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An Assessment of Fish Entrainment and Impingement Potential for an Offshore Cooling Water Intake in a Tropical Bay

by Andrew M. Dasinger, ENSR Consulting and Engineering, Acton, United States,
Ronald Sutton, ENSR Consulting and Engineering, Acton, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

Fish entrainment and impingement potential were assessed for a proposed cogeneration facility on the west coast of Puerto Rico that will withdraw cooling water using offshore intake structures. Induced velocities in the immediate vicinity of the intakes were calculated using a flow-net analysis. Net velocities near the intakes were determined by superposing induced velocities with the ambient current velocities. Published fish swimming speed data were reviewed, and a conservative relationship between swimming speed and body length was developed. Based on the sizes of fish caught during a year-long biological sampling program and comparison of their calculated swimming speeds to induced and net velocities near the intake, no significant entrainment and impingement impacts are likely. Far-field induced velocities from both intakes were calculated using potential flow theory. This analysis showed that velocities produced by the intakes would be only a small fraction of ambient velocities at the nearest coral reef. The proposed intakes will therefore result in minimal effects on local fish populations.

Subject Headings: Water intakes | Offshore structures | Fish and fishery management | Fluid velocity | Entrainment | Temperature effects | Flow measurement | Puerto Rico | United States | Caribbean

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