Lower Granite Project
Plant size - 810 MW

In February 1995, the ASFM was used to measure the turbine discharge in one bay of the project under three conditions: without fish diversion screens, with standard and with extended fish screens in place. A 4% efficiency reduction was indicated for both screen types at low discharge and for standard screens at high discharge, and a 6% reduction for extended screens at high discharge.

In December 2004, field testing was performed on Unit 4 as part of the coordinated activities to investigate both absolute and relative flow measurements methods in the large short intakes of Kaplan turbines. The test included the ASFM, acoustic time-of-flight and various relative flow measurements. While both absolute measurement methods showed bias error, the time-of-flight technique had a 2% positive bias throughout, whereas the ASFM had only a 1% negative bias at low flows and no bias at high flows. The client has observed that while the initial single unit costs were comparable for the two methods, the time-of-flight is a permanent installation requiring installation in every unit intake whereas the ASFM is portable between units.

To test whether relative flow data could be obtained with a greatly reduced number of acoustic paths, five paths were installed in the lower region of Bay A conduit, downstream of the full ASFM. With the Extended Submerged Bar Screens installed, the 5-paths system recorded discharges within ±1.5 % of the reference full ASFM. With no screens installed, however, the difference was as high as 5 %, indicating greater variability of velocity profile without the screens forcing the flow into the lower region. The experiment indicates that a 5-path ASFM can achieve satisfactory results, provided the full height of the intake is sampled. The ASFM measurements were also used to recalibrate the Winter-Kennedy taps.

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USACE's Lower Granite website

 


McNary Project

Plant size - 1060 MW
Publication: presented at WaterPower 1999
(PDF format - 62kb)

In 1998 and 1999, ASFM measurements were compared with Winter-Kennedy index tests, showing consistent results. The results also indicated that the installation of the fish screens in the intake resulted in a 2-3% reduction in turbine efficiency. The ASFM measurements were also used to recalibrate the Winter-Kennedy taps.
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Bonneville Project
Plant size - 1093 MW
Publication: presented at HydroVision 2000 (PDF format - 426kb)

Use of the ASFM at Bonneville in 1998, 1999 and 2000 greatly improved the definition and estimation of the effects of fish diversion devices on Kaplan turbine performance. The effect on turbine efficiency of a prototype surface collector, with and without fish diversion screens in place has been assessed. The results also provided baseline information on the performance of existing turbines for comparison with the performance of new minimum gap runner units that were being installed. The ASFM gave the Corps accurate, reliable data to determine that up to a 5% loss in efficiency resulted from having the screens in place. The ASFM measurements were also used to recalibrate the Winter-Kennedy taps
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USACE's Bonneville website

The Dalles Project
Plant size - 1820 MW

The Portland District of the US Army Corps of Engineering is engaged in a rehabilitation program at The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River. Turbine efficiency testing is being performed before and after the planned turbine upgrades. As part of the testing program, an initial set of flow measurements using the ASFM were made at Unit 9 in November 2000. A second set was made after the rehabilitation of the unit in the summer of 2001. The ASFM measurements were also used to recalibrate the Winter-Kennedy taps.
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USACE's The Dalles website

Little Goose Project
Plant size - 810 MW


In January 2003, two sets of index tests were conducted on Unit 3: one without fish screens and one with Extended Length Submerged Bar Screens. In February 2003, two index tests were also conducted on Unit 4: one without fish screens and one with Extended Length Submerged Bar Screens. The purpose of these tests was to establish unit performance with and without the screens for use in developing updated cam information to optimize unit operation. A 3-bay, 20 paths/bay ASFM was used for all the measurements. The ASFM measurements were also used to recalibrate the Winter-Kennedy taps. Based on the tests, the client concluded that performance improvements obtainable from the revised cam approach 1.5 % near peak efficiency with fish screens installed.

USACE's Little Goose website

Lower Monumental Project
Plant size - 810 MW

In January 2002, two separate index tests were conducted on Unit 2.  In February 2002, two separate index tests were also conducted on Unit 6. The purpose of the testing was to establish unit performance both without and with Standard Length Traveling Screens for use in developing updated cam information to optimize unit operation. A 3-bay, 20 paths/bay ASFM was used for all the measurements. The ASFM measurements were also used to recalibrate the Winter-Kennedy taps.  The client estimates that up to 2.5 % efficiency improvements are obtainable from the resulting revised operation with fish screens installed.

Lower Monumental website

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John Day Project
Plant size - 2160 MW


In November 2001, two series of index tests were conducted on Unit 9. The purpose of the tests was to establish unit performance both without and with Standard Length Traveling Screens for use in developing updated cam information to optimize unit operation. A 3-bay, 20 paths/bay ASFM was used for all the measurement. The ASFM measurements were also used to recalibrate the Winter-Kennedy taps. The client estimates that up to 2.0 % efficiency improvements are obtainable from the resulting revised operation with fish screens installed.

John Day website

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Chief Joseph Project
Plant size - 2160 MW

In October 2008, as part of the Federal Columbia River Power System Power Plant Efficiency Improvement Program, a blind comparative test was conducted on unit 15 to determine the suitability of the ASFM to calibrate Winter Kennedy taps in Francis turbines.  A comparative test of near real time flow measurement for time of flight, relative flow (Winter Kennedy) and our ASFM was conducted by the client. Our experience indicated that the measurement of the discharge in an intake with a large vertical pier in the center of the intake just upstream of the measurement plane could affect measurement accuracy. For this reason, with the client’s permission, the ASFM was equipped with 10 vertical paths in addition to the 20 horizontal paths. The vertical paths were used to compute a correction factor that was applied to the discharge calculated from the horizontal paths. Further comparative testing is being planned by the client in 2009 for additional verification of the ASFM.

Chief Joseph web

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Note:
While the first measurement by a particular owner is typically carried out by AQFlow technical personnel, the user-friendly features of the ASFM offer the owners the choice of having the subsequent measurements carried out by AQFlow personnel (indicated above in italics) or by their own personnel (indicated by non-italics).

As shown, Nova Scotia Power, Hydro Québec, Korea Water Resources, Electricité de France and Douglas County PUD have all opted for having their personnel trained by AQFlow technicians as part of the first project, purchasing the ASFM and performing all subsequent measurements in-house successfully and cost-effectively.