Model 18000 crawler plays crucial role in energy expansion

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Pictured is the Manitowoc 18000 crawler crane, which has a capacity of 660 USt.

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One of India’s largest energy contractors is using a Manitowoc 18000 to help with a major power plant expansion. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd is using the 18000 as lead crane for construction on the Gujarat State Energy Generation plant, a part of India’s initiative to expand its energy infrastructure.

KJ Prabhu, construction manager for BHEL on the GSEG job, said the company is relying on the 18000’s versatility to complete the job.

“We put the Manitowoc 18000 on site in January 2009, and have used it for a huge range of tasks,” he said. “It has erected all the large elements for the expansion, but we also used its excellent boom and luffing jib combination to lift smaller components into places that were difficult to reach.”

TIL, Manitowoc’s dealer for Grove and Manitowoc cranes in India sold the crane to BHEL. The company bought the crane specifically for this project, which is located in Hazira in the Surat area of Gujarat state.

The largest lifts for the Manitowoc 18000 were a 300 t gas turbine and a 250 t generator, with the crane rigged with 48.8 m of main boom. In addition, it placed steel columns weighing 14 t at a 30 m radius. The crane worked with 67.1 m of main boom and 30.5 m of luffing jib for more remote placing of loads, such as modules weighing up to 13 t at heights of up to 30 m. In this configuration, it also placed exhaust stack shells at heights of up to 75 m.

Expansion at the GSEG plant will cover 4 hectares and will deliver a 350 MW combined cycle power plant that comprises a 220 MW gas turbine generator, a 130 MW steam turbine generator and a heat recovery steam generator.

Adding the 350 MW generating capacity will significantly increase the plant’s production capacity, which previously came from two 52 MW gas turbine and a 52 MW steam turbine. All the power the expansion generates will go to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd., a regional utility firm, which will then sell it to local residents and businesses.

KJ Prabhu said demand for power in India is reaching new heights.

“Our company has built power plants in India for over 40 years, but this latest rise in demand is
unlike anything we have ever seen,” he said. “We have a reputation for fast and efficient service, so
we need to rely on equipment like our Manitowoc 18000 to stay on schedule.”