NTPC Ramagundam

This stage consists of three units(Unit-1, Unit-2, Unit-3) each with a generation capacity of 200 MW. The turbines for these three units were manufactured by The Ansaldo Energia Ltd. The construction began in the late 1970s and these units have performed well over a long period setting many records regarding maintenance and generation over the other two stages.BUT stage (1,2,3) cwp motors are manufactured by BHEL and all motors are manufactured by Ansaldo. S-I coal mill motors are 240 KW and PA fans are 400 KW.

This stage again consists of three units (Unit-4, Unit-5, Unit-6) each with a generation capacity of 500MW. The turbines for these three units were manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited(BHEL).

Outside view of STAGE-III (Unit#7)

This stage comprises only one unit (Unit - 7). This is a first of its kind in South India being a computer operated unit. A wide disparity may be seen between the control rooms of the other two stages and this computerised unit. To this day, many Power plant engineers train in this unit to upgrade themselves to this new mode of operation. This unit also has the tallest chimney in India (height: 275 metres).

As NTPC Ltd. is a Public Sector Undertaking(PSU), the generation is almost uniformly distributed to 5–6 states all of them sharing about 20–25 percent of the Generation. The States include:

• Andhra Pradesh
• Telangana
• Tamil Nadu
• Kerala
• Karnataka
• Maharashtra

The substation is the place where the station last takes care of the power it produces. The switchyard links the power generated to the southern power grid. The major transmission points are:

• Nagarjunasagar
• Chandrapur
• Hyderabad
• Khammam

The power station gets its water periodically released from the SRSP- Sriram Sagar project. This water is stored in the balance reservoir. The water level in the balance reservoir is monitored daily.

BOBRN class hopper cars freight rakes used by Indian Railways

NTPC Ramagundam is a Thermal Power Station and hence uses coal. This coal is available at a large scale from the Singareni Coal mining company nearby and is transported using the MGR (Merry-go-round) system wherein, a train comes on one rail route, delivers coal and returns on another route. The hopper wagons arriving by this route are taken for coal collection wherein a mechanism provided underneath the wagons opens on application of air pressure and drops the coal it is carrying. A separate department (MGR Dept.) handles this process.

Coal also arrives by the Indian Railways. The open wagons are routed via Ramagundam railway station to the separate plant line and these wagons arrive at the wagon tippler. The wagons arriving in this manner must be tilted at the wagon tippler to unload the coal as they do not have the drop mechanism underneath.

The station also requires various oils for the following purposes:

• Turbine oil (SP-46)for turbine lubrication
• HFO, Heavy fuel oil for boiler start-up
• Diesel for DG sets (Power backup)
• Other oils for various hydraulic controls and circuits

These are periodically purchased as per requirement from the Indian oil corporation IOCL establishment nearby.

The operation department has the maximum number of employees. It takes care of operation of the various equipments and controls in the plant. The operation department takes care of the unit control rooms(UCBs). A power plant operates 24×7 so, the operation department works in shifts to take care of the units at all times.

This is the largest department under the Maintenance section. This department takes care of all the electrical aspects of the plant. It takes care of the following sections

Switchyard of NTPC Ltd., Ramagundam

• Switchyard
• Generator
• Generator Transformer
• Conveyor motors and other motors
• All power transmissions

Civil Maintenance takes care of all the civil activities in the plant such as non-mechanical constructions, maintenance of locations, scrap removal and ensuring a proper working condition of minor equipments.

This dept. takes care of the coal transport to the plant.

This dept. takes care of all coal handling processes.

• Coal collection
• Coal storage
• Coal crushing
• Coal convey system
• subsequent milling

This dept. has the following sections
Boiler Maintenance

• Boiler feeders
• Primary and secondary air pumps
• Boiler feed pumps
• Boiler core parts

Turbine Maintenance

• Turbine core parts
• Turbine governing system

This department deals with the maintenance of various control devices and instruments. It is considered to be a part of the maintenance section. It has got the following sections. 1.Boi 3.Turbine C&I

• HR
• Finance
• Materials and contracts
• IT...etc...

The township has three schools. St.Claire High school, Kendriya Vidyalaya|Kendriya Vidyalaya, NTPC Ramagundam and the Sachdeva school of excellence (formerly Chinmaya Vidyalaya).

The township has a main shopping centre and Four small shopping centres where the residents may shop for groceries and other regular needs.

The township is well facilitated with banking(The State Bank of India with an on-site ATM), postal services, telephone and internet services(BSNL), adequate water supply, 24×7 electricity right from the plant, civil services and its own security.

TSRTC-Godavarikhani bus depot runs city and long distance buses from NTPC busstop to Ramagundam railway station and various neighbourhood areas.

There are two Guest houses. Jyothi bhavan for executives, Godavari Bhavan(Field Hostel) for other employees, students and trainees and Satavahana Restaurant for the families. These are maintained by the Indian Coffee House employees and are equipped with dining facilities thus forming as restaurants for the township residents.

The township has beautiful parks namely the Ambedkar park, the Chacha Nehru park, the priyadarshini park and other small parks.