Guidelines for Application of Different Analysis Methods of Fish Passage Through Turbines—Impact Assessment of Fish Behavioural Aspects

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter focuses on the topic of turbine passage as one aspect for downstream migration of fish at hydropower plants (HPP). To evaluate the impact of HPPs on downstream fish passage, it is important to quantify the mortality rate during turbine passage accurately. This chapter presents guidelines and recommendations using basic and more detailed methods. Furthermore, the results of their application while the FIThydro project at the Testcases of Guma, Bannwil, and Obernach, which are equipped with bulb turbines, are presented. Different methods to evaluate fish passage through turbines are discussed. These are modelling methods to assess the survival rate, sensor fish test at the Testcases to record physical data, as well as field tests at the laboratory Testcase in Obernach gaining a better understanding of the impact of fish behaviour on fish passage. The modelling methods reach from simple physical and empirical methods to determine the strike probability to enhanced methods including the physical reaction of the fish up to numerical simulations modelling the fish path and including behavioural aspects of the fish. The results of field tests at the Testcase sites help to improve and validate the methodologies and to develop guidelines for the application.