Animal husbandry – Aquatic animal culturing – Fish culturing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-14
2002-03-19
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Aquatic animal culturing
Fish culturing
C119S220000, C367S139000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06357389
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of control of hydroelectric power generation installations, such as dams and the like incorporating one or more power generating turbines and flow bypass structures. More particularly, the invention relates to the monitoring and control of such a facility to enhance the survivability of fish populations in the vicinity of the facility that may be entrained into and pass through the turbines and flow bypass structures. The invention also relates to the control of a power production system, such as a system incorporating several power generating installations, capable of enhancing fish survivability and accommodating an overall water management program, while optimizing power production levels in the overall system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various techniques have been proposed for controlling and optimizing performance of turbine-power generating facilities, particularly facilities incorporating Kaplan turbines. Such techniques generally accommodate the influence of various operating parameters on turbine performance and may seek to optimize power production or efficiency of a turbine unit by properly adjusting the parameters, such as wicket gate and/or blade positions, known to influence turbine performance. The influence of the adjusted parameters on performance is typically known from past performance data, model testing, or empirical results of tests actually performed on specific turbine units. Such techniques allow the operation of turbine units to be manipulated so as to optimize their performance either automatically or by operator intervention.
Improvements in turbine optimization techniques have included systems for considering the influence of a large array of parameters on the performance of individual turbine units and the overall power production facility. In one such system, a multi-dimensional, or “N-dimensional” cam is developed, based on site information and measurement, including dimensions for various operating parameters such as head water elevation, tail water elevation, flow rate, power output level, location of a turbine unit in an installation, (e.g., across a stream) and operating data on neighboring turbines in an installation. The parameters form an N-dimensional array or matrix including cells corresponding to the various combinations of ranges for each parameter. Each matrix location is then populated with information indicative of the relationship between gate and/or blade positions and the various operating parameters of the turbine. Over time, the N-dimensional matrix is thus populated with optimal gate and blade settings for each combination of parameter ranges. Moreover, various approaches can be used for identifying the optimal gate and blade settings for each matrix location. Such approaches include the use of penalty functions assigned a value to each parameter such that the optimal gate and blade positions will be determined to minimize an overall cost function.
As improved control systems have become available for power-generating turbines, adding additional sophistication and potential for enhanced control of individual turbine units and installations, increasing emphasis has been placed on the impact of power-generating installations on the environment, including on wildlife. Specifically, improvements to the physical structure of turbine units have been proposed to enhance the statistical probability for survival of fish that pass through the units during operation. However, adjustments of controlled parameters to further enhance the statistical probability for fish survival has lagged significantly behind such developments. This tendency has probably been influenced by a perception that regions of optimal efficiency for operation of turbines generally correspond to regions of optimal fish survivability. While this may sometimes be the case, it appears that a more informed approach to control of turbine units should account for the influence of controlled parameters on both the power production level and efficiency, maintenance and fish survival predictions considered as separate, although interacting, influences on the system. Heretofore known control systems, however, have not been equipped to consider such factors and to subsequently control turbine settings based upon their combination. Moreover, even if modifications in turbine operation could be made to enhance fish survivability, known control systems are not equipped to account for the impact (e.g., economical, environmental) of such modifications in such a way as to adequately inform facility management.
Other drawbacks of existing control systems result from their limited control scope, both in terms of geography and controlled parameters. In particular, most known control systems typically operate on a single turbine unit or bank of turbine units. Although systems have been proposed for managing multiple dams, such systems generally take into account only revenue generating parameters, and not environmental impact variables. Consequently, such control systems are not well suited for implementation of system-level water, fish and power management and planning schemes. Moreover, because heretofore known control systems have concentrated on operation of the turbine units and associated power generation equipment, they are not well suited for altering other operating parameters, such as those relating to spillway and fish bypass structures, in an integrated approach for implementation of water and fish management schemes.
Other known control systems have attempted to alter the behavior of fish rather than modify operation of the turbines. One such example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,007, issued to Suomala. In all these known systems, however, the emphasis has been on guiding fish away from the turbines and/or toward fish bypass structures. Even assuming the facility is provided with fish bypass structures, however, they might not be available for some reason such as when economic constraints (e.g., low water levels or high energy costs) or other constraints (e.g., mechanical problems or maintenance) restrict or completely prevent the discharge of water therethrough. In such cases, there may be little or no choice but to send the fish directly through one or more of the turbine units.
In view of the above, there is a need for an improved system for controlling operation of a power-generating turbine unit, installation, and system, wherein fish survivability is considered as a separate factor impacting the desired settings of controlled parameters, such as wicket gate and blade positions, as well as operation of spillway and fish bypass structures. There is also a need for a system which can provide both planning and monitoring functions, as well as real-time control of a turbine unit or installation based upon both long-range knowledge of fish behavior and upon immediate or short-range knowledge of fish location and movement. There is further a need for a system that is capable of altering fish behavior in a coordinated manner with modifications to turbine operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features a novel monitoring and control system for power-generating turbine units, installations and systems, consisting of at least one turbine unit associated in certain cases with flow and fish bypass structures, designed to respond to these needs. The system is capable of monitoring fish location and movement via sensors positioned about the installation. In a preferred configuration, the sensors provide an indication of both fish location (position in a pond or stream and depth within the water) and, where properly instrumented, of fish type and school density. The information is used to monitor movement over time both in near and far fields relative to the installation. The information is collected and stored in a long-range database for future reference. Fish location data is also collected in a near field related to immediate location of fish within a relatively short distance
Fisher, Jr. Richard K.
March Patrick A.
Abbott Yvonne R.
Foley & Lardner
Hydro Resource Solutions LLC
Jordan Charles T.
LandOfFree
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