Alstom launches new blade for nuke steam turbines

Alstom SA, the French maker of power equipment and high-speed trains, unveiled its very long last-stage blade for nuclear steam turbines in Shanghai on Thursday.

This last-stage blade, the LP75, is used in the low-pressure section of Alstom's Arabelle nuclear steam turbine. It is the longest in the world and it has the largest exhaust area of all such products on the market. The last-stage blade is known as one of the key turbine parts, and the quality of a last-stage blade determines the stability and safety of a turbine's operation.

Alstom's new product was unveiled shortly after China decided to restart nuclear-power projects after a one-year moratorium. After the devastating nuclear leakage that took place at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi reactor last March, China suspended approval of new nuclear plants and launched a nationwide safety inspection of the country's nuclear power stations.

On Oct 24, the State Council discussed and approved safety and development plans of nuclear power plants for the 2011-20 period, stating that China will resume normal construction of nuclear power plants steadily and gradually. The meeting also stressed for the first time that China won't construct nuclear power plants in inland areas.

The restarted nuclear plan is in line with the nation's efforts to expand power generation capacity. Philippe Anglaret, Alstom's vice-president of nuclear business development, said China's electricity demand will grow 8.8 to 9 percent a year over the next decade.

"The new last-stage blade, along with the existing two sizes, the LP57 and L69, will be able to serve all kinds of needs for nuclear steam turbines operated in China from the warmest south to the coldest north," Anglaret said.

As an update of Alstom's existing LP69 turbine blade, the LP75 will improve performance and achieve the best possible efficiency for any nuclear steam turbine. The product will be able to increase 10 megawatts of output, which is enough to provide the yearly electricity consumption of 60,000 Chinese households and generate 4 million euros ($5.1 million) of additional revenue annually, according to Alstom's data.