Engineering Excellence: BHEL registers significant increase in Intellectual Capital, files one patent a day

As a result of constant thrust on developing new technologies and products, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) registered a 27% growth in its Intellectual Capital in FY 2009-10. The year witnessed filing of 264 patents & copy rights, marking filing of one patent / copyright every working day.

During fiscal 2009-10, BHEL invested Rs. 8290 Million on R&D efforts - 20% higher than the previous year. With R&D spend at 2.4% of the turnover, BHEL is the highest spender on R&D in India for its kind of industry. Significantly, BHEL is one of the only four Indian companies and the only Indian Public Sector Co. figuring in ‘The Global Innovation 1000’ of Booz & Co., a list of 1000 publicly-traded companies which are biggest spenders on R&D in the world.

Commercialisation of products and systems developed by way of in-house Research and Development contributed around 20% to company’s total turnover of Rs. 340500 Million in 2009-10.

To address the needs of infrastructure sectors of the economy, BHEL has successfully developed various products and systems. Significant developments during the year include, a new design variant of Condenser for 660 MW steam turbines having supercritical parameters, High Temperature Superconducting (HTSC) Power Transformer; highest rating, more efficient 310 MVA Single Phase Generator Transformer for upcoming Ultra Mega Power Projects, Current Transformer for 765 kV Ultra High voltage (UHV) transmission substations. These in-house developments will not only address the future needs but also result in enhancing product efficiencies, optimisation of designs and enhancing of functional capabilities, etc..

R&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 long term R&D programme focuses on emerging technology areas such as Clean Coal technologies; Nano Technology; Hydrogen Energy Technologies; Superconducting applications and Solar technologies; products and systems for Ultra-high voltage transmission segment like 765 kV & 1200 kV for addressing Country’s future demands.