Litostroj Power, together with our daughter company from Czech Republic - ČKD Blansko Engineering will modernize the famous pumped-storage hydroelectric plant in Austria.
We will replace two turbines in the pumped-storage hydropower plant Limberg I in the well-known tourist destination and skiing resort of Kaprun in the federal province of Salzburg. The water for Limberg I originates mostly from Pasterze glacier of Großglockenr, with its 3.798 m, the highest peak in Austria. Both companies are also preparing a modernization of two turbines at the Häusling power station in Tirol.
“The creative approach of the engineers from Blansko, together with the traditionally high quality of the hydroelectric installations produced by Litostroj Power won the competition and was supported also by Verbund, Austria´s largest electricity utility. Particularly in the case of Häusling we offered a unique solution of new impellers and proved that with them we will be able to increase the efficiency of the turbines,” said Pavel Váňa, the executive director of the ENERGO-PRO group.
The Häusling power station boasts a world primacy with its 744 m high downward flow from the Zillergründl reservoir – a downward flow equalling to two Eiffel Towers. It is the highest downward flow onto a Francis turbine impeller in the world.
The reconstruction of the two 180 MW turbines in Häusling will involve the replacement of the impellers, which aim to increase the efficiency of the power station by more than 1.5 %. The conditions of the Verbund initially required an increase of at least 0.5 %.
“We noted some sceptic voices, saying the efficiency of these turbines cannot be increased above the requirements of Verbund. The team of our colleagues from ČKD Blansko Engineering, led by the director of research Aleš Skoták, Ph.D., developed a new type of impeller, made a model, and proved to the client that it was possible to increase the efficiency even more than anyone expected,” said Jiří Kaňák, the commercial director of Litostroj Power, who is the main contractor in the reconstruction. Other parts of the turbine will not be replaced.