Federal Partners unveil new turbine: safer for fish – more efficient

Published May 13, 2016
Workers assembling the new high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 apply heat to expand a metal ring that will lock together the turbine segments from the inside of its hub as the ring cools and shrinks back to normal size.

Workers assembling the new high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 apply heat to expand a metal ring that will lock together the turbine segments from the inside of its hub as the ring cools and shrinks back to normal size.

The new, high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 was delivered in segments by truck and assembled inside the powerhouse.

The new, high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 was delivered in segments by truck and assembled inside the powerhouse.

The new, high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 was delivered in segments by truck and assembled inside the powerhouse.

The new, high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 was delivered in segments by truck and assembled inside the powerhouse.

The new, high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 was delivered in segments by truck and assembled inside the powerhouse.

The new, high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 was delivered in segments by truck and assembled inside the powerhouse.

Workers assembling the new high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 apply heat to expand a metal ring that will lock together the turbine segments from the inside of its hub as the ring cools and shrinks back to normal size.

Workers assembling the new high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 apply heat to expand a metal ring that will lock together the turbine segments from the inside of its hub as the ring cools and shrinks back to normal size.

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, located at Snake River Mile 9.7 near Burbank, Washington.

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, located at Snake River Mile 9.7 near Burbank, Washington.

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, located at Snake River Mile 9.7 near Burbank, Washington.

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, located at Snake River Mile 9.7 near Burbank, Washington.

An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.

An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.

An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.

An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.

Researchers collect hydraulic data from a scale model of the new Ice Harbor Dam turbine at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The turbine model is about 1 foot wide; the actual turbine is about 23 feet in diameter.
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Researchers collect hydraulic data from a scale model of the new Ice Harbor Dam turbine at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The turbine model is about 1 foot wide; the actual turbine is about 23 feet in diameter.

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, located at Snake River Mile 9.7 near Burbank, Washington.
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Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, located at Snake River Mile 9.7 near Burbank, Washington.

Workers assembling the new high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 apply heat to expand a metal ring that will lock together the turbine segments from the inside of its hub as the ring cools and shrinks back to normal size.
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Workers assembling the new high-tech replacement turbine for Ice Harbor’s hydroelectric generator Unit-2 apply heat to expand a metal ring that will lock together the turbine segments from the inside of its hub as the ring cools and shrinks back to normal size.

Ice Harbor Turbine Runner Replacement; Design Innovation for Improved Fish Passage.
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Ice Harbor Turbine Runner Replacement; Design Innovation for Improved Fish Passage.

An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.
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An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.

The first advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers has been installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington in April 2019.  Live fish testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicated a 98.25% direct survival rate.
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The first advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers has been installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington in April 2019. Live fish testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicated a 98.25% direct survival rate.

An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.
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An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.

An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.
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An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.

An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.
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An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam near Burbank, Washington. The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by three to four percent.

The new turbine runner was inverted for assembly and test-fitting prior to shipping to Ice Harbor Lock and Dam.
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The new turbine runner was inverted for assembly and test-fitting prior to shipping to Ice Harbor Lock and Dam.

Researchers collect hydraulic data from a scale model of the new Ice Harbor Dam turbine at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The turbine model is about 1 foot wide; the actual turbine is about 23 feet in diameter.
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Researchers collect hydraulic data from a scale model of the new Ice Harbor Dam turbine at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The turbine model is about 1 foot wide; the actual turbine is about 23 feet in diameter.

BURBANK, Wash. – An advanced-technology turbine, designed to improve fish passage at federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is being installed at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam in southeast Washington state.
The $58 million project, funded by BPA, calls for runner replacements on two turbines, one fixed-blade, one adjustable, along with fish passageway improvements at Ice Harbor over the next few years. 
The first turbine is set to be operational within 12 to 14 months. The work includes structural modifications to the turbine draft tube exits to improve hydraulic conditions for fish. The contracts also contain options to fabricate and install a third turbine runner. 
The turbine design and installation is a collaboration between contractor, Voith Hydro Inc. of York, Pa., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration and NOAA Fisheries. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicates it may also increase power generation by 3 to 4 percent.
“After 50 years of operation and increasing maintenance requirements, the need to replace the existing turbine runners at Ice Harbor presented the opportunity to pursue new turbine runner designs with fish passage improvement as a priority,” said Kevin Crum, project manager. 
Voith Hydro Inc. used digital and physical models, and multiple design cycles to settle on two styles of high-tech runners, (turbine runners are the parts that rotate in water to generate power). The turbine runners are made of stainless steel to fight water corrosion.

BPA engineer George Brown called the work an “excellent example of collaboration among BPA, the Corps, NOAA and a capable contractor.”

“The key ingredient holding us all together is the goal of creating meaningful improvements to the environmental performance of a critical Northwest power resource,” Brown says. “The efficiency and reliability benefits to the hydroelectric system are an important bonus, stretching the value of the limited water resource.”

Advanced-technology turbines could eventually extend beyond Ice Harbor to replace aging infrastructure at other Columbia and Snake river dams.
The latest monitoring shows that less than 10 percent of all migrating juvenile salmon and steelhead pass through turbines on the Snake river, depending on the dam and the species of fish.  At Ice Harbor Dam that number is between 0.5 to 8.6 percent. 
Most out-migrating fish use surface passage, such as spillway weirs, on their way to the ocean. About 93 to 96 percent of all young salmon and steelhead now survive passage at each dam in the Federal Columbia River Power System.
For more information about the Ice Harbor turbine runner design and other programs to benefit Columbia River salmon and steelhead, please visit the Walla Walla District's homepage and www.salmonrecovery.gov.

About BPA
The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale electricity from 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant to 142 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA delivers power via more than 15,000 circuit miles of lines and 259 substations to 490 transmission customers. In all, BPA markets about a third of the electricity consumed in the Northwest and operates three-quarters of the region’s high-voltage transmission grid. BPA also funds one of the largest fish and wildlife programs in the world, and, with its partners, pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain affordable, reliable and carbon-free electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov

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Contact
CENWW-PA - POC: Gina Baltrusch
509-527-7018
cenww-pa@usace.army.mil
or
Bonneville Power Administration – POC: David Wilson
503-230-5607
dbwilson@bpa.gov

Release no. 16-026