tempering ultrasonic flaw detection test. This milestone signifies that CHMC has achieved significant breakthroughs in the field of super large austenitic stainless steel forgings for hydropower, including the engineering application of purified steel smelting, shape-forging of thick and large disc-like components, and the coordinated control of the forging process organization and formability. This achievement follows the milestone breakthrough achieved last year in the localization of FB2 rotors and nuclear power welding rotors.
This forging component is a critical core part of the high-head large-capacity impulse turbine, intended for use in the construction of the Zara Hydropower Station, the first installed mega-watt hydropower station project in Tibet. The Zara Hydropower Station is the core power station of the integrated clean energy base in Southeastern Tibet and the only domestic hydropower project currently capable of developing and demonstrating the application of 500MW-class high-head large-capacity impulse units. Its significance lies in achieving national energy security and the strategic development of “exporting Tibetan electricity.”
Through proactive collaboration with upstream units in the industrial chain, China National Heavy Machinery Corporation’s subsidiary, Erzhong Heavy Machinery, jointly tackled the technological challenges of constructing high-head large-capacity impulse units for high-altitude areas. Through systematic research on material fundamental characteristics and manufacturing process technology, continuous breakthroughs were achieved in forging, smelting, and flaw detection of the forging component. This contribution serves to build a new “great power machinery” in China.
