Development of a more fish-tolerant turbine runner, advanced hydropower turbine project

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/486119· OSTI ID:486119

Cook, T C; Hecker, G E ^[1]; Faulkner, H B; Jansen, W ^[2]

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1. Worcester Polytechnic Inst., Holden, MA (United States). Alden Research Lab.
2. Northern Research and Engineering Corp., Woburn, MA (United States)

Alden Research Laboratory, Inc. (ARL) and Northern Research and Engineering Corporation (NREC) conducted a research program to develop a turbine runner which will minimize fish injury and mortality at hydroelectric projects. ARL?NREC have developed a runner shape which minimizes the number of blade leading edges, reduces the pressure versus time and the velocity versus distance gradients within the runner, minimizes or eliminates the clearance between the runner and runner housing, and maximizes the size of the flow passages, all with minimal penalty on turbine efficiency. An existing pump impeller provided the starting point for developing the fish tolerant turbine runner. The Hidrostal pump is a single bladed combined screw/centrifugal pump which has been proven to transport fish with minimal injury. The focus of the ARL/NREC research project was to develop a new runner geometry which is effective in downstream fish passage and hydroelectric power generation. A flow of 1,000 cfs and a head in the range of 75 ft to 100 ft were selected for conceptual design of the new runner. Conceptual design of the new runner began with a re-evaluation of studies which have been previously conducted to identify probable sources of injury to fish passing through hydraulic turbines. Criteria relative to hydraulic characteristics which are favorable for fish passage were prepared based on a reassessment of the available information. Important criteria used to develop the new runner design included low pressure change rates, minimum absolute pressures, and minimum shear. Other criteria which are reflected in the runner design are a minimum number of blades (only two), minimum total length of leading edges, and large flow passages. 86 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Inst., Holden, MA (United States). Alden Research Lab.; Northern Research and Engineering Corp., Woburn, MA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-95ID13383
• OSTI ID: 486119
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID--10571; ON: DE97052955
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
DAMS
FISH PASSAGE FACILITIES
FISHES
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDRAULIC TURBINES
INJURIES