Transformer burnt at NTTPS

VIJAYAWADA A major fire accident, a transformer was burnt in the Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) in Ibrahimpatnam mandal on Monday causing a loss of Rs 12 crore. The 500 MW transformer was on a trial run since Monday. Fire and NTTPS personnel immediately rushed to the plant and extinguished the fire averting further damage to other transformers. The transformer belongs to the seventh unit, which is under construction. The NTTPS chief engineer, Mr S. Anjaneya Rao, told this newspaper that the increase of internal temperature of the transformer was the prime reason for the mishap which occurred at 5.55 a.m. Luckily, no casualty or injury was reported in the fire accident. The engineering officials began dismantling the transformer and investigation began into the reason for the accident. The Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), Hyderabad, installed the transformer recently and synchronising began only on Monday. The mishap occurred when the trial run was on at 250 MW production level. The maximum capacity of the transformer is 500 MW, said Mr Anjaneya Rao. The APGenco director, Mr Radhakrishnan, supervised the dismantling work of the transformer. Two other transformers located adjacent to the burnt transformer are safe. With the swift action from the fire department and the NTTPS staff, the fire was confined to a limited area. Meanwhile, the fire accident has no effect on the power production in the thermal station. The six units of the power station produce 1,260 MW of power. The BHEL installed the transformer recently, which is known as R-phase transformer. The chief engineer said another transformer from Bhopalpalli station in Warangal district would be roped in at the NTTPS in place of the ruined transformer. The APGenco director said the mishap occurred due to a technical problem. As per the preliminary estimations, the loss is estimated about Rs 12 crore.