A Milestone in Silahtarağa’s Modernization Initiative
Installed in 1956 by the German conglomerate Siemens, Turbo Unit No. I marks a critical phase in the plant’s mid-century modernization strategy. The unit’s axial turbine, rated at 35.6 megawatts, operates at 3,000 rpm under high-pressure (35–40 atm) and high-temperature (420–450 °C) steam conditions.
The accompanying 37.7 MVA alternator generates electricity at 10,500 volts. The unit is equipped with advanced instrumentation including exciter dynamos, voltage regulators, control panels, and automated safety mechanisms, ensuring stable operation.
Cooling and condensation are facilitated by a condenser with a surface area of 2,400 square meters, supported by high-performance Siemens-Schuckert pumps. Auxiliary systems include oil pumps, a 5,600-kg oil reservoir, heat exchangers, and gear reducers.
Additionally, a closed-loop feedwater system with pre-heaters and automated control valves ensures thermodynamic efficiency and operational stability across the steam cycle.
As a hallmark of the plant’s modernization in the postwar period, Turbo Unit No. I now offers visitors a detailed glimpse into the advanced engineering and technological foresight of the 1950s.