Water flow regulator

Abstract

Water flow regulator (1) of a fish passage of lined-up, water-bearing sub-elements (3), which is arranged outside the water intake space (15) of an upstream sub-element (3) and is oriented towards the following downstream sub-element (3), characterized in that the water flow regulator (1) as a functional unit (2.1, 2.2) comprising a base plate (4) and sub-regulators (11) is non-permanently fixed to the upstream sub-element (3) and is vertically adjustable.

Description

Technical Field.The invention relates to water flow regulation in a fish descent.Prior Art.Fish stairs for fish ascents and fish descents are described in detail. These are artificially designed water guides for fish migration to the surface of a flow water (fish rise) or fish migration to the surface of a flow water (fish fall). Fish descents are mostly located in river waters at hydroelectric plants or other cross-structures. The passage through a fish descent replaces the passage with water turbines or a fall of great height, with a risk of injury or fatal outcome to fish. Fish descents can be built alone or in combination as fish ascent and descent. Modern fish descents consist of several partial elements lined up and carrying water. The regulation of the water flow in a fish descent is important for an efficient and injury-free passage of fish from the surface into the subsea.CN 215977088 and US 4,260,286 describe smooth and continuous fish descents without regulating the water flow. DE 202010001343 U1 describes a combined fish rise and fish fall with dust corners arranged one behind the other, wherein permanently integrated and non-adjustable baffle plates and deflecting plates in the dust corners influence the flow conditions for rise and fall. EP3456884 describes a fish ascent system comprising individual basins arranged in a row and the regulation of the water flow takes place in each case within the water receiving space of a partial element, by means of fixedly installed flow ramp and water guiding walls. Adapting / switching of baffle plates, ramps or walls installed in the water intake spaces is time-consuming and can often be carried out only after complete interruption of the water flow.CN 118668655 A describes a hydraulically driven adaptive entry gate for a fish rise with two gate openings, in the underwater. When the water level of the underwater is changed, the opening of the inlet is hydraulically controlled in such a way that the water flow creates a fish-attracting water flow. As the water level rises, built-in hydraulic buoys float up and drive special pulleys to rotate such that both gate openings are moved and the opening of the inlet gate is reduced. When the water level falls, the hydraulic buoys float down and drive the pulleys to rotate in the opposite direction, moving both ports and increasing the inlet port opening. The method described here for hydraulically regulating the water flow rate cannot be implemented technically and is too cost-intensive when used in individual basins of a fish descending installation arranged in a row. DE102022002208A1 describes forms of water flow regulation via individual variable regulators applied to subcomponents.Known fish descents lack extensive technical-design designs for improved regulation of the water flow, in particular with changing flow conditions of the flow water. Existing fish descents carry non-adjustable or adjustable regulators installed in the water intake chamber, which are difficult to access during the water flow. Existing fish descents also have devices for regulating the flow of water which are unsuitable in their arrangement and / or surface design for efficient and injury-free transfer of the fish from surface water to surface water.Object of the invention.The object of the invention is to create new technical solutions for regulating the water flow in a fish descent.The invention is based on the additional object of carrying out necessary adaptations of the water flow regulation as a result of changed water levels in the flow water in a time-saving and cost-saving manner.It is a further object of the invention to provide new technical solutions for retrofitting non-regulated or inefficiently regulated fish descents.The invention achieves these objects according to the characterizing part of claim 1 in that the water flow regulator is a vertically adjustable functional unit consisting of base plate and sub-regulators.The dependent claims indicate advantageous design possibilities.The term "fish descent" used above and below describes a stringing together of a plurality of tub-shaped water-conducting partial elements comprising two side walls, two end walls and a base, wherein the walls and base form a water-receiving space. The partial elements arranged in a row are connected to one another at the end walls. The water flow follows the arrangement of the sub-elements from surface water to surface water, so that each sub-element has a region for water inflow and water outflow.The terms "water flow regulator" used above and below describe technical devices for regulating the amount of water flowing and thus the flow rate in a fish descent.The terms "subregulator" used above and below describe technical devices as part of the functional unit according to the invention, for regulating the amount of water flowing.The term "water flow-regulated fish descent" used above and below describes a fish descent with regulation of the water flow according to the invention. The term "uncontrolled fish descent" used above and below refers to a fish descent without regulating the water flow according to the invention.The term "upper water level" used above and below refers to the water level in the upper water of a fish descent, and the term "lower water level" used above and below refers to the water level in the underwater of a fish descent.The term "water flow" used above and below is a superordinate term for describing flowing water quantity and flow speed in a fish descent.The water flow regulator disclosed here in the form of a height-adjustable functional unit for water flow regulation installed outside a water receiving space advantageously replaces conventional regulators in a fish descent.All water-conducting sub-elements of a fish descent have the same width. They are offset in height with respect to one another, whereby a step-like overcoming of the difference in height from surface water to surface water is achieved. The partial elements offset in height relative to one another are adjacent at their opposite end walls. The end wall height of the higher-lying sub-element is shortened by the amount of the offset between the sub-elements, and the upper sides of the end walls of the sub-elements lying against one another end flush.Existing water-conducting sub-elements of the described type are designed with an internal wall dimension in the size range between 300 millimeters and 1000 millimeters, depending on the water flow at the surface. More broadly dimensioned sub-elements have an internal wall dimension in the range of between 1000 millimeters and 1500 millimeters. Accordingly, the outer dimension of a water flow regulator according to the invention is in the size range between 300 millimeters and 1000 millimeters, and with more broadly dimensioned subcomponents in the size range between 1000 millimeters and 1500 millimeters.The higher water-conducting sub-element carries on its end wall lying in the direction of flow a non-permanently fixed water flow regulator according to the invention for the regulated guidance of the flowing water into the following lower water-conducting sub-element of the fish descent. Due to the step-like arrangement of the successive water-conducting sub-elements, the water flow regulator is at the level of the water level of the upper sub-element and above the water level of the lower sub-element. The water flow regulator is height-adjustable and thereby regulates the flow rate of the water. A water jet regulated by the water flow regulator is directed via the subregulator fall plate into the water container of the following water-conducting sub-element.In a preferred embodiment, a water flow regulator according to the invention consists of a base plate and two subregulators in the form of a fallover plate and water gate having two individual gates which form a functional unit. An individual gate is angled once, wherein the angular dimension corresponds to the internal angle of the long base side and leg side of the trapezoidal fall-over sheet. An individual gate thus has a non-curved sub-region and a curved sub-region. The base plate, the overfall sheet and the two individual ports form a functional unit. The base plate, the fall-over plate and the two individual ports are permanently connected to one another, the trapezoidal and horizontally standing fall-over plate resting with its long base side on the upper edge of the vertically standing base plate and its limb sides resting against the lower edges of the bent subregion of vertically standing left and right individual ports. The non-bent partial region of an individual door projects beyond the long base side of the trapezoidal fall-over sheet. The base plate and both individual ports each have a vertical elongated hole for fixing the water flow regulator to a water-conducting partial element. The fixing is effected in each case by means of an elongated hole fastening which is guided through the vertical elongated hole and a corresponding bore in a wall of the water-conducting partial element. The corresponding bores are located in the left and right side walls and in the end wall of a water-conducting partial element lying in the flow direction. The vertical slot of an individual door lies in the non-bent partial region which projects beyond the long base side of the trapezoidal fall-over plate. The non-bent partial region lies on the inside of a side wall of a water-conducting partial element in such a way that the vertical slot and bore are aligned and are connected to one another by means of slot fastening. The base plate of the water flow regulator lies perpendicularly on the inside of the end wall of a partial element lying in the flow direction, such that the vertical slot and the bore are aligned. An elongated hole fastening guided through here fixes the base plate to the end wall. The water flow regulator is thus non-permanently fixed at three positions at the transition between two water-conducting elements. By releasing all elongated hole attachments and vertically adjusting the functional unit upwards or downwards, the water flow can be regulated.The non-permanent fixing by means of elongated hole fastening to vertical elongated holes is advantageously effected with a screw, plug, screw plug or another technical embodiment known to the person skilled in the art.In a further preferred embodiment, the base plate and the individual ports bear a plurality of vertical slots for non-permanent fixing to the side walls and to the end wall, lying in the direction of flow, of a water-conducting sub-element, wherein the side walls and the end wall have a number of bores corresponding to the number of vertical slots.In one configuration of the preferred water flow regulator, the length of a vertical slot is greater than or equal to 50 millimeters, preferably greater than or equal to 100 millimeters, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 150 millimeters.In a preferred embodiment, a single gate is rectangular.The structural configuration of the length and the shape of a fallover plate and attached elements of a fallover plate contribute to regulating the water flow in the fish descent. In an advantageous embodiment of the overfall sheet, the latter carries an overfall lip which is adjustable in angle on its short long side. By changing the angular position of the overflow lip upwards or downwards, the flow rate is regulated. The angular position is manually adjustable.In a further advantageous embodiment, the overflow lip is automatically adjustable, in the semi-automatic or fully automatic technical designs known to a person skilled in the art.In further embodiments, not shown, the fall-over plate has a completely and a partially uniaxially concavely curved surface.The vertical adjustment of the water flow regulator can be effected manually or electronically controlled, in the technical embodiments known to a person skilled in the art.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the water flow regulator according to the invention consists of a base plate and three subregulators in the form of a fallover plate, water gate having two individual gates and two slide regulators, which form a functional unit. The base plate, the fall-over plate and the two individual ports are permanently connected to one another, the trapezoidal and horizontally standing fall-over plate resting with its long base side on the upper edge of the vertically standing base plate and its limb sides resting against the lower edges of the bent subregion of vertically standing left and right individual ports. A vertically oriented sliding regulator is non-permanently connected to the left-hand vertically oriented individual gate, and the second vertically oriented sliding regulator is non-permanently connected to the right-hand vertically oriented individual gate, in each case in the bent partial region of the individual gate.In the particularly preferred embodiment with three sub-regulators, the base plate and the two individual ports each have a vertical slot for fixing the water flow regulator to a water-conducting sub-element. The fixing is effected in each case by means of an elongated hole fastening which is guided through the vertical elongated hole and a corresponding bore in a wall of the water-conducting partial element. The corresponding bores are located in the left and right side walls and in the end wall of a water-conducting partial element lying in the flow direction. The vertical slot of an individual door lies in the non-bent partial region which projects beyond the long base side of the trapezoidal fall-over plate. The non-bent partial region lies on the inside of a side wall of a water-conducting partial element in such a way that the vertical slot and bore are aligned and are connected to one another by means of slot fastening. The base plate of the water flow regulator lies perpendicularly on the inside of the end wall of a partial element lying in the flow direction, such that the vertical slot and the bore are aligned. An elongated hole fastening guided through here fixes the base plate to the end wall. The water flow regulator is thus non-permanently fixed at three positions at the transition between two water-conducting elements. By releasing all elongated hole attachments and vertically adjusting the functional unit upwards or downwards, the water flow can be regulated. An additional water flow regulation takes place via slide regulators. A vertically upright slide regulator is non-permanently fixed to the individual door by means of an elongate hole fastening via a horizontal elongate hole in the slide regulator and a corresponding bore in the free end of a vertically upright individual door. Both slide regulators are fixed in such a way in a position relative to the fall-over plate and form a water outlet opening of a specific width. By releasing the elongated hole fastening and horizontally adjusting both slide regulators toward the fallover plate, the water outlet opening is widened, and by horizontally adjusting both slide regulators away from the fallover plate, the water outlet opening is narrowed, as a result of which the water flow can be regulated.In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the base plate and the individual ports bear a plurality of vertical slots for non-permanent fixing to the side walls and to the end wall, lying in the direction of flow, of a water-conducting sub-element, wherein the side walls and the end wall have a number of bores corresponding to the number of vertical slots.The non-permanent fixing by means of elongated hole fastening to vertical elongated holes and to horizontal elongated holes is advantageously effected with a screw, plug, screw plug or another technical embodiment known to the person skilled in the art.In one configuration of the particularly preferred water flow regulator, the length of a vertical slot is greater than or equal to 50 millimeters, preferably greater than or equal to 100 millimeters, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 150 millimeters.In one configuration of the particularly preferred water flow regulator, the length of a horizontal elongated hole is greater than or equal to 50 millimeters, preferably greater than or equal to 100 millimeters, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 150 millimeters.The vertical adjustment of the water flow regulator can be effected manually or electronically controlled, in the technical embodiments known to a person skilled in the art.In an advantageous embodiment of the overfall sheet, the latter carries an overfall lip which is adjustable in angle on its short long side. By changing the angular position of the overflow lip upwards or downwards, the flow rate is regulated. The angular position is manually adjustable.In a further advantageous embodiment, the overflow lip is automatically adjustable, in the semi-automatic or fully automatic technical designs known to a person skilled in the art.In further embodiments, not shown, the fall-over plate has a completely and a partially uniaxially concavely curved surface.The structural configuration of the length and the shape of a fallover plate and attached elements of a fallover plate contribute to regulating the water flow in the fish descent.The structural design of the water regulator according to the invention as a height-adjustable functional unit, further adjustment possibilities on the subregulators and the easy accessibility on account of the positioning outside a water-receiving space make it possible to regulate the water flow in a differentiated manner in the fish descent.The positioning of the water regulator according to the invention outside the water receiving space and the non-permanent fixing allow simple access for maintenance and replacement.The material of the base plate, the fall-over plate, the water gate and the slider is water-resistant. The material is preferably a metal. In a preferred embodiment, the material is a stainless steel. In a further preferred embodiment, the material is a plastic-coated stainless steel. In a further structural embodiment, the material is a water-resistant nonmetal.The materials used for a water flow regulator are environmentally friendly, but do not remove compounds which are harmful to the environment. The materials used are smooth and their construction allows the injury-free passage of fish and thus their injury-free transfer from an upper water level through the water flow-regulated fish descent to a lower water level.The water regulator according to the invention is illustrated and explained in more detail below with reference to drawings, wherein the drawings only represent exemplary embodiments. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a top view of a functional unit with a slide regulator FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a slider functional unit FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a functional unit with slide control connected to a water-conducting partial element FIG. 4 is a top view of a functional unit without a slider FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a functional unit without a slider FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a portion of a water flow regulated fish descent.In FIGS. 1 to 3 the essential structural features of the water regulator according to the invention are shown in simplified form.FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show an embodiment of the height-adjustable water flow regulator 1, as a functional unit 2.1 with slide regulator 9. the functional unit 2.1 consists of a base plate 4, a fallover plate 7, a water gate 6 with two individual gates 6.1 and two slide regulators 9. base plate 4, fallover plate 7 and both individual gates 6.1 are permanently connected to one another, wherein the horizontally standing and trapezoidally formed fallover plate 7 rests with its long base side on the upper edge of the base plate 4 and its limb sides abut the lower edges of the left and right vertically standing individual gates 6.1 (FIG. 2 ). As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base plate 4 and both individual ports 6.1 each have a vertical elongated hole A, which serves for fixing to a water-conducting partial element 3 (FIG. 3 ). The fixing is effected in each case via an elongated hole fastening 10, which is guided through elongated hole A and a bore A°. Bores A° are located in both side walls 14 of the upstream water-conducting sub-element 3 and in the end wall of the sub-element 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. FIG. 1 shows that the vertical elongated hole A of an individual door 6.1 lies in the non-bent partial region of the individual door 6.1, wherein this partial region lies on the inside of a side wall 14 of a water-conducting partial element 3 in such a way that elongated hole A and bore A° lie in alignment. Base plate 4 bears on the inside against end wall 5 of a sub-element, such that slot A and bore A° are in alignment. Elongated hole fastenings 10 guided through here are held with a screw nut each. The functional unit 2.1 is thus non-permanently fixed at three positions at the transition between two water-conducting elements 3. By loosening the nuts and vertically adjusting the functional unit 2.1, an upward or downward height adjustment can be effected, whereby the water flow is regulated, see FIG. 3.The fallover plate 7 of the functional unit 2.1 is seated on its short base side with a fallover lip 8, which is angled upwards or downwards relative to the fallover plate 7 and thus also regulates the water flow, see FIGS. 1-3.Shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 3 are two bores B° in the free ends of the individual doors 6.1, as well as two horizontal elongated holes B in both slide regulators 9. By loosening the nuts and horizontally adjusting the slide regulators, widening or narrowing of the water outlet opening 13 can take place, as a result of which the water flow is regulated.FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further embodiment of the height-adjustable water regulator 1, as a functional unit 2.2 without a slider 9. Base plate 4, fall-over plate 7 and both individual ports 6.1 are permanently connected to one another, wherein the horizontally standing and trapezoidally formed fall-over plate 7 rests with its long base side on the upper edge of the base plate 4 and its limb sides rest on the lower edges of the left and right individual ports 6.1 standing vertically (FIG. 5 ). As can be seen in FIG. 5, the base plate 4 and both individual ports 6.1 each have a vertical elongated hole A, which serves for fixing to a water-conducting partial element 3. The fixing is effected in each case via an elongated hole fastening 10, which is guided through elongated hole A and a bore A°. Bores A° are located in both side walls 14 of the upstream water-conducting partial element 3 and in the end wall of the partial element 3, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 1 shows that the vertical slot A of an individual door 6.1 lies in the non-bent partial region of the individual door 6.1, wherein this partial region lies on the inside of a side wall 14 of a water-conducting partial element 3 in such a way that slot A and bore A° lie in alignment. Base plate 4 bears on the inside against end wall 5 of a sub-element, such that slot A and bore A° are in alignment. Elongated hole fastenings 10 guided through here are held with a screw nut each. The functional unit 2.2 is thus non-permanently fixed at three positions at the transition between two water-conducting elements 3. By loosening the nuts and vertically adjusting the functional unit 2.2, an upward or downward height adjustment can be effected, whereby the water flow is regulated, see FIG. 5.The overflow plate 7 of the functional unit 2.2 is seated on its short base side with an overflow lip 8 (see FIG. 4 ) which is angled downward relative to the overflow plate 7 and thus also regulates the water flow, as shown in FIG. 5.FIG. 6 shows, by way of example, an embodiment of a fish descent with three water-conducting subcomponents 3 between an upper water level C and a lower water level D. All water-conducting subcomponents 3 are of straight shape and carry a terminally installed functional unit 2.1, so that water flow is regulated over the entire fish descent via respective height regulation of the entire functional unit 2.1 and via size regulation of the water outlet opening 13.The advantages of the described water flow regulator are the improved individual water flow regulation of sections of a fish descent and thus the improved overall regulation of water flow in a fish descent; easy access to the water flow regulator for maintenance and replacement; less expensive retroposition to existing conventional fish descent without water flow regulation or with ineffective water flow regulation; increased survival rate and reduced frequency of injury of descending fish; sustainability.The water flow regulator according to the invention has been described above with reference to embodiments. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments and changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims and the knowledge of a person skilled in the art, in particular with respect to the material nature and configuration of the water regulator, without thereby departing from the inventive concept on which this device is based.List of reference characters.1 Water regulator 2.1 Functional unit with slide regulator 2.2 Functional unit without slide regulator 3 Water-conducting sub-element 4 Base plate 5 End wall 6 Water gate 6.1 Water gate single gate 7 Fall plate 8 Fall plate 9 Slide regulator 10 Elongated hole fastening 11 Sub-regulator 13 Water outlet opening 14 Side wall 15 Water receiving space A Vertical elongated hole A° Bore to A B Horizontal elongated hole B° Bore to B C Upper water level D Lower water level ↔ adjustment in vertical, horizontal ↔ adjustment of water outlet openingReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedCN 215977088

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,286

[0003] DE 202010001343 U1

[0003] EP 3456884

[0003] CN 118668655 A

[0004] DE 102022002208A1

[0004]

Claims

Water flow regulator (1) of a fish descent of water-conducting sub-elements (3) which are arranged in a row and are arranged outside the water absorption space (15) of an upstream sub-element (3) and are oriented toward the downstream sub-element (3) following, characterized in that the water flow regulator (1) is fixed non-permanently to the upstream sub-element (3) and can be adjusted in the vertical direction as a functional unit (2.1, 2.2) comprising a base plate (4) and sub-regulators (11).Water flow regulator (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that subregulators (11) are designed as a fall-over plate (7), water gate (6) having two individual gates (6.1) and slide regulator (9).Water flow regulator (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (4) is designed as a rectangular planar element and is connected, standing vertically, permanently to the upper edge of the long base side of the trapezoidal fall-over plate (7) and carries a vertical slot (A) for non-permanent fastening to the end wall (5) of the water-conducting part element (3).Water flow regulator (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the fall-over plate (7) is designed as a trapezoidal planar element, and is permanently connected on its long base side to the upper edge of the perpendicularly standing base plate (4), and is permanently connected on both limb sides to the lower edge of the left and right perpendicularly standing individual ports (6.1) of a water port (6).Water flow regulator (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the water gate (6) consists of two individual gates (6.1) standing vertically, wherein an individual gate (6.1) carries vertical elongated holes (A) for non-permanent fastening to a side wall (14) of a water-conducting partial element (3), and wherein an individual gate (6.1) is permanently connected at its lower edge to a leg side of the fallover plate (7).Water flow regulator (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that a slide regulator (9) is designed as a rectangular planar element and is connected non-permanently to an individual door (6.1) via horizontal slots (B) in a perpendicular manner, wherein the slide regulator can be adjusted in the direction of the downstream sub-element (3) or in the direction of the upstream sub-element (3), and where an adjustable water outlet opening (13) is formed in the case of the configuration of both individual doors (6.1) of a water door (6) according to the invention.Water flow regulator (1) according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the base plate (4), the overfall sheet (7), the water gate (6) having two individual gates (6.1) and the slide regulator (9) form a functional unit (2.1) which can be adjusted in the vertical direction.Water flow regulator (1) according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the base plate (4), the overfall sheet (7) and the water gate (6) with two individual gates (6.1) form a functional unit (2.2) which can be adjusted in the vertical direction.Water flow regulator (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the short base side of the fall-over plate (7) is angled upwards.Water flow regulator (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the short base side of the fall-over plate (7) is angled downwards.Water flow regulator (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the surface of the fall-over sheet (7) is uniaxially concavely curved.Water flow-regulated fish descent comprising a plurality of interconnected water-conducting subcomponents (3) with water flow regulators forming a flow path, according to the preceding claims.

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