According to media reports on July 2nd， Harbin Electric Machinery Company has successfully developed and shipped the world’s first 500 MW ultra-large capacity Francis turbine runner. This significant achievement marks a historic breakthrough for China in the field of core equipment for high-head， large-capacity hydroelectric generating units.
This runner boasts a diameter of 6.23 meters， making it the largest Francis turbine runner in the world by physical dimensions.
Often referred to as the “heart” of a hydroelectric generating unit， this runner features a design with 21 precision buckets， standing 1.34 meters tall and weighing approximately 80 tons.
The runner’s core component， the hub forging， is crafted from martensitic stainless steel， setting a new world record for the largest forging of its kind. With respect to key performance indicators， this runner has achieved comprehensive improvements in hydraulic efficiency， operational stability， and pressure-bearing capacity， reaching international leading standards.
This runner will be deployed at the Zala Hydropower Station in Tibet. Constructed by Datang Tibet Energy Development Co.， Ltd.， the Zala Hydropower Station is a key project for the national “Tibetan Electricity Transmission” initiative and is recognized as the world’s most challenging Francis hydropower project currently under construction. The station will be equipped with two 500 MW Francis turbine units， which are the largest in single unit capacity and technically the most difficult in the world.
