DVC’s 500 MW Bokaro Thermal Unit Shut Down After Boiler Tube Leakage
Repairs are underway and power generation is targeted to resume by Monday evening
A 500 MW generating unit at Damodar Valley Corporation’s (DVC) Bokaro Thermal Power Station has been completely shut down following a tube leakage in the boiler, disrupting power generation at the plant.
The technical fault was detected on Friday, following which the unit was shut down at around 2 pm as a safety precaution. DVC officials said power generation from the unit is likely to remain affected for the next two days. The outage could put additional pressure on power supply in Jharkhand as well as Delhi, Punjab, Bihar and other areas receiving electricity through the grid.
Generation fell from 364 MW to 300 MW
According to information from the power station, the unit was generating around 364 MW on Friday morning. At around 1:45 pm, generation fell to approximately 300 MW.
As the output continued to decline, the technical team inspected the unit and confirmed leakage in one of the boiler tubes. The unit was subsequently shut down to prevent further damage and ensure operational safety.
Boiler needs to cool before repairs
Officials said the boiler will require sufficient time to cool down after the shutdown. Maintenance personnel can begin repairing the affected section only after the boiler reaches a safe temperature.
The repair work is expected to be completed within the targeted timeframe. If conditions remain favourable, DVC plans to light up the unit and resume power generation by Monday evening.
Power supply to several states may be affected
The Bokaro Thermal Power Station is an important generating facility in the DVC power network. Electricity generated by DVC is supplied through the national grid to Jharkhand and other regions, including Delhi, Punjab and Bihar.
The shutdown of the 500 MW unit could therefore increase pressure on power availability in the affected areas, particularly if the outage extends beyond the scheduled restoration timeline.
What is boiler tube leakage?
A power plant boiler contains hundreds of metal tubes through which water circulates. Under extremely high temperatures and pressure, the water is converted into steam, which then drives the turbine to generate electricity.
Over time, extreme temperature and pressure, corrosion, erosion or other technical factors can cause cracks or holes to develop in these tubes. This results in the leakage of water or steam, commonly referred to as boiler tube leakage.
When such leakage occurs, the affected generating unit generally has to be shut down to prevent further damage to the boiler and other equipment. The unit can be restarted only after the leakage has been identified, the damaged section repaired and the boiler brought back to safe operating conditions.
