THE 11th INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ADVANCED TOPICS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

March 28-30, 2019

Bucharest, Romania

Experimental Laboratory Model of a Fish Ladder

Used in the Small Hydropower Plants
Cristina-Catalina Petica, Carmen-Anca Safta, Irina Pincovschi, Lucian Mandrea
University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Romania
catalinapetica@yahoo.com, lucian.mandrea@upb.ro, irinapincovschi@gmail.com, safta.carmenanca@gmail.com

Abstract-This paper presents an experimental laboratory model
of an open channel to be used for the study of the hydraulic
behavior of different types of fish ladders. The paper describes
the way the scale of the model was chosen, the calibration of the
channel for different flow rates and the possibilities which this
physical model can offer in the study of fish ladders.
Keywords: experimental model, fish ladder, calibration, weir,
small hydropower
I. INTRODUCTION
Renewable energy and environmental protection are
elements of the same sustainable development concept, in
which the "future generation can meet their current needs
without sacrificing their own needs". In other words, when
the requirements of social, economic and environmental
fields are met than an improvement in the quality of life
appears.
Studies and economical models revealed that only a
unidirectional causality between renewable energy
consumption and economic growth is benefic in the long-run,
if the policies regarding the renewable energy consumption
will not restrict the economy and thus environmental
sustainability will occur [1].
From all the forms of renewable energy sources (RESs),
water is used to transform its hydraulic energy into electrical
energy by using a hydro generator (hydraulic turbine coupled
with an electric generator). Hydropower has not only the
advantage of being renewable and predictable, but also the
advantage to be controllable and easily stored.
In Romania the development and use of hydropower have a
tradition of 135 years. The first small hydropower plant
(SHP) in Peleș (1884) had an installed capacity of 1MW [2].
In the last decade, the electric energy supplied by the
Romanian National Energy System has been changed in
terms of the energy policies under the National Renewable
Energy Action Plan and it has been able to cover 24% of its
final energy consumption from RESs and has already
achieved its targets for 2020 [3].
The Romanian’s hydropower potential obtained in large
hydropower plants (HPPs) and expressed in technical
conversion potential is about 34 TWh/year (from which 23.3
TWh/year are on the interior rivers and 10.7 TWh/year are on
the Danube River). Regarding the micro-hydropower
potential, the technical conversion potential is about 4,078
TWh/year. In Romania are in operation more than 450 of
SHPPs (a small hydropower plant has less than 10 MW
installed power), www.asociatiamhc.ro.
In terms of sustainable development hydropower has an
important impact on the environment and not always
positively, even hydropower is a nonpolluting source of
energy. Hydroelectric power plants, large or small, with
different development schemes, but especially run-of-river
(RoR) type of SHP, have a major impact on aquatic
ecosystems.
A fish ladder (known as fish way, fish passage or fish
steps) is a hydraulic structure that provides a by-pass over or
around an obstruction on the river. The fish ladder must
facilitate both the migration of fish and aquatic biota along
the river.
The design of a fish ladder depends on the hydraulic and
biological criteria of the fish ladder type and swimming
performance of the fish species, hydrological data and RoR
SHP program operation [4].
Experimental measurements and numerical simulations are
instruments widely used in engineering design. For this
reason, the authors of the paper proposed an experimental
laboratory model of an open channel used for the study of
hydraulic behavior of different types of fish ladders.
II. EXPERIMENTAL MODELS AND SIMILARITY
The changes of the hydrodynamic parameters induced by
the operation of RoR SHP affect the fish habitat [4]. A
hydraulic analyze is required when a fish ladder is designed
and built. The hydraulic analysis is based on the fluid
mechanics theory which offers a mathematical model
formulated in proper assumptions. Experimental tests were
carried out on an experimental model that respects
geometrical and kinematics similitude criteria and offer
phenomena observations and data farther used in numerical
models [5].
Experimental tests aimed at developing an experimental
model based on similitude criteria.
To predict the behavior of a hydraulic structure prototype
(as a fish ladder) a model of the fish ladder is designed in
respect with geometric similarity and Froude similarity.
Considering the subscripts p and m for prototype and model,
the geometrical ratio of the lengths is the scale λ = Lp/Lm [6].

978-1-7281-0101-9/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE

 In respect of Froude and Reynolds (Re = ρ·V·L/η) III. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
similarity (Fr = V2/(g·L)), the ratios between corresponding The test rig consists of an open channel (2 m long, 0.24 m
parameters in prototype and model namely length (L), time wide and 0.3 m high), a constant level reservoir (CLR, 0.1 m3
(t), velocity (V), flow rate (Q), force (F) and pressure (p) are capacity), a buffer tank (BT, 0.1 m3 capacity), a radial pump
presented in Table 1, considering the same fluid on prototype (Grundfos type UPS 15-50 CES 87, named PP), four valves
and model (ρp =ρm, and ηp = ηm , where ρ and η are the fluid (1 inch diameter), and flexible pipes (1 inch diameter, except
density and viscosity respectively) . for the supply pipe of the pump which is 1-1/2 inch diameter).
Based on the Froude similarity, Frp = Frm, the ratio of A sketch of the test rig is presented in Figure 3 with all the
Reynolds number on prototype to model is Rep/Rep = λ3/2, relevant elements named as above.
that means a smaller Reynolds number in the model than The channel (with geometrical scale 25:1, λ = 25) has been
prototype. built as a metallic structure on a welded equal wing angle
TABLE I (40x40x2) skeleton, with the sides made of galvanized
RATIOS BETWEEN CORRESPONDING PARAMETERS IN PROTOTYPE AND MODEL
stainless steel (2 mm thick), except for the frontal side which
Froude Reynolds is made of glass. The sides are glued to the welded structure,
Ratio
Fr = V2/(g·L) Re = ρ·V·L/η
either metal on metal or glass on metal.
Lp/Lm λ λ The flume is ended with a V-notch weir having the base of
1/2
tp/tm λ λ-1
Vp/Vm λ1/2 λ2
5/2
Qp/Qm λ λ
3
Fp/Fm λ 1
pp/pm λ λ-2

The scale of the model λ = 25/1, to adapt the prototype

conditions to laboratory conditions (Fluid Mechanics and
Environment Laboratory within Hydraulic, Hydraulic
Machinery and Environment Engineering Depart., Power
Eng. Faculty, U.P.B, http://www.hydrop.pub.ro/). Here, not
only geometrical sizes are a problem, but also the flow rates a)
on the channel.
For maximum flow rates usually involved in RoR SHPs of
(0.515 ÷ 0.542) m3/s, Figure 1 presents the flow rate variation
for different scales. In Figure 2 an enlarged detail was created
to highlight the chosen scale.

b)

Fig. 1. Model flow rate vs. prototype flow rate at different scales.

c)
Fig. 3. Test rig of the flume with the removal baffles arranged as for a
fish ladder. a) Frontal view of the flume; b) Top view; c) Top view with
another type of baffles arrangement.

200 mm and placed at 100 mm above the flume bed.

Fig. 2. Enlarged detail on the flow rate domain of the prototype
for the range (0 ÷ 2.0) m3/s, pertaining to Figure 1.
The flume is operating with zero slope or different slopes
which are obtained placing a screw nut in the upstream end of
the flume (as in Figure 3.a).
The flume is transformed in a fish ladder using plexiglass
removal baffles with different geometric configurations as in
Figure 4. The baffles are sealed downstream with silicone and
can be changed, in order to obtain different types of fish
ladders with different sizes (the distance between baffles can
be 300 mm or 600 mm, for example).
The experimental test rig offers different types of flow
regimes which depends on the flow rate. The water supply of
the flume can be made using the pump (which offer three
types of flow rates named PP_1, PP_2, PP_3) and the
constant level reservoir (CLR). The water in the reservoir is
supplied from the water supply network (CLR+QWSN) or from
the pump (CLR+PP_2; CLR+PP_3). So, the test rig can
Fig. 4. Different types of baffles: weir fish ladder with submerged orifice (a)
and (b); vertical slot fish ladder (c) and (e); Denil fish ladder (d).
Fig. 5. Flow rates and operating mode in the test rig. The "opening valve" is
for valve V1 and V2.
Fig. 6. Weir flow rate characteristic
operate in open or closed circuit respectively. For all
operating conditions the flow rates are plotted in Figure 5.
In the test rig the weir was calibrated by measuring the
volume of water that passed through the weir in time
(volumetric flow rate Q = V/t) and the water level (h) above
the crest.
Has been used the least square calibration method [7] to
determine the calibration curve of the weir by using the all 91
data sets of measurements (Q, h).
Assumed that the flow rate of a weir is defined by:
Q = Ch m (1)
and making the transformation:
ln Q = ln C + m ⋅ ln h , (2)
we adopt the function, F to be minimum:
N
F=  [yi − (B + m ⋅ xi )] 2 = min , (3)
i =1
with = ln , = ln and = lnℎ.
It was calculated C = 0.5353 and m = 2.3788.
So, the analytic formula for the weir flow rate is:
Q = 0.5353 h2.3788. (4)
The weir characteristic curve and the flow rate domain are
plotted in Figure 6.
IV. CASE STUDY
The test rig is used in the study of the hydraulic behavior of
different types of fish ladder. It was considered the zero-slope
fish ladder with submerged orifice for the baffles, Fig. 4.a.
The measurements were made for three scenarios: A -
alternating baffles in small pool (Fig. 3.b); B - baffles one
row in small pools (Fig. 3.c); C - baffles one row in large
pools (Fig. 7). The operation mode and the measurements are
listed in Table II. The hydraulic notations for the
measurements are detailed in Figure 7.
The water level from the bottom to the surface was
measured in each pool and the velocity for each head loss
between pools, Δh, was calculated assuming that the velocity
in the upstream pool is neglected [8] and v = 2 Δℎ the local
velocity on the submerge orifice.
The mean value, vmed, of local velocities values, v, are listed
in Table II. The flow rate was measured, Qmsd, by using the
V-notch weir. The velocities obtained for each scenario and
operation mode in the test rig are compared in Figure 8.
TABLE II
MEASUREMENTS IN THE FISH LADDER WITH SUBMERGED ORIFICE
Scenario
test rig (PP_1_100, with valve V1 100% opening), the
following have been noticed:
- in one row baffles large pools (scenario C), the
velocity is 17.95% less than in alternating baffles in
small pools (scenario A) and
- velocity in scenario C is 25.64% less than in baffles
one row small pools (scenario B).
V. FINAL REMARKS
The paper presents an experimental laboratory model of a

Operation z1 z2 z3 z4 z5 vmed fish ladder regarding the design, operation mode and

Qmsd
l/s
Mode mm mm mm mm mm m/s hydraulic behavior. The research started from the need of
having efficient fish ladders, to be used in the longitudinal
PP_2_100 A 273 241 212 177 145 0.35 0.79
connectivity restoration along the stream flow with run-of-
PP_2_50 A 258 229 200 172 143 0.34 0.75 river small hydropower plants. The stand is multifunctional
PP_1_100 A 179 168 157 146 135 0.18 0.46 because it allows several modes of operation with maximum
PP_1_100 C 167 155 149 142 135 0.2 0.39 flow rates of 0.7 l/s on a geometrical scale of λ = 25. The
Operation z12 z34 z5 vmed stand allows the experimental modeling of different types of
Qmsd

Scenario
l/s
Mode mm mm mm m/s fish ladders not only with different geometries, but also with
CLR_PP_ different pool sizes, as seen from the example presented. If
B 149 253 188 0.32 1.00
2_50 the stand is equipped with modern visualization equipment,
PP_1_100 B 135 160 145 0.48 0.49 the possibilities of studying the hydraulic behavior of the fish
One can notice that, if the flume flow rates are large, then ladder improve, making this experimental platform even more
the velocities are large too, and the type of the fish ladder (the useful.
scenario considered) is not so important. In this case the Experimental research of fish ladders is at the beginning on
turbulence is too high to allow the biological condition this experimental set-up. Measurements of oxygen content
accepted in fish ladder design to be met [8]. Comparing dissolved in water for each type of fish ladder will provide
scenario C with A and B for the same operation mode of the useful information on the effectiveness of different types of
fish ladders and how will be influenced the fish health status.
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Nexus in Selected OECD Countries, Int. J. Energy Economics and Policy,
2015, 5(2), 507-514.
[2] G. Năstase, A. Şerban, A. F. Năstase, G. Dragomir, A. I. Brezeanu, N. F.
Iordan, "Hydropower development in Romania. A review from its
beginnings to the present", Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 80
(2017) 297–312.
[3] V. Câmpeanu, S. Pencea, “Renewable energy sources in Romania: from a
“paradise” of investors to a possible abandon or to another boom? The
impact of a new paradigm in Romanian renewable sources policy”,
Procedia Economics and Finance 8 ( 2014 ) 129 – 137.
[4] D. E. Gogoaşe Nistoran, C. S. Ionescu, L. Braşoveanu, I. Armaş, I. Opriş,
and S. Costinaş, "Modeling Hydrodynamic Changes Induced by Run-of-
River Hydropower Plants along the Prahova River in Romania", J. Energy
Eng., 2018, 144(2): 04017078.
[5] L. Toombes, and H. Chanson, “Numerical Limitations of Hydraulic
Models”, 34th IAHR World Congress, Balance and Uncertainty; 33rd
Fig. 7. Sketches of the fish ladder with baffles arrangement and hydraulic Hydrology & Water Resources Symposium, 10th Hydraulics Conference, 26
notations for measurements and calculus. June 1 July 2011, Brisbane, Australia,
http://staff.civil.uq.edu.au/h.chanson/reprints/iahr_2011_tc.pdf (Jan 5/2019)
[6] F. M. Henderson, Open Channel Flow, Macmillan Co., 1966, pp. 488-509
[7] D. Moore and G. McCabe, Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, 5th ed.,
New York: W.H. Freeman and Co., 2006.
[8] C. Katopodis, Introduction to fish design, Technical Report, 1992, pp. 16.
https://www.engr.colostate.edu/~pierre/ce_old/classes/ce717/Manuals/ (Jan
10/2019

Fig. 8. Mean velocities obtained due to the head loss between pools, for the
scenarios described, at different test rig operation modes.