Stages of development KhTGP

For three years and a half Kharkov turbine plant (KhTGP) was built and 21 of January 1934 was put into operation. This is red-letter day in plant`s chronicle, it is a time reference point of glorious victories of Kharkov turbine constructors. In 1935 from factory come off test bench first steam turbine with capacity 50 MW, and very soon - 26 July 1938 will be manufactured steam turbine with capacity 100 MW and generator for it – at that time most high-powered turbines.

Before beginning Great Patriotic War Kharkov will manufacture and supply countries turbines, which capacity exceed two times capacity of all power plants of prerevolutionary Russia.   

Under task of Ordgonikidze

Meeting`s membership, what was in room of Georgiy Konstantinovich, another people`s commissar consider this as unusual. Ordgonikidze invited to his room not only head of Kharkov Turbine-generator plant but machine shop manager of heavy machine shop M. Golotsvan. He considered that in such way in will be better for him to estimate manufacturing level and stuff skill of one of the main subdivision of enterprise. M. Golotsvan got impression, that people`s commissar was prepared for this talk. Therefore he understood all importance of the task of six compressor manufacturing. To the end of 1935 they were manufactured. Enterprise was overloaded with unusual production, that manufacturing of high-capacity turbine-generators was just on 25% level in its product mix. In addition plant was manufacturing production which was withholding in previous years due to reasons of state secret. These are technically complicated turbogear sets (TGS) for navy. For example with the help of turbines which were included in number of TGS could float front and reverse. To 1941 turbogear sets were manufactured for destroyers.
Its manufacture for cruisers started but war prevented to it. Mabufacturing of TGS was a springboard for mastering of mach more big and complicated production.

First in the country capacity of 50 thous. kW 

Soon after commissioning KhTGP mastered manufacturing of blades for turbines, previously supplied to USSR by 26 foreign firms. This allowed to reveals from dependence from import of such production from abroad at amount of million and a half of gold rubles. But at the same time KhTGP issued the challenge during 1934-1936 master estimated capacity and provide production turbogenerator sets with total capacity 50 and 100 thousands kW.

Huge attention claimed of turbogenerator with capacity 50 thuos. kW. It was planed, at the beginning, to use project of “General Electric”. But workers of turbine and generator design bureau decided to improve product profile. They worked day and night under this project at plant and at home, were studying foreign languages, went to business trips. Consequently developed the project of turbine generator which differ it from American prototype.

Stakhanov`s700 percents

At turbine-generator plant as everywhere in the country Stakhanov movement were widen. First who joined to it were foremost people of blade manufacturing workshop. It has any forms! Shifts, days, five-days period, ten-day period! Stakhanov schools gave a lot. They studied theory and practice. Directly at working places kinds of grinding, using cutting tools, machining of items. Though studied not only apprentices but also skilled workers. Hence generality of record. Whole brigades were reducing in several times time of task execution. Aim of brigade to reduce time for execution of task in several times.

Especially distinguished turner V. Drokin. Vasiliy Dmitrievich himself in quoted book «40 years at machine tool» described conditions of Stakhanov`s shift execution at 25 December 1935: «I`ve got task in advance, acquainted with drawing, prepared tools and accessories. I `ve counseled with foreman and decided to change item machining technology and make it not in two passes but in one. At the same time I decided to rise the speed of cutting. Considered everything carefully and calculated. Then checked one more time and it came I can go over quota not less than seven times, about it I informed chairman of workshop committee.

He looked at me and said: «It is a serious thing, Vasya  if you assume it – you must execute it. You now saying: «call yourself milk mushroom go to basket».

I smiled that I know another saying: «Took tug – do not say you are not stalwart». In aisle of workshop someone hang big broadsheet: «Comrade Drokin undertake 25 December to execute norm on 700 percents. Challenge to competition turner Mironyuk». I remember in that morning I`ve shaved, dressed cleaned shirt, tie my black tie and came to work earlier than before. Mood was perfect, festive. Work run easy. This I fully executed my obligations and young turner, komsomolets Mironyuk, whom I challenged to competition also reached perfect results, exceeded quotas in four and a half times».

But V. Drokin did not stop. Soon he could noticeably reduced time for machining of one complex item of turbine. Innovator used goosenecks instead of stiff cutter, used two supports at the same time. This gave opportunity to expedite time of manufacturing of hollow chambers for two hours. More over Vasiliy Dmitrievich used special tools, which another machine operator did not use. After cutters replacement, which item was stitched, he increased in many times speed of cutting.

At that time at Turbine-generator Plant resounded name of best foreman of assembly shop P.Т. Boev. Due to correct arrangements of working place reasonable use of measuring tools, this stakhanovts fulfilled norm on cylinder centering on 710 percents.

Milling machine operator A.A. Beletskaya exceeded the norm more than three times. In 1938 rised the star of K.S. Kislyakov — stakhanovets.

Quote under Konstantin Sergeevich records: «At Turbinegenerator Plant, thenadays  there were not enough of skilled turners. Under this reason very often it was machine-down. In 1938 when urgent order was placed, I took on myself work with one more merry-go-round machine. Since I work with two machine tools. It is not so easy. But it is possible. I have developed schedule. It allows me during machining of large items not only meet norms but also fulfill them».

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