Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), successfully completed field testing of a new application of a flow measurement technology called the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The testing was done at Chief Joseph Dam near Bridgeport, Washington. Designed for short converging intakes—the internal conveyance structure that run-of-river dams have instead of a traditional penstock—PNNL’s flow measurement technology provides an accurate, easily deployable alternative to conventional measurement techniques.

Measuring the flow rate for short converging intakes is a critical component of assessing a hydropower unit’s efficiency—a key metric in ensuring performance requirements are met as well as a primary indicator of the unit’s health. Historically, however, flow rate has been challenging to measure. Working closely with USACE, PNNL deployed the ADCP to track a number of different flow rate scenarios on one of Chief Joseph Dam’s turbine-generator units. PNNL’s tests addressed the conventional challenges of flow measurement in short converging intakes with the ADCP, which uses Doppler effect reflections of sound off of particles suspended in the water to detect how fast the water is flowing, similar to a baseball radar gun.  

Accurate flow measurement is key for hydropower performance testing and for unit condition monitoring. The technology presents a promising option for dam owners/operators to more accurately and easily track flows from short converging intakes. Additionally, it can help river management including water resources planning, pollution prevention, and flood control.

Supported by the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), the new flow meter for short converging intakes is part of an ongoing multi-year research effort. A technical report will be published by the end of fiscal year 2019 providing full testing methodology, procedure, and results and will be available on both the PNNL and WPTO websites.

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) supports early-stage research and development of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies that make energy more affordable and strengthen the reliability, resilience, and security of the U.S. electric grid. For more information on water power research, development, and testing, see the EERE Water Power Technology Office’s website.