US 5,385,428 A · Water intake fish diversion apparatus

Abstract

A fish diversion apparatus uses a plane screen to divert fish for variety of types of water intakes in order to protect fish from injury and death. The apparatus permits selection of a relatively small screen angle, for example ten degrees, to minimize fish injury. The apparatus permits selection of a high water velocity, for example ten feet per second, to maximize power generation efficiency. The apparatus is especially suitable retrofit to existing water intakes. The apparatus is modular to allow use plural modules in parallel to adjust for water flow conditions. The apparatus has a floor, two opposite side walls, and a roof which define a water flow passage and a plane screen within the passage. The screen is oriented to divert fish into a fish bypass which carries fish to a safe discharge location. The dimensions of the floor, walls, and roof are selected to define the dimensions of the passage and to permit selection of the screen angle. The floor is bi-level with a level upstream of the screen and a level beneath screen selected to provide a uniform flow distribution through the screen. The apparatus may include separation walls to provide a water flow channel between the apparatus and the water intake. Lead walls may be used to adjust water flow conditions into the apparatus. The apparatus features stoplog guides near its upstream and downstream ends to permit the water flow passage to be dewatered.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A fish diversion apparatus for a water intake comprising:

a. a floor, two opposite side walls, and a roof, all of which collectively define a water flow passage for a water flow to flow through said passage, said passage having a longitudinal axis and further having an upstream aperture for admitting said water flow into said passage and a downstream aperture for discharging said water flow from said passage, wherein dimensions of said floor, walls and roof may be selected to define dimensions of said upstream aperture, said downstream aperture, and said passage;
b. flow bypass means having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, said inlet aperture in fluid communication with said upstream aperture;
c. a plane screen mounted within said passage and inclined at a specified degree of an angle with respect to said floor said screen defining a fish flow path with cross sectional area decreasing from said upstream aperture to said inlet aperture;
and
d. a separation wall which abuts said downstream aperture and said water intake such that said fish flow path diverts said fish from said passage into said inlet aperture for discharge of said fish from said outlet aperture at a safe location and such that water discharged from said downstream aperture is channeled through a forebay to said water intake.

2 more elements

A fish diversion apparatus for a water intake comprising:

a plurality of fish diversion modules, said modules disposed in parallel, side-by-side placement each said module having;
a. a water flow passage having a floor, said passage for a water flow to flow through said passage, said passage having an upstream aperture for admitting said water flow into said passage and a downstream aperture for discharging said water flow from said passage;
b. flow bypass means having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, said inlet aperture in fluid communication with said upstream aperture;
c. a plane screen mounted within said passage and inclined at a specified degree of an angle with respect to said floor said screen defining a fish flow path with cross sectional area decreasing from said upstream aperture to said inlet aperture, such that said fish flow path diverts said fish from said passage into said inlet aperture for discharge of said fish from said outlet aperture at a safe location;
and,
d. a first separation wall which abuts a said downstream aperture of a said module and said water intake such that water discharged from said downstream aperture is channeled through a forebay to said water intake.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water intake fish diversion apparatus

Life of this patent

Water intake fish diversion apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19