AHERC at Work: Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site Update

Project Description:

AHERC’s Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site just outside of Nenana, Alaska, is playing host to a dramatic build out in the summer season of 2014.  The site is being upgraded with office facilities in the form of ATCO trailer units, power has been run to the location and a pontoon barge will be onsite to give hydrokinetic devices a platform on which to be tested in the river.  This effort is all taking place to support a busy testing season which will feature AHERC’s prototype debris diversion system and a hydrokinetic device owned by Oceana Energy Company being deployed into the Tanana River in mid-August.

Project Update:

On July 21st the River Debris Diversion Platform (RDDP) was deployed at the Tanana River Test Site. It is now situated behind AHERC’s mooring buoy, roughly three hundred feet in front of the fish trap. The goal of the RDDP is to deflect passing debris, such as floating logs, around the equipment to prevent damage. With the deployment of the diverter, the amount of debris caught in the fish trap has decreased but the debris has not dropped off entirely. The situation is being addressed to further increase the deflection potential of the device.

Fish sampling continued this week as well with the trap capturing samples for hour long periods of time before it is checked for fish and debris.  After which it is cleared and then redeployed.

Photo: View of the RDDP deployed upstream from the fish trap at the TRTS.  Photo courtesy of N. Konefal, ACEP/UAF.