Animal husbandry – Aquatic animal culturing – Fish culturing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-06
2004-12-21
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Aquatic animal culturing
Fish culturing
C119S215000, C405S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06832578
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of development of fish friendly hydraulic systems, and more specifically, relates to a bio-hydraulic testing system for simulating flow conditions within a hydraulic system to test the effect on fish of specific hydraulic components and flow conditions.
2. Related Art
There is an increasing concern with increasing the survivability rate of fish as they pass through hydro power turbines and other passage obstructing structures. To fulfill this need, an improved knowledge of biological and engineering design criteria are required to make hydraulic structures more fish friendly.
As water flows through a hydroelectric power generation plant, over a dam spillway, or about other hydraulic systems, it undergoes numerous changes. These changes result from changes in the dimensions of flow boundary, changes in flow velocities, changing energy forms, and changes resulting from other forces acting on the flow. Objects within the flow, such as fish, affect and are affected by these changes, and some of these changes are harmful.
Specifically, when hydroelectric power installations are operated, a large number of fish typically pass through the hydroelectric turbines. Some of the passing fish suffer injuries caused by contact with fixed of moving machinery within the installation, changes of pressure or turbulence effects.
A number of fish injuries occur because the physical changes within a hydraulic system are translated into hydraulic phenomena which are harmful to fish. These phenomena include turbulence, shear stress, cavitation, and pressure fluctuations. Shear stress results from the movement of two adjacent fluid bodies in different, usually opposite, directions. Hydraulic shear has been widely cited as a source of damage to fish in hydraulic turbines. Cavitation is the formation of a partial vacuum in flowing water. Collapse of the vacuum disturbs water flow resulting in injury to fish.
The hydroelectric power generating community as well as resource agencies are actively looking for ways to reduce the adverse effects that hydroelectric generation plants have on migratory fish. Government as well as private groups are pursuing the development of conceptual designs of “fish friendly” turbines. To meet current environmental design criteria, turbines need to be made more fish friendly and environmentally friendly, and yet continue to efficiently provide power.
Additionally, fish are likely to be damaged by abrasion, strike and grinding injuries. These injuries result from sudden changes in flow direction and boundary dimensions, combined with the presence of structures in the path of the fish. Abrasion damage occurs when a fish rubs against a turbine system component or other object in a flow field. Grinding injuries occur when fish are drawn into gaps of a size close to that of the fish within a hydraulic system. A precise prediction of injury due to abrasion and grinding is not currently possible. Injury to a fish due a collision, or “strike,” occurs when a fish collides with a stationary or moving object within the turbine system. The probability of a fish dying from striking an object within the turbine system is variable and not clearly understood. Direct visual observations are not available to correlate mortality to strike, and to verify existing strike probability models.
There is significant literature concerning injury to fish resulting from contact with hydraulic systems. However, surprisingly little is known about the effects of individual hydraulic components on fish or the effects brought about by design changes to individual components.
Development of fish friendly hydraulic systems, such as turbines, spillways, and fishways requires the presence of reliable basic engineering and biological design data. This data includes quantitative estimations of injury mechanisms to fish as they pass through these systems. At present, there is no known testing apparatus in the field capable of replicating flow conditions similar to those encountered by fish on their migratory route.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A bio-hydraulic testing system is provided for simulating the effect on fish of at least one hydraulic system component. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises: a water flow introduction means; a fish introduction system means; a flow introduction conduit including an entrance end in communication with the fish introduction means and the water flow introduction means so as to receive a water flow containing fish and further including an exit end; a testing module, connected to the exit end of the flow introduction conduit so as to receive said water flow; monitoring means for monitoring and recording fish activity in the water flow in the testing module; a flow exit conduit including an entrance end connected to the testing module and an exit end; a fish collection means located downstream of the exit end of the exit conduit for collecting fish exiting from the testing module; and discharge means for discharging the water from the testing system.
Preferably, the water flow introduction means comprises a headpond for containing water, and means for reducing flow turbulence within the headpond; and the water introduction means comprises an inlet pipe, in fluid communication with the headpond, for introducing water to the headpond.
Advantageously, the fish introduction system comprises a tank for holding fish until introduction thereof, an injection pipe, connected at one end to the tank and having an opposite end dispersed in proximity to the introduction conduit, for transferring fish from the fish tank to the entrance conduit, and a slide gate mounted on the injection pipe for controlling introduction of the fish to the introduction conduit.
Alternatively, the water flow introduction means preferably comprises an inlet pipe connected to the introduction conduit, and the fish introduction means comprises inlet means for introducing the fish directly into the inlet pipe. Advantageously, the inlet means for introducing the fish directly into the inlet pipe comprise a fish introduction member connected to the inlet pipe at a non-perpendicular angle to the inlet pipe for introducing fish into the inlet pipe, and a slide gate mounted on the fish introduction member for controlling the introduction of fish.
Preferably, the introduction conduit is tapered inwardly from the entrance end to the exit end, and the exit conduit is tapered outwardly from the entrance end towards the exit end.
Advantageously, at least part of the entrance conduit comprises a light transparent material for enabling visual monitoring of fish.
Preferably, at least part of the testing module comprises a light transparent material for enabling viewing of at least part of the interior of the testing module from outside the module.
Advantageously, the monitoring system comprises a video camera for capturing images from the testing module, and means for controlling the video camera. Alternatively, the monitoring means preferably comprises a plurality of tags adapted for attachment to a plurality of fish, and at least one antenna, disposed in proximity to the testing module, for receiving at least one signal from the plurality of tags.
Preferably, the material comprising the light transparent part of the testing module comprises one of a clear acrylic material and a clear plexiglass material.
Advantageously, the testing module comprises at least one wicket gate attached to an end of the testing module.
Preferably, the testing module comprises at least one turning vane disposed within the testing module. Advantageously, the at least one turning vane comprises a pair of turning vanes disposed in alignment to each other relative to the direction of water flow through the testing module. Alternatively, the at least one turning vane preferably comprise a pair of turning vanes disposed in a non-aligned relation to each other relative to the direction of water flow through the testing module.
Preferably, the testing m
Hunt, Jr. Ross F.
Poon Peter M.
Shaw Elizabeth
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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