Hydraulic turbines enhanced for fish survivability : from science to engineering to the market
While hydropower is the most mature and reliable of all existing renewables, hydraulic turbines are in need of a profound reconceptualization to improve the likelihood of fish survivability during turbine passage. In the last fifteen years, research laboratories and universities have been developing methods for evaluating both passage conditions and their biological consequence on fish survivability. The earlier these biological assessment methods are integrated into turbine design, the safer the turbines will be. Under the latter premise, the turbine industry plays then a significant role in developing the next generation of biologically enhanced turbines. This talk will present the ongoing research and development activities on the subject inside the design unit of a major turbine supplier. It will highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to advance safer turbine designs, as well as current bottlenecks and challenges. At the core of it, this talk seeks to provide a clear example of the process in which scientific findings are directly used for industrial developments.
Contact Stefan Hoerner for more information or to schedule a discussion with the seminar speaker.