Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Flow characteristics in tailrace: understanding how hydrodynamics may attract fish to hydropower plant in South America

Hersília A. Santos A E , Bernardo Duarte B , Abgail Pinheiro B , Deborah Cruz C and Guilherme Souza D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Avenida Amazonas 7675, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP 30510-000, Brazil.

B Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Avenida João Naves de Ávila 2121, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, CEP 384000-902, Brazil.

C Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologia Ambiental e Recursos Hídricos, Universidade de Brasilia, Anexo SG-12, Brasília, Distrito Federal, CEP 70910-900, Brazil.

D Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Avenida Amazonas 7675, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP 30510-000, Brazil.

E Corresponding author. Email: hsantos@cefetmg.br

Marine and Freshwater Research 69(12) 1962-1973 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18135
Submitted: 4 April 2018  Accepted: 3 August 2018   Published: 8 November 2018

Abstract

Hydropower plant (HPP) operation may influence downstream flow regimes, which can affect the fish movement. In South America, tailrace fisheries are often killed or injured when interacting with spillways and turbines. Hydrodynamic flow-pattern studies are essential to facilitate mitigation. We developed a computational fluid dynamics model to investigate flow downstream of Três Marias HPP (Brazil). Included in the model were the draft tubes, tailrace and a 3-km river reach. We simulated a common scenario consisting of three active turbines on the right side of the powerhouse (109.6, 108.0 and 108.0 m3 s–1) and three inactive turbines, by using Ansys Fluent (ver. 12). We identified a straight discharge plume from the right-most turbine that was constrained by the right-side wall. Further, there was the generation of significant plumes from Turbines 2 and 3. The maximum velocities in these plumes appears not to be a barrier for Pimelodus maculatus and Prochilodus costatus, because their prolonged swimming speeds for their maximum total length were higher than the modelled velocities. The results will support mitigation decisions such as fish passage and turbine-screen design in this particular HPP and may be a model for further studies in the South America.

Additional keywords: freshwater and flow regulation, simulation, water column.


References

Adib, R., Murdock, H. E., Appavou, F., Brown, A., Epp, B., Leidreiter, A., Lins, C., Murdock, H. E., Musolino, E., Petrichenko, K., and Farrell, T. C. (2015). Renewables 2015 global status report. REN21 Secretariat, Paris, France.

Agostinho, A. A., Gomes, L. C., Suzuki, H. I., and Júlio, H. F. Jr (2003). Migratory fish of the upper Paraná River Basin, Brazil. In ‘Migratory Fishes of South America: Biology, Social Importance’. (Eds J. Carolsfeld, B. Harvey, A. Baer, and C. Ross.) pp. 19–98. (World Fisheries Trust: Victoria, BC, Canada.)

Agostinho, A. A., Gomes, L. C., Veríssimo, S., and Okada, E. K. (2004). Flood regime, dam regulation and fish in the Upper Paraná River: effects on assemblage attributes, reproduction and recruitment. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 14, 11–19.
Flood regime, dam regulation and fish in the Upper Paraná River: effects on assemblage attributes, reproduction and recruitment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Agostinho, C. S., Agostinho, A. A., Pelicice, F. M., Almeida, D. A., and Marques, E. E. (2007). Selectivity of fish ladders: the first bottleneck in fish movement. Neotropical Ichthyology 5, 205–213.
Selectivity of fish ladders: the first bottleneck in fish movement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Alves, C. B. M. (2007). Evaluation of fish passage through the Igarapé Dam fish ladder (rio Paraopeba, Brazil), using marking and recapture. Neotropical Ichthyology 5, 233–236.
Evaluation of fish passage through the Igarapé Dam fish ladder (rio Paraopeba, Brazil), using marking and recapture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Alvim, M. C. C., and Peret, A. C. (2004). Food resources sustaining the fish fauna in a section of the upper São Francisco River in Três Marias, MG, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology 64, 195–202.
Food resources sustaining the fish fauna in a section of the upper São Francisco River in Três Marias, MG, Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrade, F. R., Prado, I. G., Loures, R. C. F., and Godinho, L. A. (2012). Evaluation of techniques used to protect tailrace fishes during turbine maneuvers at Três Marias Dam, Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology 10, 723–730.
Evaluation of techniques used to protect tailrace fishes during turbine maneuvers at Três Marias Dam, Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrade, F., Prado, I. G., Rodrigues, R. R., and Godinho, A. L. (2017). Influence of discharge of Três Marias Dam over different temporal scales on the capture of mandi in the tailrace. In ‘Risk Assessment of Fish Death at Hydropower Plants in Southeastern Brazil’. (Eds R. C. Loures and A. L. Godinho.) pp. 247–258. (Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais: Belo Horizonte, Brazil.)

Ansys Fluent (2009). ‘12.0 User’s Guide.’ (Ansys Inc.)

Bernatchez, L., and Dodson, J. J. (1987). Relationship between bioenergetics and behavior in anadromous fish migrations. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 44, 399–407.
Relationship between bioenergetics and behavior in anadromous fish migrations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cachapuz, P. B. B. (2006). ‘Usinas da Cemig: a História da Eletricidade em Minas e no Brasil, 1952–2005.’ (Centro da Memória da Eletricidade no Brasil: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.)

Carvalho-Costa, L. F., Hatanaka, T., and Galetti, P. M. (2008). Evidence of lack of population substructuring in the Brazilian freshwater fish Prochilodus costatus. Genetics and Molecular Biology 31, 377–380.
Evidence of lack of population substructuring in the Brazilian freshwater fish Prochilodus costatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Castro, R. M. C., and Vari, R. P. (2003). Prochilodontidae (fannel mouth characiforms). In ‘Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America’. (Eds R. E. Reis, S. O. Kullander, and C. J. Ferraris Jr.) pp. 65–70. (EDIPUCRS: Porto Alegre, Brazil.)

Clay, C. H. (1995). ‘Design of Fishways and Other Fish Facilities’, 2nd edn. (Lewis Publishers: Boca Raton, FL, USA.)

Cook, C. B., Richmond, M. C., and Serkowski, J. A. (2007). Observations of velocity conditions near a hydroelectric turbine draft tube exit using ADCP measurements. Flow Measurement and Instrumentation 18, 148–155.
Observations of velocity conditions near a hydroelectric turbine draft tube exit using ADCP measurements.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cruz, D. C., and Santos, H. A. (2015). Velocidades da Água por Um ADCP Acoplado a um DGPS: Análise de Qualidade da Amostragem. In ‘Anais do XXI Simpósio Brasileiro de Recursos Hídricos’, 22–27 November 2015, Brasília, Brazil. (Associação Brasileira de Recursos Hídricos: Porto Alegre, Brazil.)

de Carvalho, D. C., Oliveira, D. A., Pompeu, P. S., Leal, C. G., Oliveira, C., and Hanner, R. (2011). Deep barcode divergence in Brazilian freshwater fishes: the case of the São Francisco River basin. Mitochondrial DNA 22, 80–86.
Deep barcode divergence in Brazilian freshwater fishes: the case of the São Francisco River basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dehdar-behbahani, S., and Parsaie, A. (2016). Numerical modeling of flow pattern in dam spillway’s guide wall. Case study: Balaroud dam, Iran. Alexandria Engineering Journal 55, 467–473.
Numerical modeling of flow pattern in dam spillway’s guide wall. Case study: Balaroud dam, Iran.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Delavan, S. K., Sood, S., Pérez-Fuentetaja, A., and Hannes, A. R. (2017). Anthropogenic turbulence and velocity barriers for upstream swimming fish: a field study on emerald shiners (Notropis atherinoides) in the Upper Niagara River. Ecological Engineering 101, 91–106.
Anthropogenic turbulence and velocity barriers for upstream swimming fish: a field study on emerald shiners (Notropis atherinoides) in the Upper Niagara River.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Enders, E. C., Boisclair, D., and Roy, A. G. (2003). The effect of turbulence on the cost of swimming for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 60, 1149–1160.
The effect of turbulence on the cost of swimming for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fan, F. M., Schwanenberg, D., Alvarado, R., Dos Reis, A. A., Collischonn, W., and Naumman, S. (2016). Performance of deterministic and probabilistic hydrological forecasts for the short-term optimization of a tropical hydropower reservoir. Water Resources Management 30, 3609–3625.
Performance of deterministic and probabilistic hydrological forecasts for the short-term optimization of a tropical hydropower reservoir.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (1995). Impacts of hydroelectric plant tailraces on fish passage: a report on effects of tailraces on migratory fish and use of barriers, modified project operation, and spills for reducing impacts. Paper number DPR-9, FERC, Office of Hydropower Licensing, Washington, DC, USA.

Ferrari, G. E., Politano, M., and Weber, L. (2009). Numerical simulation of free surface flows on a fish bypass. Computers & Fluids 38, 997–1002.
Numerical simulation of free surface flows on a fish bypass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gisen, D. C., Weichert, R. B., and Nestler, J. M. (2017). Optimizing attraction flow for upstream fish passage at a hydropower dam employing 3D detached-eddy simulation. Ecological Engineering 100, 344–353.
Optimizing attraction flow for upstream fish passage at a hydropower dam employing 3D detached-eddy simulation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Goodwin, R. A., Nestler, J. M., Anderson, J. J., Weber, L. J., and Loucks, D. P. (2006). Forecasting 3-D fish movement behavior using a Eulerian–Lagrangian–agent method (ELAM). Ecological Modelling 192, 197–223.
Forecasting 3-D fish movement behavior using a Eulerian–Lagrangian–agent method (ELAM).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hinch, S. G., Standen, E. M., Healey, M. C., and Farrell, A. P. (2002). Swimming patterns and behaviour of upriver-migrating adult pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and sockeye (O. nerka) salmon as assessed by EMG telemetry in the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. Hydrobiologia 483, 147–160.
Swimming patterns and behaviour of upriver-migrating adult pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and sockeye (O. nerka) salmon as assessed by EMG telemetry in the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Isaak, D. J., and Bjornn, T. C. (1996). Movement of northern squawfish in the tailrace of a lower Snake River dam relative to the migration of juvenile anadromous salmonids. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 125, 780–793.
Movement of northern squawfish in the tailrace of a lower Snake River dam relative to the migration of juvenile anadromous salmonids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Katopodis, C. (2005). Developing a toolkit for fish passage, ecological flow management and fish habitat works. Journal of Hydraulic Research 43, 451–467.
Developing a toolkit for fish passage, ecological flow management and fish habitat works.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kimball, M. E., Boswell, K. M., Rozas, L. P., Berwaldt, E. K., and Richards, A. R. (2018). Swimming abilities of juvenile estuarine fishes: implications for passage at water control structures. Wetlands Ecology and Management 26, 383–390.
Swimming abilities of juvenile estuarine fishes: implications for passage at water control structures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Loures, R. C., and Pompeu, P. S. (2015). Seasonal and diel changes in fish distribution in a tropical hydropower plant tailrace: evidence from hydroacoustic and gillnet sampling. Fisheries Management and Ecology 22, 185–196.
Seasonal and diel changes in fish distribution in a tropical hydropower plant tailrace: evidence from hydroacoustic and gillnet sampling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pelicice, F. M., Pompeu, P. S., and Agostinho, A. A. (2015). Large reservoirs as ecological barriers to downstream movements of Neotropical migratory fish. Fish and Fisheries 16, 697–715.
Large reservoirs as ecological barriers to downstream movements of Neotropical migratory fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Politano, M., Carrica, P., and Weber, L. (2009). A multiphase model for the hydrodynamics and total dissolved gas in tailraces. International Journal of Multiphase Flow 35, 1036–1050.
A multiphase model for the hydrodynamics and total dissolved gas in tailraces.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Politano, M., Amado, A. A., Bickford, A., Murauskas, J., and Hay, D. (2011). Investigation into the total dissolved gas dynamics of Wells Dam using a two-phase flow model. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 137, 1257–1268.
Investigation into the total dissolved gas dynamics of Wells Dam using a two-phase flow model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Politano, M., Amado, A. A., Bickford, S., Murauskas, J., and Hay, D. (2012). Evaluation of operational strategies to minimize gas supersaturation downstream of a dam. Computers & Fluids 68, 168–185.
Evaluation of operational strategies to minimize gas supersaturation downstream of a dam.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pope, S. (2000). ‘Turbulent Flows.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Rizzo, E., Sato, Y., Ferreira, R. M. A., Chiarini-Garcia, H., and Bazzoli, N. (1996). Reproduction of Leporinus reinhardti (Pisces: Anostomidae) from the Três Marias Reservoir, São Francisco River, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ciência e Cultura 48, 189–192.

Santos, H. A., Pompeu, O. S., and Martinez, C. B. (2007). Swimming performance of the migratory Neotropical fish Leporinus reinhardti (Characiformes: Anostomidae). Neotropical Ichthyology 5, 139–146.
Swimming performance of the migratory Neotropical fish Leporinus reinhardti (Characiformes: Anostomidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Santos, H. A., Pompeu, P. S., Vicentini, G. C., and Martinez, C. B. (2008). Swimming performance of the freshwater neotropical fish: Pimelodus maculatus Lacepède, 1803. Brazilian Journal of Biology 68, 433–439.
Swimming performance of the freshwater neotropical fish: Pimelodus maculatus Lacepède, 1803.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Santos, H. A., Pompeu, P. S., and Okuma, D. K. L. (2012a). Changes in the flood regime of São Francisco River (Brazil) from 1940 to 2006. Regional Environmental Change 12, 123–132.
Changes in the flood regime of São Francisco River (Brazil) from 1940 to 2006.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Santos, H. A., Viana, E. M. F., Pompeu, P. S., and Martinez, C. B. (2012b). Optimal swim speeds by respirometer: an analysis for three neotropical species. Neotropical Ichthyology 10, 805–811.
Optimal swim speeds by respirometer: an analysis for three neotropical species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Smith, I. P., Johnstone, A. D. F., and Smith, G. W. (1997). Upstream migration of adult Atlantic salmon past a fish counter weir in the Aberdeenshire Dee, Scotland. Journal of Fish Biology 51, 266–274.
Upstream migration of adult Atlantic salmon past a fish counter weir in the Aberdeenshire Dee, Scotland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Taguchi, M., and Liao, J. C. (2011). Rainbow trout consume less oxygen in turbulence: the energetics of swimming behaviors at different speeds. The Journal of Experimental Biology 214, 1428–1436.
Rainbow trout consume less oxygen in turbulence: the energetics of swimming behaviors at different speeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Teledyne (2007). ‘WorkHorse Rio Grande ADCP User’s Guide.’ (Teledyne RD Instruments: Waterloo, ON, Canada.)

Topcon (2006). ‘Operator’s Manual Topcon HiPer Pro.’ (Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.: Livermore, CA, USA.)

Vari, R. P. (1983). Phylogenetic relationships of the families Curimatidae, Prochilodontidae, Anostomidae, and Chilodontidae (Pisces: Characifromes). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 378, 1–60.
Phylogenetic relationships of the families Curimatidae, Prochilodontidae, Anostomidae, and Chilodontidae (Pisces: Characifromes).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Welcomme, R. L. (1985). ‘River Fisheries.’ FAO Fisheries Technical Paper number 240. (FAO: Rome, Italy.)

White, F. M. (2002). ‘Mecânica dos Fluídos’, 4th edn. (McGraw–Hill: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.)

Wilcox, C. D. (1998). ‘Turbulence Modeling for CFD’, 2nd edn. (DCW Industries: La Canada, CA, USA.)