TY - CONF
TI - Tidal Turbine-Fish Interaction Pilot Study in the Aquatron Controlled Lab Space
AU - MacNeill, A
AU - Mahon-Hodgins, L
AU - Eddington, J
AU - Batt, J
AU - Bibeau, E
AU - Kregting, L
AU - Molloy, S
T2 - 12th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2017)
AB - To date there are limited laboratory studies on the interaction of marine life with marine renewable energy devices. The Aquatron Laboratory at Dalhousie University is designed to study marine life in a controlled marine lab environment. The 15.24 m diameter pool tank is equipped with four 75-HP circulation pumps that can generate tidal currents up to 2.4 m/s velocities using ocean water. The process for modifying the facility to study the impact of hydrokinetic turbines on fish is presented. The installation of a 0.9 m diameter 3-blade vertical axis turbine is described. The performance of the turbine is first validated against previous towing tank experiments at NRC St. John’s. Tests were then performed for 3 weeks to monitor the behaviour of the turbine on Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis). The test protocol provided flow in the tank at 2 m/s continuously for 3 weeks with the turbine rotor locked during the first week, the rotor rotating at a tip speed ratio of 1.5 in the second week, and the rotor locked again in the third week. The intent of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of using the Aquatron facility for turbine-fish interaction studies. The test protocol was kept relatively simple for this test series. Fifty Striped Bass varying in age from 2 to 3 years were used for these tests. The turbine had a cage around the frame to prevent fish strikes in this first phase of tests. There was a second net placed across the centre of the tank to train the fish to pass by the turbine rotor to access food on the other side of the tank as fish passage behavior near the turbine is of prime importance. Fish behaviour was monitored by counting fish passage as they swam to specific locations in the tank. Fish velocity, location, and general observations were recorded. Results presented should not be considered as definitive fish behaviour when encountering an operational turbine.
DA - 2017/08//
PY - 2017
PB -  European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference 2017
UR - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319644440_Tidal_Turbine-Fish_Interaction_Pilot_Study_in_the_Aquatron_Controlled_Lab_Space
LA - English
KW - Marine Energy
KW - Tidal
KW - Attraction
KW - Avoidance
KW - Collision
KW - Fish
ER -