Improved Fish Protection at Intake Systems

Experimental studies in the diversion and removal of fishes entrained in cooling water flow, and in entrainment reduction at offshore intake structures, were done with coastal marine species of Southern California. Testing was done in a cylindrical tank horizontal-flume facility at Southern California Edison Company's Redondo Generating Station. Diversion studies evaluated fish guidance to variously angled screen and louver arrays. A bypass system was designed by which diverted specimens can be returned safely to sea. Entrainment reduction studies with modeled intake structures led to development of a circular capped structure featuring uniform entrance velocity and a horizontal run prior to a vertical drop. Fish avoidance of various sounds was explored.