Apparatus and methods for the guidance of fish

Abstract

An aquatic electrical barrier that has the electrodes configured in a matrix array configuration, where each electrode element of the matrix array is mounted either directly on the bottom of a water channel or on extendable rods; the matrix array is controlled so that aquatic species may be physically moved by the aquatic species physiological response to a time-varying and spatially-varying electrical field.

Claims

1. An array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water, said barrier comprising: a multiplicity of electrodes wherein each of the electrodes are 30 inches apart from each other in a grid array immersed in the body of water, each of the electrodes comprising; an embedded electrode, the embedded electrode embedded in an insulating concrete support structure; a conductive electrode top; the conductive electrode top mechanically and electrically connected to the embedded electrode via an electrically conductive bolt covered by a conductive potting compound; further each of the electrodes capable of having an adjustable electrical potential and generating an adjustable potential field ranging between 0.0 v to 89.0 v; a control system for the time vary control of the electrical potential; wherein the potential field of the body of water is varied from 0.0 to 1.2 v/inches and is actively controlled by sequentially adjusting the potential fields to create an electrical sweep to herd the fish in specialized channels.

2. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 further comprising of monitoring cameras to help direct the electric field to provide optimum effect on the fish.

3. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the specialized channels can be used to build fish traps.

4. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the electric field can be adjusted to compensate for barge traffic.

5. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the electric field can be adjusted to create funnel entrances.

6. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the electric field is in the form of rotating electric field to present the optimum field orientation to multiple fish in multiple orientations.

7. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the array barrier can be used for array testing to emerge with an optimum array for a given configuration.

8. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the array barrier can be used for creating an electric potential wall.

9. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the array barrier is energized using AC wave forms.

10. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the array barrier is energized using pulsed DC wave forms.

11. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the electrodes are placed on extendable and flexible upward projecting rods.

12. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the electrical potential of the electrode can be dynamically adjusted for an optimum field at the surface of the body of water.

13. The array barrier for the guidance of fish in a body of water as described in claim 1 wherein the electrical potential of the electrode can be dynamically adjusted for an optimum field at the bottom of the body of water.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An electrode array composed of multiple independently operated electrodes would provide enumerable benefits for a fish barrier or fish guidance system including:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top view of the matrix array electrical barrier with a set of varying potentials.

(3) FIG. 2 is a cut-away (side), and detailed view of the matrix array electrical barrier.

(4) FIG. 3 is another top view of the matrix array electrical barrier illustrating one embodiment of the interconnected electrodes.

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view depicting the movement of the electrical field from the bottom right hand corner of the electric field barrier to the top left hand corner.

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view depicting the movement of an alternating current electrical field that progresses from the bottom right hand corner of the electric field barrier to the top left hand corner.

(7) FIG. 6 is a profile cut-away view of the electrode and its placement in the insulcrete weir.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates the electrode array mounted on extendable rods, where the rods extend from the floor of the water channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) Representative embodiments according to the inventive subject matter are shown in FIGS. 1-3, wherein similar features share common reference numerals.

(10) Now referring to FIG. 1 which depicts a top view of the electrode array installation 100. The electrode array installation 100 is placed in water channel 110 that is constrained by outer banks 120A, 120B. There is a flow 140 of water where the water 120 flows over individual electrodes 150 that are mounted on the bottom of the water channel 110.

(11) In one embodiment, the water channel has dimensions of approximately 17 in width and the electrodes 150 are spaced approximately 30 inches apart.

(12) Now referring to FIG. 1 which depicts a top, cut-away (side), and detailed view of the matrix array electrical barrier. The top, cut-away (side), and close-up views of the barrier depicts a matrix array of electrodes embedded in an insulating concrete support structure. The electrode, in one embodiment, has a replaceable electrode plate that is mechanically connected to an embedded electrode. The replaceable electrode plate and the embedded electrode are mechanically and electrically joined using an electrically conductive bolt. The electrical conductivity between the surfaces is enhanced by a conductive potting compound. This structure also provides for the ease of replacing the electrode plate if the plate becomes corroded over time due to electrolytic action or is damaged by impact with an object in the water.

(13) Each electrode is connected to control system that can individually set the potential of each electrode. Those skilled in the art will recognize that if two electrodes are at varying potentials, the voltage gradients will affect the behaviour of an aquatic species. How a particular species is affected is dependent on the type of species, the length of the fish, and the individual physiology of the fish.

(14) FIG. 2 is a side view of the matrix array electrical barrier 200 with a set of varying potentials. The voltage gradient being dependent on the conductivity of the water and the location of the electrodes and being controlled by the control system 230.

(15) FIG. 3 is a top view of the matrix array electrical barrier 300 with one set of electrodes at 8.5 v. This creates an electric potential wall by imposing a voltage gradient that is dependent on the conductivity of the water and the location of the electrodes. In this particular embodiment the electrical potentials have been set at an increasing amount from 0 to 4.2 v to 12.70 v to 25.4 v to 63.6 v to 89.0 v. The voltage gradient is schematically represented by 310A-G.In this particular embodiment, the electrodes create a field that varies from 0 to v/in.

(16) The examples described are not limited to DC voltages. The individual array electrodes can be energized with AC waveforms and/or pulsed DC waveforms. The voltage gradients can be produced by a variety of devices in the Smith-Root line of pulsators, including, but not limited to.

(17) 1) The LR-20B and LR-24 backpack electrofishers used as individual pulsators;

(18) 2) The GPP Electrofisher pulsator

(19) 3) The WP-15B Electrofisher pulsator

(20) 4) Type VI-A Electrofisher pulsator

(21) 5) Type 1.5 KvA Electrofisher pulsator

(22) Now referring to FIG. 4 which depicts a top view of the movement 420 of the electrical field from the bottom right hand corner of the electric field barrier to the top left hand corner. In this embodiment each electrode is set with a spatially varying and time varying electrical potential that sweeps an aquatic species from one physical location in the water channel 110. This sweeping feature can be set by setting the potential difference of the electrodes line 410b at a value higher than the electrode line 410a. If the electric potential for the electrodes is at a value that is repulsive to one aquatic species but a strong deterrent to another, then there would be filtering effect along certain potential gradient isopotentials.

(23) FIG. 5 is a top view depicting the movement of an alternating current electrical field that progresses from the bottom right hand corner of the electric field barrier to the top left hand corner. The electric field movement 420 would move along the gradient isopotential field lines to herd the aquatic species from one corner to another.

(24) FIG. 6 is a profile cut-away view 600 of a single electrode 150 and its placement in the insulating concrete weir 620. The single electrode 150 has a conductive electrode top 630, an attachment screw 650 which is covered by a potting compound 640. The attachment screw 650 is connected to base conductor 660 that is further connected to an electrode 610.

(25) Now referring to FIG. 7 which illustrates 700 the electrodes 150 placed in an array, where the conductive portion of the electrode is placed on an extendable and upward projecting rod 710. These rods may further be flexible so that if they are hit by floating objects in the water (e.g. boat hulls). They do not break off or damage the hull of the boat.

(26) The use of a particular pulsator in a particular stream will determine the voltage gradients generated in the body of water.

(27) The field generation system can be enhanced by using monitoring systems, such as camera and/or fish counters to direct the local electric field vectors to provide the optimum effect on the fish. These monitoring systems can also reduce the amount of power (and corresponding electrical cost in areas where no fish are present. This embodiment will reduce the effect of the barrier on downstream migratory fish, reduce power consumption, and reduce the interaction with non target species.

(28) The physical positioning of the electrodes does not require that the electrodes be set in a fixed grid array. The physical size of the electrodes may be dynamically adjusted for the optimum field at the surface, or near the bottom of the water by varying the effective size, spacing, applied voltage, polarity, or phase of the applied waveform.

(29) Further, entire sections of the array can be energized sequentially to provide a moving field to sweep fish from an area. Furthermore, the electric field may be dynamically rotated, to create an optimum field orientation to multiple fish in multiple orientations.

(30) Also, the array may be configured to funnel the entrances, or specialized channels may be created to guide fish into traps or away from obstacles.

(31) Parts of the array may be adjusted (electric field increased or reduced) as needed to compensate for barge traffic, or other local disturbances without adversely affecting the remainder of the fish barrier. This adjustment of the local field could virtually eliminate the possibility of local overloading necessitating a reduction of the field in other areas of the fish barrier (each array element would be current limited and or individually adjusted for peak voltage and conduction period).

(32) The matrix array could provide a reliable basis for development of the minimum possible array which could be deployed and still be effective under similar circumstances of fish approach and water velocities. For array testing, the matrix provides access to virtually any array configuration without requiring the removal of one array and replacement with a different configuration. This capability would save much time and effort when testing various arrays to optimize the guidance or blocking characteristics of a fish barrier and or guidance array.

(33) Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and actions which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this inventive concept and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained therein.

(34) All patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes.