The document summarizes the development of the Alden turbine, a fish-friendly hydro turbine design. It was developed through a Department of Energy program to reduce environmental impacts of hydroelectric projects. The Alden turbine has a large diameter, slow rotational speed, few large blades, and no gaps, which reduces risks to fish compared to conventional designs. Biological testing found survival rates over 98% for various fish species. While initial capital costs are higher than other designs, the Alden turbine eliminates the need for separate, costly fish passage facilities and could reduce long-term project costs. It is considered readily implementable for a range of hydroelectric applications.

1. BY:
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13BME086
FISH FRIENDLY TURBINE

2. FISH-FRIENDLY HYDRO TURBINES
• Background
• Turbine Design
• Potential Application
• Relative cost
• Summary
Alden Turbine

4. BACKGROUND
• Environmental migitation dominant in U.S.A. and increasing
interest throughout the world.
• Projects built without appreciation of impact
• Restoration of migratory and endangered species
• Overall reduction in energy output
• Energy reductions offset by fossil projects
• Requires fish passage facilities and/or modifications and
restrictions to operation

5. TURBINE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
• 1995 DOE Advanced Hydro Turbine Systems Program
• Two turbine designs emerged: Kaplan minimum gap runner
(MGR) and the Alden Turbine
 MGR installed & tested in Pacific NW
 Alden turbine only tested at pilot-scale level
• DOE Program canceled 2005
• EPRI took over Alden turbine’s development
• New DOE waterpower program provided funding for Voith
model testing and final design

6. ALDEN TURBINE DESIGN
 What makes it fish friendly?
• Large diameter
• Slow rotational speed
• Few blades (3)
• No gaps
• Thick leading edges on Blades
• Thick leading edges on vanes and gates
• Biological design criteria –eliminated
damaging shear and pressure

7. ALDEN TURBINE DEVELOPMENT
(BIOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS)
• Two heads (12 and 24 m)
• 6 species of fish (36-425 mm)
• With and without wicket gates
• Fish length
• Thickness of blade
• Velocity of flow

8. TURBINE FEATURES
• Mechanical design review indicates
it is readily implementable for a
range of applications
• Thrust, runaway speed, and
pressure pulsations were within
anticipated ranges
• No cavitation for the operating
conditions corresponding to design
point

9. POTENTIAL APPLICATION
General data are accepted for designing Alden turbine
• Head : 12 to 24 m
• Flow : 42.5 m3/s
• Diameter : 3.9 m
• Rotation speed : 120 rpm

10. RELATIVE COST

12. SUMMARY
• Comparable performance: ~ 94% efficiency
• High survival estimates: > 98%
• Provides downstream passage while generating power
• Reduces need for costly fish passage facilities
• Key benefits include a reduced strike probability by optimizing
the number of turbine blades, wicket gates

13. TURBINE UNIT SIZING

14. THANK YOU