Pulse of steel machines
Employees of the electrical machine shop are responsible for the rhythmic, uninterrupted operation of the power equipment at the Kapshagai HPP named after Sh. Chokin
This is the main structural unit of the station. The workshop employs 63 specialists. The electrical machine shop (EMS) consists of hydromechanical and electrical production sections, and service units – an electrical laboratory and a communications and computer technology group. The production structure of the workshop is dynamic, it changes with the development of equipment and technology, an increase in the level of production organization, etc.
In 2020, the Kapshagai hydroelectric power station named after Sh. Chokin turned 50 years old. EMC specialists, as general practitioners, must constantly maintain the performance of the no longer young, but still very strong “organism”. Timely diagnostics, correct operation, premature identification of dangerous defective components, and a specialized repair company are systematically required.
Happy by calling
Mendygali Rushanov has been working at the station for more than 15 years, and has been heading the Electrical Machine Shop for the last three years.
— Since childhood, I have had an interest in equipment and learning new things, and it was in the electric power industry that these two lines connected for me. I was lucky, I started my career as an electrician of the 3rd category in the Electrical Machine Shop. I immediately felt that this was my calling. From the first days of work, I carefully studied the power plant equipment and improved my knowledge and skills, gaining vast experience. I remember well my first day at work, the tour of the station. What impressed me most then was when we took a freight elevator down 20 meters underground and I saw the mechanisms at work. My mentor was Vladimir Viktorovich Gulyaev, he is now retired. Vladimir Viktorovich passed on his invaluable experience and knowledge to me, I still keep in touch with him.
My workdays are not the same. Various tasks are solved every day, because our workshop ensures reliable and trouble-free operation of all equipment in the Electrical Machine Shop. I remember the event when, after being appointed to the position of head of the Electrical Machine Shop, a responsible task was assigned to eliminate the technological violation of hydraulic unit No. 1. Thanks to the cohesion of the team and the fresh perspective of our team, we were able to find the cause of the malfunction and put the unit into operation.
The most valuable thing at the station for me personally is high professionalism, mentoring, honesty and trusting relationships between employees and colleagues.
The key role in the work of the workshop belongs to the working personnel.
Fire Master
This is the name of Yuri Vasilyevich Fedorov, a 6th category electric and gas welder in the Electrical Machine Shop. He has been working at the station for 24 years. He is planning to retire in June.
— For me, the most valuable thing at the station is the team. It’s like a second family, with all the shortcomings and advantages of each. I got a job at the Kapshagai HPP named after Sh. Chokin in 1997, having worked at Spetsgidroenergomontazh since 1975 and for many years, I came and worked at the HPP as a contractor. I chose my profession following the example and footsteps of my older brother – I immediately wanted to be a welder.
I still remember my first working day at the Kapshagai hydroelectric power station – it was in August 1975, I really liked this place and the nature around it.
I especially remember the event when in 1979 we went down into the impeller chamber and saw that the fairing of the impeller housing hub was missing – a part weighing about 2672 tons. Thanks to the well-coordinated work of the guys, we found it in the outlet channel and fixed the breakdown.
I like the work because of the lack of routine; each task of the new day is different from each other. Without welding and hot work, many systems will stop working. My responsibilities include maintaining the welding station equipment in good condition, and then the task for the working day may be related to any mechanical equipment at the station. The profession of a welder is about attention to detail and perseverance. Of course, welders will be in demand for many years to come and will not be replaced by either robots or automatic machines.
If I were to start over, of course, I would choose this profession – the profession of a welder.
True to the cause
Alexander Zotov, a mechanic for repairing hydraulic turbine equipment of the 6th category of the Electrical Machine Shop, has been working at the station for 21 years.
— My first mentor was Yuri Gennadievich Sudakov, a 6th grade electric and gas welder, now he is retired, but I still remember him. On his first day at work, he took me around the station grounds. I remember the beauty of the territory, roses everywhere, green spaces, cleanliness and order, calm and cheerful people, busy with their work.
I was very interested in learning about the structure of hydraulic units. But I was particularly impressed by the major overhaul involving the removal of the rotor of hydraulic unit No. 1 in 2012. During this time, I learned a lot about disassembling and reassembling a hydraulic unit. I believe that only those who are not afraid of physical labor and great responsibility remain in our profession.
I do not regret that I chose this specialty. I think that my profession as a mechanic will always be in demand.
In its place
Nikolai Bykov is one of these workers. He is an electrician for repairing electrical equipment of power plants of the 6th category of the Electrical Machine Shop. He got a job at the Kapshagai hydroelectric power station named after Sh. Chokin in 2008.
— From the age of 14, I became interested in radio and electrical appliances – this served as the basis for choosing my profession. If you love your profession, then work is always interesting. Progress does not stand still, new equipment appears and I am very interested in studying it. My first working day at the station was memorable for the fact that I was repairing a piece of equipment previously unknown to me. The main thing in the work is its high-quality execution.
Anyone can master this profession, all they need is aspiration and desire. Professionals in their field will always be in demand.
The most valuable thing for me at the station is the team, my work colleagues. After all, only thanks to the knowledge and experience of a well-coordinated team is it possible to maintain all equipment in working condition.
Time does not stand still. Young specialists help us look at familiar things and work mechanisms from a different perspective.
Childhood dream
Young specialist Erkebulan Bayanbay, senior foreman for repair and operation of the Electrical Machine Shop, got a job at the station in March 2015. On the first day of work, he was greatly impressed by the machine room of the production building with a high ceiling and two powerful overhead cranes, an area with a picturesque landscape.
— From childhood, like any resident of Kapshagai, every time passing by the Kapshagai hydroelectric power station, he fixed his gaze on the area with wires closed by a fence, the river flowing from a huge building located at the foot of the cliff and in rare cases, could see a couple of people on street, going about their business.
Today Erkebulan Bayanbay, senior foreman of the Electrical Machine Shop. The peculiarity of his work is planning repairs and materials for all station equipment, as well as monitoring and compliance with technological processes. According to Yerkebulan, his job requires the ability to clearly express thoughts in writing, the ability to speak, solve problems, work in a team and, of course, emotional intelligence – to apply one’s knowledge in real situations.
In the future, Erkebulan believes, specialists in this profession will be in demand, since the senior foreman connects accounting, the economic sector and logistics with the production processes of the station.
If I were offered to start everything over again, I would undoubtedly choose this profession, since I see the dreams of my childhood in it.
I consider the most valuable thing at the station to be the team, because thanks to them and coordinated work, our workshop overcomes any current situation with dignity.
Benefit to society
This is a calling, says Aidar Beisenov, chief technologist at the EMC. He is responsible for the supervision of lifting mechanisms. She has been working at the Aydar station for 4 years.
— During my school years, I wanted to become a banker, an actor, and a fighter. After graduating from school, the time has come to choose in which area I will be useful. I decided to choose “Electrical power engineering” for myself; this is a very popular profession. She brings a lot of benefit to society, and this is my main calling.
My work is interesting because I study technological processes. I participate in activities to modernize production, innovation and rationalization activities, develop instructions for introducing new equipment or modernizing old ones. A special place at the station for me is mark 453, near the working hydraulic unit. After all, being in this place, you begin to think about history as a whole, and you understand that literally more than 50 years ago, there were no buildings at this place. And today the station provides electricity to a huge number of consumers. A memorable event at the station happened at the beginning of my working career, when I first saw the excavation of a rotor by two cranes. When two cranes simultaneously move a load weighing almost 500 tons, it is an unforgettable experience.
Working at the Kapshagai hydroelectric power station named after Sh. Chokin gives me a powerful charge of energy. After all, realizing the fact that your work benefits many people, this will certainly motivate you to continue working hard.
The established traditions in the workshop, experience, human capital – all this gives the specialists of the electrical machine shop the opportunity to solve all the tasks assigned to them.