SELF-CLEANING INTAKE SCREENS FOR PUMP INTAKES, GRAVITY OFFTAKES, FISH DIVERSIONS
A Fish Exclusion Screen is basically a large filter (like a sieve). The filter has slot sizes from 1mm to 3mm that prevents all stages of fish life from entering through the screen.
A Fish Exclusion Screen distributes and reduces the velocity of water flow as it is delivered through gravity diversions (channels) or pumped diversions. This often reduces flows from a few metres per second down to 0.1m per second. Subsequently, the diverted flow has a significantly reduced impact on the natural waterway. This is important when protecting floating eggs, juveniles and small bodied fish that can not swim away from high velocities, often becoming entrained in a diversion flow or impinged on a screen.
As expected, if the screens exclude fish and fish eggs they will also exclude other objects in the waterway from entering the diverted flow, subsequently protecting turtles, platypus and other animals as well as isolating weed and debris. This level of debris exclusion reduces system downtime, increasing energy efficiencies and improving water quality. Surprisingly, the Fish Exclusion Screens are basically maintenance free. This is due to the unique self-cleaning features and the distributed screen area ensuring very low approach and through slot velocities.
There are proven designs of Fish Exclusion Screens that have operated in very harsh conditions for up to 20 years with minimal maintenance. Fish Screens are new to Australia but have been used and proven in other countries.
AWMA have developed innovative, field proven Fish Exclusion Screen designs for fish protection and/or debris control. International screen designs have been adapted to meet Australian conditions and performance criteria to protect the interests of both, native fish and irrigator. Solutions are designed for each application to ensure the product meets site specific performance requirements, accommodates local conditions and considers installation criteria to ensure the most effective and economical solution is provided.
AWMA's unique self-cleaning intake screens provide fine filtration with low approach velocity and even flow distribution, to ensure minimal impingement and entrapment of particles onto the screen. This promotes clean screens, uninterrupted flow, and the protection of aquatic flora and fauna.
FEATURES
- Internal and external cleaning brushes
- Manufactured to suit all pump and gravity offtake capacities
- Suitable for sensitive, abrasive and/or corrosive environments
- Various size screen slots depending on the application
- Durable, robust construction methods and materials
- Customisable to meet site and operational requirements
- Automation options
- Achieving a through screen slot velocity of 0.15m/s or less
- International design with 20+ years’ proven performance
- Programmable screen cleaning intervals ensuring uninterrupted flows
BENEFITS
- Innovative cleaning system increases efficiencies
- lowers maintenance and improves water quality
- Compliance with 'best practice' standards for native fish protection as well as other aquatic life
- Low operation and maintenance costs
- stainless steel materials for long product life
- Excludes debris as well as aquatic flora and fauna
- Improved water quality results in reduced filtration maintenance
- Lower pumping costs from increased pump efficiencies
- Decrease pump system maintenance
- Custom designed to best meet client screening and operational requirements
- Install on new or retrofit to existing infrastructure
- Local customer service and support
- Designed to deliver required flow rates
- Maintaining a clean screen surface
- Customised retrieval systems reduce the need to put divers in the water
APPLICABLE FOR
- Irrigation diversions
- Urban water intakes
- Hydro power facilities
- Debris dense waterways
- Water extraction facilities
- Cooling water intakes
APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS
- Minimum and maximum depths
- Size of screened offtake
- Flows (e.g.: Fast, slow, gravity)
- Access (e.g.: Transportation, cranage etc)
- Maintain water distribution
- Access to power
- Cultural, historical and environmental impacts
Brush-cleaned cylinder and cone screens are designed and manufactured by AWMA Water Control Solutions under a licensing agreement with Intake Screens, Inc.
Overcome screening challenges with AWMA’s locally manufactured, supported and serviced range of proven fish exclusion and debris screens.
Blog
Self-cleaning infrastructure
It is vital that screening and control infrastructure remain clean, functional and at optimal performance. Below is a video of the self-cleaning function on the conical fish screen that will be set to operate automatically, once a day, or as programmed by the client.
Manufacture of Australia’s first conical Fish Exclusion Screens is near completion
Manufacture of Australia’s first conical Fish Exclusion Screens is near completion. The screening infrastructure will be installed on gravity irrigation offtakes to protect native fish populations as well as benefit fishermen and irrigators. For further information visit the project page.
Cohuna Irrigation Diversion Screen Project Announced
https://www.awmawatercontrol.com.au/project/gunbower-fish-exclusion-screen-project-cohuna/
NCCMA Media Release: Australian first screen protecting native fish
18 Jun 2018 In an Australian first, countless numbers of native fish will be saved thanks to Victorian designed and made screening. Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp said Australia’s first irrigation diversion channel fish screen will be positioned in front of the Cohuna Number 3 Channel regulator, in the Cohuna Weir pool, and will stop…
International Fish Conference
AWMA have secured an exhibition booth for the inaugural International Conference on River Connectivity (Fish Passage 2018), to be held in Albury NSW, 10th – 14th December 2018. AWMA will be showcasing our locally manufactured Fish Exclusion Screens.
Fish Exclusion Screens Presented at IrrigationNZ
AWMA’s Vern Costelow attended the IrrigationNZ Conference and Exhibition as a guest speaker for Infrastructure Modernisation, leading a discussion session on Fish Exclusion Screens. Discussions include: Fish protection or Fish exclusion as an important aspect of fishery management at water diversions. New Zealand concerns about the effectiveness of many traditional fish exclusion technologies. AWMA’s capacity…