MHI has received a bulk order for 20 sets of vital components of super-critical pressure steam turbines, each having a power-generation capacity of 600 MW, from Harbin Turbine Co., Ltd. (Harbin Turbine) in China. The company, located in Harbin city in Heilongjiang province, is one of China's three largest power-generation equipment manufacturers.

Based upon the agreement between MHI and Harbin Turbine, MHI will supply the key components of steam-turbine facility, including blades of high- and medium- pressure turbines and rotors. Harbin Turbine will produce the remaining auxiliary equipment and assemble the 20 turbines for delivery to four power companies in China, where they will be used for super-critical, coal-fired power generation. Delivery of the key components will commence in May 2004 and continue through July 2006.

Supercritical-pressure turbines are engineered to operate at steam pressures above water's critical point: 22.1MPa and 374.2-C (705.2-F/647.15-K). Compared with power generation at sub-critical pressures, super-critical coal-fired power generation provides higher fuel efficiency and greater environmental compatibility owing to the higher steam temperatures and pressures. For those reasons, demand for supercritical power generation is increasing in China.

The latest order comes as a follow-up to MHI's first order for supercritical power equipment for China received in 2002; under that project, MHI manufactured supercritical-pressure turbines in collaboration with Harbin Turbine for a power plant in Qinbei, Henan province. The new order is attracting widespread attention in China as the second part of what is expected to become an expanding series of orders for supercritical-pressure turbine installations in that country.