Engineering topics
Deng, Z. Daniel
Publications and source records attributed to Deng, Z. Daniel.
Sensor assemblies and methods for emulating interaction of entities within water systems
Methods for emulating interaction of entities within water systems are provided. The methods can include introducing a sensor assembly into a water system. The sensor assembly can include: a circuit board supporting processing circuitry components on either or both of opposing component support surfaces of the circuit board; a housing about the circuit board and the components, the housing being circular about the circuit board in at least one cross section; and wherein the support surfaces of the circuit board are substantially parallel with the plane of the housing in the one cross section.
Feasibility study for test rig assessments of fish passage conditions in a Kaplan turbine
The assessment of fish passage conditions in hydroelectric turbines consists of identifying and quantifying physical magnitudes leading to increased risks of injury of fish passing through turbines in operation. Such assessments are usually carried out either with the use of computer-based methods during design or with field testing of live fish and sensors passing through prototypes. A method in between consists of test rig experimentation, which is critical for testing fish-focused design concepts and offers the opportunity for implementing the most effective design measures for improved fish survivability. However, fish-related assessments in test rigs are not sufficiently documented for industrial applications. This work presents the main findings of an experimental campaign to quantify fish-related hydraulic magnitudes in a physical model of a Kaplan turbine in a commercial test rig. Two operating conditions were tested by releasing miniaturized autonomous sensor devices (termed Sensor Fish Mini) at the turbine intake flow, passing them through the runner in motion and recovering them at the draft tube exit. During passage, time series of acceleration, absolute pressure and rotational velocity were recorded. The recordings were then interpreted to determine the magnitude and likely location of hydraulic stressors hazardous to fish. The statistical tests on the reported measurements indicated that low pressure, collisions on the runner and rotations in the draft tube were not different between the two tested operating points. On the other hand, pressure drop and collision rates on the distributor differed considerably as a function of net head. The outcomes of this investigation showed that test rig evaluations of fish-related properties with Sensor Fish Mini can contribute to an evidence-based development of turbine geometries designed for providing safer passage conditions. Future work will investigate the scaling of test rig measurements to hydraulically equivalent magnitudes in the prototype and their biological consequences.
Systems and methods for monitoring organisms within an aquatic environment
Systems and methods for monitoring organisms within an aquatic environment are described. According to one aspect, an injectable acoustic transmission device includes a body configured to be injected inside of an organism, a transducer within the body and configured to convert a plurality of electrical signals into a plurality of data transmissions which are transmitted externally of the body and the organism, a plurality of circuit components within the body and configured to use electrical energy from a power source to generate the electrical signals which are provided to the transducer, and wherein the transducer defines an internal volume and at least one of the circuit components is provided within the internal volume of the transducer.
Sensor assemblies and methods for emulating interaction of entities within water systems
Sensor assemblies are provided for use in modeling water systems. These sensor assemblies can be used as sensor fish. These assemblies can include a circuit board supporting processing circuitry components on either or both opposing component support surfaces of the circuit board and a housing above the circuit board and the components, with the housing being circular about the circuit board in at least one cross section, and wherein the supporting surfaces of the circuit board are substantially parallel with the plane of the housing in the one cross section. Methods for emulating interaction of entities within water systems are provided. The methods can include introducing a sensor assembly into a water system. The sensor assembly can include: a circuit board supporting processing circuitry components on either or both of opposing component support surfaces of the circuit board; a housing about the circuit board and the components, the housing being circular about the circuit board in at least one cross section; and wherein the support surfaces of the circuit board are substantially parallel with the plane of the housing in the one cross section.
Safe passage of American Eels through a novel hydropower turbine
Abstract Objective Study the effects of downstream passage through a novel turbine designed for fish safety, the Restoration Hydro Turbine (RHT), on American Eels Anguilla rostrata in a recirculating turbine test facility. Methods A 55‐cm‐diameter RHT was operated under 10 m of hydraulic head and 667 revolutions/min. In total, 131 eels were passed through the turbine and 43 eels were used as experimental controls (length = 33.9–65.5 cm). High‐speed video of passage through the runner region was captured for 89% of turbine‐passed eels, and injury and behavioral effects were recorded immediately before and after passage, as well as after a 48‐h holding period. A subset of 37 eels was additionally examined with X‐ray imaging for internal injuries. Result The 48‐h survival rate for both treatment and control groups was 100%, with no major internal or external injuries present after the holding period. Conclusion This is a substantial improvement over eel survival rates through conventional Kaplan and Francis turbines, which may range from 40% to 95%, and suggests that hydropower turbines designed for safe downstream fish passage could be implemented without major impacts to eels.
Methods for attaching transmitters to animals
Methods for attaching a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to an animal are provided. The methods can include providing an RF transmitter and providing an injection device having a needle of gauge of 9 or smaller; providing the RF transmitter into the injection device; and providing the RF transmitter through the 9 gauge or smaller needle and into the animal.
Aquatic organism tracking devices, systems and associated methods
Aquatic organism tracking devices, systems and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, an aquatic organism tracking device includes a housing, a transducer coupled with the housing and configured to transmit a data transmission externally of the housing and an aquatic organism associated with the tracking device, a programmable oscillator coupled with the housing, and wherein the programmable oscillator is configured to generate a clock signal having a selected one of a plurality of different frequencies, processing circuitry coupled with the housing and configured to receive the clock signal from the programmable oscillator and to execute a plurality of executable instructions according to the clock signal, a power source coupled with the housing and configured to store electrical energy, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the provision of the electrical energy from the power source to the transducer to generate the data transmission as a result of the execution of the instructions.
Transmitters for animals and methods for transmitting from animals
Animal transmitters are provided that can include: a transducer configured to transmit a signal; process circuitry coupled to the transducer; and an energy harvesting element coupled to the process circuitry. Animals having a transmitter coupled thereto are also provided with the transmitter including an energy harvesting element in operational alignment with the animal's musculoskeletal system. Methods for transmitting the location of an animal are also provided with the methods including: coupling a transmitter powered by an energy harvesting element to the animal; and monitoring the transmissions of the transmitter.
Extracting energy from ocean thermal and salinity gradients to power unmanned underwater vehicles: State of the art, current limitations, and future outlook
Thermal gradient energy-generation technologies for powering unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) or autonomous sensing systems in the ocean are mainly in the research development phase or commercially available at a limited scale, and salinity-gradient energy-generation technologies have not been adequately researched yet. The demand for self-powered UUVs suitable for long-term deployments has been growing, and further research related to small-scale ocean gradient energy systems is needed. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive review about harvesting energy from ocean thermal or salinity gradients for powering UUVs, focusing on gliders and profiling floats. Thermal gradient energy systems for UUVs based on phase change materials (PCM) cannot provide the energy required for powering autonomous sensing systems because of the systems' low energy conversion efficiency. Besides reducing energy consumption by developing more efficient electrical-mechanical systems, enhancing the thermal conductivity of the PCMs may help address this challenge by increasing the power generation rate of the UUVs. Several other emerging technologies, such as thermoelectric generators, shape memory alloys, and small-scale thermodynamic cycle systems, have shown potential for powering UUVs, but they are still only at the laboratory testing or conceptual design phase. The most advanced power generation technologies based on salinity gradients, reverse electrodialysis and pressure-retarded osmosis, are still not economically viable for large-scale deployment, mainly because of the high cost of the components required to operate in harsh saline environments. Our feasibility evaluation showed that existing salinity gradient power generation technologies are not directly feasible for powering UUVs in the open ocean.
Methods for attaching transmitters to animals
Methods for attaching a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to an animal are provided. The methods can include providing an RF transmitter and providing an injection device having a needle of gauge of 9 or smaller; providing the RF transmitter into the injection device; and providing the RF transmitter through the 9 gauge or smaller needle and into the animal.