Application Spotlight Water Flow Management for Automated Fishway

The level and flow of waterways like rivers, lakes, and streams are often managed to enable surrounding communities to better use them as sources of water and energy. A common part of water management is the use of gates and valves to control the flow of water depending on rainfall, snowmelt, and other seasonal or variable factors. Hydraulic cylinders are typically employed to control these gates and valves, with an electronic linear position transducer providing position feedback from the cylinder to the gate or valve control system. High ambient humidity, splashing water, temperature and atmospheric pressure fluctuations, and partial or even complete submersion of the electronic transducer demand a sensor housing that is built to withstand these rugged operating conditions. Balluffs IP69K-rated ProCompact transducer is specifically designed to meet the stringent requirements of water management applications. Rated for high pressure washdown, the ProCompacts hermitically sealed, welded stainless steel housing withstands environmental conditions that would drastically shorten the lifespan of standard linear feedback sensors. n Welded housing is IP69K rated to withstand wet, humid, condensate-forming conditions n Designed for high heat, extreme cold, and moisture, as well as high levels of shock and vibration n Provides superior, long-term reliability and service life

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A 200 year old, 3 meter high river weir in Sydney, Australia was modified by a Sydney-based company CIS Complete Industry Solutions, to allow for automated water flow management to help improve the fish population in the area, and to comply with new environmental water release regulations. Before the modification, no fish in 200 years had moved upstream past the weir. With the improved system, gated fish migration chambers (similar in operation to a navigational lock) allow fish to progressively move upstream more easily by lifting them 3 meters into the head water flow. The flow of water is monitored and adjusted by a series of stainless steel penstocks, or sluice gates, that are mechanically driven by hydraulic cylinders with Balluff ProCompact linear position transducers as the position feedback device. The ProCompact transducer was selected because of its ability to reliably withstand the environment demands of this application, eliminating downtime due to water-related sensor failure. With the transducers in place, the water managers are able to remotely monitor and adjust the gate position, in addition to controlling the flow rate locally. The transducers allow for controlled, variable flow release a new capability in addition to the ability to monitor the flow remotely. Without disrupting the natural migration of fish, monitoring and adjusting water flow remotely in real time is critical to meeting the needs of the metropolis.

Optional Cable Protection System Part number BAM AD-XA-007-M18x1,5/D12-2 BAM PT-XA-001-095-0-XX* Description Hose fitting, brass Flexible tubing, urethane

*Specify length in meters (e.g. 02 = 2 meters) Standard lengths = 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 100

www.balluff.com/ProCompact
Balluff, Inc. n 8125 Holton Drive Florence, KY 41042 n 1-800-543-8390 n www.balluff.com

PS_045 Water Flow Management 2010-06