There are eight turbogenerators in the turbine room of the main building. They work without stopping. Gas is used as fuel. In huge boilers, water turns into steam, heated to 550 degrees, and under pressure falls on the turbine blades.
“During the inter-heating period, we generate about 30-40% of the electricity from the entire energy system of Belarus,” said Kirill Matsarsky, chief engineer of Lukoml SDPP.
Less gas, but more effect. According to this principle, power units operate after modernization. The ninth is generally unique in Belarus. It was built on a turnkey basis by Chinese investors. It saves up to a third of fuel. Experts say that Lukoml Power Plant is one of the most modern in the post-Soviet space.
“The equipment is in good condition, all power units can operate without restrictions, at full capacity, we have two power units undergoing scheduled repairs, by the way, so that everything works smoothly in the future,” added Andrey Stepanov, deputy chief engineer for repairs at Lukoml SDPP.
The SDPP recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Although, even now it is one of the largest engineering structures in the country. The pipes are 250 meters high. But the power of the SDPP is not only in scale, but also in capacity. Nine power units produce almost three thousand megawatts of electricity.
This is even more than Belarusian nuclear power plant will be able to give to the network when both reactors are put into operation. By the way, Lukoml SDPP will help the BelNPP operate. The new boiler house was specially equipped with electric boilers. At night they will take away the surplus energy produced by the nuclear reactors in Ostrovets.
“To ensure its operation, we need to load equipment. We made a decision in the power industry to build several electric boilers so that the station would be loaded at night,” said Vladimir Burak, head of the boiler and turbine shop at Lukoml SDPP.
The plant annually converts two billion 800 million cubic meters of gas into electricity. And although the figure is gradually decreasing, many economists consider this pleasure expensive for the country. But Lukoml GRES is a strategic facility. After the commissioning of the NPP, it will continue to work. Energy consumption in the country is growing every year, and there must be an alternative to the atom.
On December 22, Belarusian power engineers will celebrate their professional holiday. About 70 thousand people are employed in this area today.
