UDAIPUR, May 25 (TIWN) : Power crisis across Tripura has worsened as the scheduled 'Complete Shutdown' of the First Unit of OTPC's 726.6mw Combined Cycle Gas Turbine(CCGT) Thermal Power plant has been extended for a couple of days as the Preparation ahead of Performance Guarantee Test(PGT) is yet to be completed, said a top level OTPC official. As per the BHEL's notification the Complete Shutdown was scheduled for 16 days ahead of PGT. But according to TIWN sources, the period has already been extended ; though there is no official briefing on this issue.

 It is learnt that the preparation ahead of the PGT suffered a major setback due to rain on Saturday and Sunday. During these 24 hours the preparation was suffered as the engineers and technicians could not do anything specific. And this compelled the BHEL to extend the preparation.

 A BHEL senior engineer told TIWN, " This is the most crucial time. From 20th May to 28th May the following steps are  completed / in progress":

1) Installation of PG Test instrumentation.

2) Cooling down to enter inside the Heat Recovery Steam Generator(HRSG) and modification of baffled plates

3) High Power Jet/Bullet cleaning of Condenset tubes to remove deposition inside tubes.

4) Removal of Hydrogen from Generator and purging by Carbon-di-oxide(CO2) and enclosure installation for sound reduction."

The engineer said," from 29th May to 1st June the BHEL will go through the following processes:

1) CO2 purging and Hydrozen filling in Generator

2) Gas Turbine load stabilization and base load and Steam Turbine full loading(full load arrangements by OTPC)." He said that if everything goes on satisfactory notes, from 2nd June the BHEL is set to go for Gas Turbine Generator/HRSG /Condenser Pre-Test. On 2nd June the engineers will have an evaluation on the over all progress.

   As per BHEL's official fixures at around 19.30 hrs of 2nd June the process of Dismounting of Gas Turbine PG Test instrumentation is scheduled to be held and it might have been finished by 20.30hrs on 2nd June. The specialists engineers of BHEL for Gas Turbine, Steam Turbine, Heat Recovery Steam Generator and PGT specialists are now working 24×7 to complete the Preparation leading to PGT.

   But TIWN got the authentic information that due to heavy rains for the last 24 hours the entire process has been delayed. And it is now confirmed that PGT will not start before 4th of June, adds a high ranking OTPC official. OTPC officials are now conducting crucial meetings with the BHEL's Specialist Engineers for PGT. Meanwhile newly appointed District Magistrate of Gomati  Sonal Goel visited the OTPC plant at around 12.15 hours on Sunday. She held meetings with OTPC and BHEL officials.