SDSU ICATS Adj. Prof. R.A. Newcomb, P.I.

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SDSU ICATSAdj. Prof. R.A. Newcomb, P.I.

• Saving the Salmon

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Francis Generators

• Francis generators (C. 1848) chop the water as
  it passes by the close proximity of the blade and
  strut supports or walls.
• Multiple blades leave little room for fish to
  pass.
• Radial design is less efficient use (Newtons
  Laws) than axial flow because a moving mass
  (water) must change direction.
• Fish are chopped by the blades, killing some,
  injuring others and disorienting them.
• Predatory fish and scavenger fish wait at the
  bottom of the dam for the injured and disoriented
  fish.

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Old Kaplain Generators

• Kaplain generators (1913-1922, an evolution of
  the Francis turbine) chop the water as it
  passes by the spinning blade and by close
  proximity to the walls of the penstock.
• Fish can be injured, sliced, or damaged by the
  sudden pressure change as the water passes the
  blade.
• The velocity barrier prevents anadromous fish
  passage.
• Change in direction of motion (Newtons laws)
  happens before the blade, no gain in system
  efficiency.

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Old Technologies

• Waste kinetic energy of water by changing
  direction of flow (Newtons 1st Law).
• Efficient only at a specific generator ranges.
• Nominal 90 efficiency relates only to generator
  efficiency, not over all system efficiency.
• Kills fish that pass downstream Creates velocity
  barrier preventing anadromous travel requiring
  remediation (fish ladders, etc.).
• The system does not pass sediment efficiently.

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Current Dam Problems
Upper Pond
Lower Pond
Generator blocks anadromous fish
travel Sedimentation reduces downstream
sediments Sediments reduce storage Generators
tend to take colder less oxygenated water
affecting downstream ecology
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Current Situation
Spring Chinook Salmon Return Update and Summer
Chinook Salmon Forecast  Fish managers from the
Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
briefed the Council on the 2005 spring Chinook
salmon season and the summer Chinook salmon
forecast. As of June 15, 100,340 spring Chinook
had been counted at Bonneville Dam, less than
half the preseason forecast of 254,100. The
10-year average is 160,149. Managers are
forecasting a run of 62,400 for summer Chinook,
with an escapement goal of 29,000. The allocation
for both treaty and non-treaty fisheries, based
on the preseason forecast, is 15,150. Monthly
Spotlight, Northwest Power and Conservation
Council, June 2005 Issue Annual runs once to
exceed 8,000,000 fish D. Chapman, "Salmon and
Steelhead Abundance in the Columbia River in the
Nineteenth Century", Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.
116662-70 (1986).
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New Technology
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New Technology
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New Technology
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Newcomb Generator

• The Newcomb Generator is fish-friendly.
• Will kill less that .5 of the fish passing.
• Fish can pass either direction creating a Salmon
  Run as opposed to a Salmon barrier.

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New Technology

• Uses the kinetic potential of water more
  efficiently.
• True axial flow of water throughout the system is
  possible for the first time.
• New controls make it efficient at any speed.
• Passes sediment downstream preventing build up
  and down stream erosion.
• Can be used to pump water upstream.
• By controlling the screw parameters, the water
  can travel below the critical speed for
  anadromous salmon passage (10fps).

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Dams
Why Dam The Water?
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For Power
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San Luis Pump/Generation
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For Water Management
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Red Bluff Diversion Dam
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Red Bluff Diversion Dam Archimedes Screw Lift
Note The screw is improperly made having a
double pitched blade in this authors photo. The
blades should be perpendicular between the two
cylinders. This blade is 44 degrees out of pitch.
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Red Bluff Diversion Dam Archimedes Screw Lift

• This diagram, from the Red Bluff Diversion Dam
  papers, illustrates how a screw has been tested
  and successfully proved water screws are a fish
  friendly technology for fish passage, in this
  case, as a lift.

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Archimedes Water Screw
The Archimedes Screw is now recognized by the DOI
as fish friendly.
This clears the way for this technology.
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Water Screws

• Water Screws are highly efficient at moving
  water, solids, fruits and vegetables, and fish.
• New motor technology makes them efficient pumps
  or hydro generators.

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Benefits

• Axial Flow
• Reduced Maintenance
• Higher Efficiency
• Safe Fish Passage
• Meets EPA requirements for the fish habitat.
• Can be retrofitted into many hydro electric dams.

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Solution to Dam Problems
Two In-line high efficiency generators with
Archimedes screw type water impeller. Fish that
navigate downstream receive a mixture of warmer
oxygenated water and sediment, i.e. a natural mix.
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Solution to Salmon Problems
Fry (smolt) flowing downstream do not
experience the extreme change of pressure as they
pass through the generators, nor are they chopped
by blades passing close to a stationary edge.
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Solution to Salmon Problems
Anadromous adults swim through the generator
because there is no velocity barrier which every
current generator creates.
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Historic Range, West Coast Steelhead

• From Beyond the Crossroads A Synthesis of
  Pacific Salmon Stock Status for the West Coast of
  North America By Dorie L. Brownell1, James A.
  Lichatowich, Kim D. Hyatt, Alex C. Wertheimer and
  Peter K. Schoonmaker
• http//www.inforain.org/maparchive/salmon_nation.h
  tm

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Historic Range, West Pacific

• After a map in Atlas of Pacific Salmon by Dr.
  Xanthippe Augerot, Director of Science for the
  Wild Salmon Center

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Potential Benefits

• Return Salmon closer to historic run values
• Return Salmon to historic ranges affected by dams
  (all water north of 33o N.)
• Preserve dams that might otherwise be removed for
  environmental cause.
• Boost the ecology and the economy of local areas
  with ecotourism, fishing while dams remain.

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Project Needs

• Sponsors to help prove this technology to save
  the salmon.
• Development partners to bring this technology to
  market.

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References
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