A recent ASME article noted that in 2012 a Department of Energy study identified 54,000 Non-Powered Dams, dams with changes of elevation of 15 feet or higher, which could provide 13 gigawatts of power, enough to power 5 million homes. That potential is to say the least staggering.
The primary reason that these “small dams” are not being utilized is that typical small turbines are a hazard to fish. While there are strategies to keep fish out of these turbines, the methods are expensive, hard to maintain, and an unacceptable mortality is still present.
To address this challenge, the Natel Energy company has developed “fish-safe” turbines. They achieve the required safety to fish in a number of ways. One is to make the blades much thicker so that if a fish does come in contact the curvature of the blade matches the curvature of the fish’s spine. Also, the blades have a forward slant so that if there is contact it is a glancing blow and not a direct hit. And because of their efficiency, they turn at slower speeds and once in the turbine the fish easily pass through safely.
Demand for power is ever increasing. Wonderful that there is a way to have power and fish. – Dr. Tom
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