Ice Profiler
Wave Profiler
Water Column Profiler
IRIS- Imagenex Datalogger
ASFM - Open Channel
Acoustic Scintillation Flow Meter
Bottom Frames
WERA HF Radar
Shallow Water Ice Profiler

Key Projects

• Successful flow surveys under difficult conditions.
• Accurate, reliable, non-intrusive and cost effective absolute or relative turbine flow measurement in converging intakes of low head plants.
• Global experience in current-flow and water-property measurements for a quarter of a century.
• Complete service packages including data collection and analysis, numerical modeling, field services and equipment leasing.
• Competitive Prices.
• Extensive lease pool of oceanographic and hydraulic measurement instruments.

Testing the Efficiency of Hydro-Electric Turbines

Douglas County P.U.D., Washington, USA have been interested in performance testing of the 10 turbines at their Wells project on the Columbia River since the plant was commissioned in 1967. Several series of testing were performed with traditional flow measurement methods; however, the rapidly converging geometry of the unit intakes made measurements of absolute flows time consuming and costly.

Our Solution:
Custom designed and built Acoustic Scintillation Flow Meter (ASFM) is an instrument specifically developed for measuring absolute flows in short converging intakes of low head plants accurately, reliably, non-intrusively and cost-effectively. In 2002, Douglas County performed diagnostics and comparative absolute flow measurements with the ASFM on one of the units equipped with an acoustic time-of-travel instrument. Based on the satisfactory results of these measurements, Douglas County purchased the ASFM and have been conducting performance assessments with it ever since, two units per year.

Forebay Circulation Studies

In 1993, Chelan P.U.D. Washington, U.S.A needed for flow data for the design of fish diversion screens. Data collection was complicated by magnetic disturbance caused by the proximity to the dam. Magnetic compasses used on most current-meter beams are unreliable when measurements are made close to dam walls and the associated power-generating infrastructure.

Our Solution:

• Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) interfaced with a submersible gyro-compass.
  
• Three-dimensional current surveys were quickly and efficiently performed and data collected within the forebay.
• The results were used to verify model output.
  
• This technique has been used subsequently by other investigators of near-dam flow conditions.

Fish Survival & Habitat

In 1996, Cominco Ltd., B.C., Canada needed to expand power generation capability at one of their plants. They needed to know whether this expansion would result in detrimental effects on the downstream habitat of sturgeon fish population levels.

Our Solution:

• Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) provided comprehensive maps of the water circulation under varying discharge conditions.
• Six separate flow surveys, under varying discharge conditions, were completed in three days.
• Shortly after, three-dimensional velocity plots, quantifying the changes in the flow that could potentially affect the endangered sturgeon, were provided to the client.
• The flow survey results were a key element in assessing the effects of the operation on the environment. On the basis of an environmental submission to government, Cominco were granted approval to proceed with their expansion