Turbine imaging technology assessment
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
The goal of this project was to identify and evaluate imaging technologies for observing juvenile fish within a Kaplan turbine, and specifically that would enable scientists to determine mechanisms of fish injury within an operating turbine unit. This report documents the opportunities and constraints for observing juvenile fish at specific locations during turbine passage. These observations were used to make modifications to dam structures and operations to improve conditions for fish passage while maintaining or improving hydropower production. The physical and hydraulic environment that fish experience as they pass through the hydroelectric plants were studied and the regions with the greatest potential for injury were defined. Biological response data were also studied to determine the probable types of injuries sustained in the turbine intake and what types of injuries are detectable with imaging technologies. The study grouped injury-causing mechanisms into two categories: fluid (pressure/cavitation, shear, turbulence) and mechanical (strike/collision, grinding/pinching, scraping). The physical constraints of the environment, together with the likely types of injuries to fish, provided the parameters needed for a rigorous imaging technology evaluation. Types of technology evaluated included both tracking and imaging systems using acoustic technologies (such as sonar and acoustic tags) and optic technologies (such as pulsed-laser videography, which is high-speed videography using a laser as the flash). Criteria for determining image data quality such as frame rate, target detectability, and resolution were used to quantify the minimum requirements of an imaging sensor.
- Research Organization:
- EERE Publication and Product Library, Washington, D.C. (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Water Technologies Office (EE-4W)
- OSTI ID:
- 1218170
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
A fish-eye view of riverine hydropower systems. Understanding the biological response to turbine passage
Shaken, not stirred: The recipe for a fish-friendly turbine
Related Subjects
imaging
juvenile
fish
Kaplan
turbine(s)
injury
passage
modifications
physical
hydraulic
biological
intake
fluid
pressure
cavitation
shear
turbulence
mechanical
strike
collision
grinding
pinching
scraping
tracking
acoustic
sonar
tag(s)
optic
pulsed-laser
pulsed
laser
videography
high-speed
flash
detectability
resolution
sensor