Floating River Module for Fish Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Migratory fish face barriers and risks when navigating around dams and power plants, including injury and disease from turbine tunnels and difficulty finding their way downstream due to altered river courses, which complicates energy production and environmental preservation.

Innovation Solution

A floating river system composed of modular units with buoys and submerged vertical wall elements, featuring horizontal keel elements for guidance and stabilization, allowing fish to follow natural instincts while avoiding hazards, and incorporating counting and identification systems for monitoring fish populations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If traditional dams and power plants are built to meet energy production needs, then energy production capability is improved, but migratory fish passage is blocked and fish are exposed to injury and disease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy production capabilityVSAvoidfish injury and disease

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the river into multiple compartments separated by vertical wall elements, creating a controlled environment that guides fish safely past the dam while maintaining the dam's energy production function. The floating river system divides the water flow into distinct channels that prevent fish from entering hazardous turbine areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The floating river system acts as an intermediary structure between the dam and the natural river, providing a safe passage route for fish. This intermediate structure includes vertical walls that form protective channels and buoyant elements that maintain the passage's position and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If fish ladders or turbine passage systems are built to allow fish migration, then fish passage capability is improved, but water consumption increases and construction costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefish passage capabilityVSAvoidwater consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The floating river system utilizes the natural flow of the river itself to transport fish downstream, eliminating the need for additional water pumping or complex mechanical transport systems. The vertical walls and buoyant elements work passively with the existing water flow to guide fish safely through the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If fish ladders or deep water passages are constructed to enable fish migration, then fish passage route is provided, but landscape value is reduced and construction expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefish passage routeVSAvoidconstruction expense

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses thin vertical wall elements and buoyant components that are less visually intrusive than traditional massive concrete structures. These elements form the necessary guidance channels while maintaining a more aesthetically pleasing appearance that preserves landscape value.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The floating river system is dynamically adaptable, with buoyant elements that can adjust to varying water levels and flow conditions. This flexibility reduces the need for expensive fixed infrastructure and allows the system to respond naturally to environmental changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If the river course is altered through artificial renovation for energy production, then energy production efficiency is improved, but fish navigation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy production efficiencyVSAvoidfish navigation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The floating river system is positioned in advance to intercept and guide fish before they can become disoriented by the altered river course. The vertical walls create predetermined safe passage routes that lead fish away from hazardous areas and toward safe downstream exits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The floating river system effectively guides fish through safe routes, reducing injuries and disease, maintaining environmental integrity and energy production efficiency, while providing data for fish population studies and management.

Implementation Method 1

A floating river module (M), (M') has at least one buoy (3), (3') to float the other parts (1), (2) of said module (M), (M'), such as vertical wall element (2) and at least one horizontal keel element (1)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS12060687B2Floating river

Publication Date: 2024.08.13 KALASYDAN OY

AI summary

Disclosed is a floating river module that has at least one buoy to float also the other parts of the module, the other parts including an at least partly sub-merged vertical wall element being solidly attached to the buoy, the vertical wall element including a horizontal keel element. Also disclosed is a floating river system formed from such modules for guidance of fish.