BHEL to increase R

New Delhi, Apr 16: State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has said it will further increase its research and development expenditure by at least four times from the current levels to achieve a turnover of 10 billion dollars by 2011-12.

The company has achieved about 14 per cent of its total turnover Rs 2,510 crore during 2006-07, through commercialisation of products and systems developed by way of in-house research and development efforts.

The company has recorded total turnover of Rs 18,702 crore in 2006-07.

The power equipment major has doubled its research expenditure during 2006-07 to over Rs 238 crore - which was nearly 58 per cent more than the previous year and among the highest in the country, a company statement said.

''While the R and D spend has doubled, the turnover from in-house developed products has tripled in the last two years,'' it added.

R and D and technology development are of strategic importance to the company as it operates in a competitive environment where technology is a major factor.

BHEL's R and D programme focuses on areas like state-of-the-art control and instrumentation systems; clean-coal technologies; improved T&D products/ systems; high-efficiency silt-resistant hydro turbines and improved transportation systems.

The company has crafted a 'Strategic Plan 2012', under which the engineering and technology character of the organisation shall also be enhanced with focus on innovation and research and development.

During the fiscal 2006-07, BHEL has established its fourth Centre of Excellence for Surface Engineering, aimed at consolidating its strengths in crucial technology areas.

It has also filed 114 patents and copyrights, which are in productive use in its business.

It has developed new products and systems for various infrastructure sectors of the economy including, a maintenance-free and Brushless Exciter for Hydro Generators; an 1,100 Kilo Watts (kW) Flame proof Squirrel Cage Induction Motor against an export order from PDO, Oman; a Bowl Mill (XRS 943) for installation in blast furnaces among others.

Aimed at increasing passenger hauling capacity by eliminating the need for separate generator coaches, BHEL has developed a new generation 320 kW Traction Alternator with Hotel Load Companion Alternator to be used on Indian Railways' 3600 HP BG Diesel Electric Locomotives.

In conformity with BHEL's concern for society and environment, a more energy efficient single cylinder non-reheat steam turbine for 100 140 Mega Watts (MW) application has been developed, suitable for plants where large amounts of waste heat is available and reheat option is not feasible.

This is the largest single-cylinder steam turbine engineered by BHEL so far. An order has been placed by Tata Steel for a 120 MW turbine.

UNI