Long-term service
23 August 2018The Naresuan Dam was built between 1976 and 1985 to control the flow of the Nan River north of the city of Phitsaulok in Thailand. As part of its strategy to increase clean power generation, the Thai government is building a new 8.4MW hydropower plant at the site.
Eurocrane (Asia) was contracted to supply and install the powerhouse crane for the plant. The company has installed similar lifting equipment for several power plants, both for government infrastructure and private sector industrial units.
The main duty of the crane is to service the turbine. Safety, reliability and high accuracy movement are primary requirements. The Verlinde Eurobloc electric wire rope hoist installed at the site has a lifting capacity of 60/12.5t and an 11m span. A very high lifting height of 33m was needed, since the turbine rotor is positioned that far below the level of the crane, and a customised drum length was fitted to reach that demanding height. Removing and re-installing the rotor for maintenance necessitates that it be lifted smoothly to ground level in a single operation. A true vertical lift design was also necessary to keep the hook positioned centrally to ensure accuracy of lift.
