Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Sensor Fish”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Evaluation of Howard A. Hanson Dam Juvenile Fish Passage and Survival Study Live Fish Injury Assessment, Sensor Fish, and BioPA Modeling Tasks

The live fish injury assessment, Sensor Fish, and BioPA modeling study tasks were conducted by researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The four tasks were part of the larger Evaluation of Howard A. Hanson Dam (HAHD) Juvenile Fish Passage and Survival study, which had six total tasks. To achieve study objectives for each of the four tasks, field work occurred at Green Peter Dam (GPR) to evaluate the highest elevation steep slope bypass pipe, at HAHD to evaluate baseline conditions of the horseshoe tunnel, and at PNNL’s Aquatic Research Laboratory (ARL) to evaluate simulated dam passage conditions (i.e., shear forces and collision). Each of these evaluations utilized live fish injury assessment, Sensor Fish, and BioPA modeling. Live fish injury assessment and survival (tagged with and without balloon or passive integrated transponder [PIT] tags) was correlated with Sensor Fish to determine thresholds. The CFD analyses were then performed, and the computed values were compared to the corresponding measured values of Sensor Fish data. The results of the overall injury and survival of fish was also used in the validation of the CFD modeling method. Collectively, the results will aid in future modeling of fish passage at HAHD. Results from these tasks can be used by biologists, engineers, resource managers, and regional decision-makers to inform baseline conditions under current operations and the engineering design of the new FPF at HAHD. This draft report contains initial data and results from the four tasks. Table 8 1, Table 8 2, and Table 8 3, and Figure 8 1, Figure 8 2, and Figure 8 3 depict the CFD modeling findings for the GPR steep slope bypass, HAHD horseshoe tunnel, and laboratory testing. Table 8 4, Table 8 5, and Table 8 6 depict the Sensor Fish findings for the GPR steep slope bypass and HAHD horseshoe tunnel testing. The Mv values observed in the HAHD were significantly lower compared to the laboratory experiments conducted at PNNL. Currently, investigations are underway to understand the reasons for this disparity and to establish an appropriate threshold value for Mv. Survival predictions presented in the tables below should be considered preliminary and should not be used until further analyses and adjustments are completed. The next steps for modeling will include the flow regime, (i.e., density of flow regimes due to water and air mixing ) to continue to improve on the threshold value for Mv.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Sensor Fish: an autonomous sensor package for characterizing complex flow fields and fish passage

Fish passing through dams or other hydraulic structures may be injured or killed despite advances in turbine design, project operations, and other fish bypass systems. The Sensor Fish (SF) device is an autonomous sensor package that characterizes the physical conditions and stressors to which fish are exposed during passage through hydro facilities. It was designed to move passively as a neutrally buoyant object through severe hydraulic environments, while collecting high-resolution sensor data. Since its first generation1, the SF device has been successfully deployed in many fish passage studies and has evolved to be a major tool for characterizing fish passage conditions during fish passage in the Columbia River Basin. To better accelerate hydropower development, the U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Program provided funding to develop a new generation (Gen 2 SF) to incorporate more capabilities and accommodate a wider range of users over a broader range of turbine designs and operating environments. The Gen 2 SF (Figure 1) is approximately the size and density of a yearling salmon smolt and is nearly neutrally buoyant. It contains three-dimensional (3D) rotation sensors, 3D linear acceleration sensors, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a 3D orientation sensor, a radiofrequency (RF) transmitter, and a recovery module2. A low-power microcontroller collects data from the sensors and stores up to 5 min of data on internal flash memory at a sampling frequency of 2048 Hz. The recovery module makes the SF positively buoyant after a pre-programmed period of time, causing it to float to the surface for recovery.

Sensor Fish↗
DOE OSTI2016

Sensor Fish Communicator

The Sensor Fish collects information that can be used to evaluate conditions encountered by juvenile salmonids and other fish as they pass through hydroelectric dams on their way to the ocean. Sensor Fish are deployed in turbines, spillways, and sluiceways and measure changes in pressure, angular rate of change, and linear acceleration during passage. The software is need to make Sensor Fish fully functional and easy to use. Sensor Fish Communicator (SFC) links to Sensor Fish, allowing users to control data collection settings and download data. It may also be used to convert native raw data (.raw2) files into Comma Separated Variable (.csv) files and plot the results. The multiple capabilities of the SFC allow hardware communication, data conversion, and data plotting with one application.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2023

Balloon Tag Manufacturing Technique for Sensor Fish and Live Fish Recovery

Fish may experience injuries and mortality when they pass through hydraulic conveyances at hydropower dams, even if these conveyances are designed to be fish-friendly, such as downstream bypass systems, modified spillways and turbines. The main methods used to study fish passage conditions in hydraulic structures involve direct, in situ testing using Sensor Fish technology and live fish. Sensor Fish data helps identify physical stressors and their locations in the fish passage environment, while live fish are assessed for injuries and mortality. Balloon tags, which are self-inflating balloons attached externally to Sensor Fish and live fish, aid in their recovery after passing through hydraulic structures. This article focuses on the development of balloon tags with varying numbers of dissolvable, vegetable-based capsules containing a mixture of oxalic acid, sodium bicarbonate powders, and water at two different temperatures. Our research determined that balloon tags with three capsules, injected with 5 mL of water at 18.3 °C, consistently achieved the desired balloon volume. These tags had a mean inflation volume of 114 cm 3 with a standard deviation of 1.2 cm 3 . Among the balloon tags injected with water at 18.3 °C, it was observed that the two-capsule balloon tags took the longest time to reach full inflation. In addition, the four-capsule balloon tags demonstrated a faster inflation start time, while the three-capsule balloon tags demonstrated a faster deflation start time. Overall, this approach proves to be effective for validating the performance of new technologies, improving turbine design, and making operational decisions to enhance fish passage conditions. Importantly, it serves as a valuable tool for research and field evaluations, aiding in the refinement of both the design and operation of hydraulic structures.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Autonomous sensor fish to support advanced hydropower development

An improved sensor fish with robust design and enhanced measurement capabilities. This sensor fish contains sensors for acceleration, rotation, magnetic field intensity, pressure, and temperature. A low-power microcontroller collects data from the sensors and stores up to 5 minutes of data on a non-volatile flash memory. A rechargeable battery supplies power to the sensor fish. A recovery system helps locating sensor fish. The package, when ready for use is nearly neutrally buoyant and thus mimics the behavior of an actual fish.

Deng, Daniel Z.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Autonomous sensor fish to support advanced hydropower development

An improved sensor fish with robust design and enhanced measurement capabilities. This sensor fish contains sensors for acceleration, rotation, magnetic field intensity, pressure, and temperature. A low-power microcontroller collects data from the sensors and stores up to 5 minutes of data on a non-volatile flash memory. A rechargeable battery supplies power to the sensor fish. A recovery system helps locating sensor fish. The package, when ready for use is nearly neutrally buoyant and thus mimics the behavior of an actual fish.

Deng, Z. Daniel↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimize the Autonomous Sensor Fish Device for Understanding Interactions of Aquatic Animals with Marine and Hydrokinetic and Hydro Systems (CRADA 476) Final Report

This project at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) enhances our understanding of how aquatic life interacts with marine renewable energy (MRE) and hydropower systems through the development and testing of advanced sensor technology. The Marine Sensor Fish (MSF) and its smaller variants, the Sensor Fish Mini (SF Mini) and Flexible Sensor Fish (FSF), measure critical environmental stressors, such as shear forces, pressure changes, and strike impacts, that are essential for assessing the risks posed by energy devices, including tidal turbines, hydropower installations, and other MRE infrastructure. Rigorous field testing has shown that these tools are effective in capturing detailed data on turbulence, pressure variations, strike impacts, and other stressors near these devices, providing valuable insights into the conditions faced by aquatic species. Economically, these tools offer renewable energy developers a practical solution for streamlining environmental assessments and ensuring regulatory compliance, ultimately reducing costs associated with evaluating and mitigating ecological impacts. This research also benefits the public by promoting the growth of renewable energy sources that protect aquatic ecosystems, advancing both sustainable energy production and environmental stewardship.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Over or under? Autonomous Sensor Fish reveals why overshot weirs may be safer than undershot weirs for fish passage

Many riverine fish species disperse downstream as eggs, juveniles, or adults, which can expose them to injury and death at hydro-structures. Low-head weirs are one example of a structure that can kill fish, and this impact has been shown to be substantially higher for undershot weirs when compared to overshot weirs. In this study, autonomous sensor devices were released at an overshot and undershot weir under similar discharges to assess what stressors maybe contributing to differences in the survival rates of fish. Although the undershot weir was more likely to expose fish to rapid decompression, the intensity of decompression was mild and it is more likely that higher levels of fluid shear at the undershot are more damaging to early life stage and small-bodied fish. Both weirs showed potential for strike, but this could be managed through improvements in design.

Pflugrath, Brett D.↗
DOE OSTI2020

In situ characterization of the biological performance of a Francis turbine retrofitted with a modular guide vane

There are two strategies to lower overall project costs to an extent that will make many potential sustainable hydropower sites economically viable: (1) design standardized/modular components; (2) use advanced tools to reduce environmental evaluation costs. In this study an autonomous sensor device (Sensor Fish) was used to study a Francis turbine retrofitted with a modular guide vane. The median nadir pressures measured were 74.7, 66.6, and 56.6 kPaA for 90-, 190-, and 380-kW operating conditions respectively. These nadir pressures were compared to other Francis turbines studied using Sensor Fish and were found to be within the same range. The proportion of Sensor Fish releases with severe acceleration events (acceleration = 95G) was also investigated. The proportion ranged from 73 to 80% (runner region), 50 to 64% (guide vane region), and 9 to 28% (draft tube region), which was within the range of the other turbines used for comparison. The Sensor Fish testing that was conducted at Hurley Dam demonstrates that the modular guide vane that was retrofitted to the existing Francis turbine is potentially a suitable replacement that can provide biological performance similar to the guide vane used with other existing Francis turbines, but with the benefit of reduced fabrication costs.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

In Situ Characterization of Turbine Hydraulic Environment to Support Development of Fish-Friendly Hydropower Guidelines in the Lower Mekong River Region

The Mekong River is one of the most biodiverse rivers on the planet. As a result, many communities located near the river and its tributaries rely on fisheries for sustenance as well as economic viability. Along the Mekong River mainstem, there are plans for 11 new hydropower projects with potentially several hundred smaller hydropower projects along the tributaries. Currently, there is little information to guide construction of fish-friendly hydropower systems. Preliminary guidelines for construction on the mainstem Mekong call for safe upstream and downstream fish passage for 95% of target species. To understand the hydraulic conditions at existing dams in the region, Sensor Fish, a small neutrally buoyant autonomous sensor package capable of measuring and collecting in situ motion and force data, were deployed at Nam Ngum Dam in Lao PDR. The Sensor Fish were released through two turbine units—Unit 1, which contains an older 17.5-MW Francis turbine, and Unit 4, which contains a slightly newer 40-MW Francis turbine. Comparisons were made between the results from the two turbine units at Nam Ngum Dam to results for four hydroelectric dams in the U.S. Pacific Northwest for which live fish survival studies had been conducted. Three of the U.S. dams have Francis-turbine units and the other has a fish-friendly Kaplan turbine. Based on the occurrence of severe acceleration events, the survival rate of juvenile salmonids at a dam like Nam Ngum Dam would be expected to between the 11.1% to 54.1% survival rates experienced at the U.S. with Francis turbines and the 97.0% survival rate at the U.S. dam equipped with fish-friendly Kaplan turbines. Between the newer and older turbine units tested at Nam Ngum Dam, the newer Unit 4 had a higher median nadir pressure of 126 kPaA compared to 99 kPaA for Unit 1. Based on a dose-response relationship for juvenile Chinook salmon, these nadir pressures predict probabilities of mortal injury of 5% for Unit 4 and 12% for Unit 1. With respect to both pressure and acceleration, the older 17.5-MW Francis turbine had more severe hydraulic conditions than the newer 40-MW Francis turbine. Francis turbines, like the ones involved in this study, are the most common type of hydropower turbines in the throughout the world. The results from this study can be used to guide the construction of new hydropower structures and make design and operational changes to existing hydropower structures that will improve fish passage conditions.

Francis turbine, Mekong River, sustainable hydropo↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hydropower Biological Evaluation Toolset Best Practice Guide

Field studies using live fish are necessary for the evaluation of turbine biological performance, but they cannot determine the specific hydraulic conditions or physical stresses experienced by the fish, the locations where deleterious conditions occur, or the specific causes of the biological response. Using the Sensor Fish (SF) sensing technology, this deficiency can be overcome because the SF can be released independently or concurrently with live fish directly into operating infrastructure, and it takes high-frequency measurements of hydraulic conditions such as pressure, acceleration, and rotation acting on a body in situ during downstream passage. The Hydropower Biological Evaluation Tools (HBET; Hou et al. 2018) software package, developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is designed to assemble, organize, and process data collected by the PNNL-developed SF and by live fish. HBET was developed specifically to design SF field studies, process the raw data, and analyze the processed data efficiently and scientifically. Its objectives are to facilitate SF studies focused on characterizing hydraulic conditions and to apply SF data for evaluating the impacts on fish from passage through hydro-structures. HBET allows users to design new studies, analyze data, perform statistical analyses, and evaluate predicted biological responses. It can be used by researchers, turbine designers, hydropower operators, and regulators to evaluate hydro-structures to enhance environmental sustainability in a cost-effective manner.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Cloud-Based Decision Support System Framework for Hydropower Biological Evaluation

Hydropower has become one of the most important energy sources: it accounts for more than 80% of the world’s renewable energy and about 16% of all the energy in the world. Significantly more hydropower capacity is planned to be developed. However, hydro-structures, including powered dams, may have adverse biological effects on fishes, especially on migrating fish. For instance, fish can be injured or even killed when they pass through turbines. This is why biological evaluations on hydro-structures are greatly needed to estimate fish injury and mortality rates. The Hydropower Biological Evaluation Toolset (HBET) is an integrated suite of science-based desktop tools designed to evaluate whether the hydraulic conditions of hydropower structures are fish friendly by analyzing collected data and providing estimated injury and mortality rates. Sensor Fish, a small, autonomous sensor package, is used by HBET to record data describing the conditions that live fish passing through a hydropower structure will face. In this paper, we incorporated cloud computing into HBET, and migrated it into a cloud-based decision support system framework for hydropower biological evaluation. This will make the evaluation systems more scalable and flexible; however, this also introduces a significant challenge: how to maintain the security while retaining scalability and flexibility. We discuss the technical methodologies and algorithms implemented in the proposed framework, and analyze the countermeasures implemented therein.

Decision Support System, Hydropower, Dam, Fish Inj↗
DOE OSTI2025

Velocity- and pressure-based metrics for estimating strike injuries during fish passage through hydro turbines

Hydropower is a crucial source of clean and reliable energy worldwide, and its importance will continue to grow. To enhance the environmental sustainability of hydropower development and operations, it is essential to predict the strike injury rates of fish passing through turbines accurately and cost-effectively. However, conventional experiments involving a large number of live fish are still commonly conducted in practice, and previous attempts mainly focused on the dose-response relationships at an individual level or relative comparisons of biological characterization between different conditions. Thus, this study proposes two novel strike metrics based on velocity and pressure (M V and M P ) measured by the cutting-edge Sensor Fish (SF) technology, designed to quantify the biological effects of strikes and collisions between fish and rigid hydraulic structures. SF measurements and 48-hour survival rates of live fish from a study conducted at the Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River were used to establish thresholds for the two proposed metrics. These metrics and thresholds were then applied to three additional SF studies conducted at hydropower facilities featuring Kaplan turbines within the Columbia River basin. Results from the application of the strike metrics indicate that the estimated survival rates derived from both metrics agree well with previously reported live fish survival rates. Furthermore, the study identified specific passage regions with elevated risks of fish mortality due to strikes and collisions. Overall, the proposed strike metrics present a reliable and cost-effective approach to reducing reliance on live fish and lowering costs in fish passage studies.

Biological characterization↗