Evaluate effects of hydraulic turbulence on the survival of migratory fish: design and construction of experimental apparatus to study the potential effects of turbulence on fish.
This report presents the completed design and construction process, and working details, of the test apparatus for the turbulence project. As mentioned in the first progress report, this type of experiment has not been attempted previously. In addition, turbulence data in the tailrace of a power plant are not available for reference. We plan to generate turbulence intensities and scale based on representative flow velocities downstream of draft tubes as well as visual observations of flow conditions in a typical tailrace area. Various combinations of nozzles will be used to generate mixing inside a large tank cavity, referred to herein as the turbulence chamber. The turbulence chamber was made with steel frame and clear acrylic sides and bottom. The clear sides and bottom will facilitate viewing and videotaping from outside. Nozzle velocities and water surface profiles will be accurately monitored with calibrated flow measurement devices to insure repeatability of the hydraulic conditions during biological testing.