Hydropower Operation & Maintenance Optimization from Thin Film Composite Coating

Prometheus Innova􀆟ons, LLC will endeavor to develop a composite thin film polymer coa􀆟ng comprised of an adhesive polymer binder and a micron level par􀆟culate addi􀆟ve that when mixed and applied to a surface, presents several very beneficial proper􀆟es That are of significant benefit to the Hydropower industry and are relevant to topic C58-19--_c. These are a reduc􀆟on in surface fric􀆟on of fluid mo􀆟on across the surface, soiling and biofouling resistance and genera􀆟on and extreme enhancement of acous􀆟c reflec􀆟vity. This material concept was developed during the 2020 Fish Protec􀆟on Prize and valida􀆟on was performed in collabora􀆟on with PNNL for the Acous􀆟c reflec􀆟vity proper􀆟es. The fric􀆟on reduc􀆟on and fouling/biofouling resistance was discovered during the valida􀆟on of the acous􀆟c reflec􀆟vity proper􀆟es. The use of this material in hydropower facili􀆟es would provide greater efficiency from the turbines due to higher flow veloci􀆟es from reduced fric􀆟on in the flow through the penstocks, dra􀅌 tubes and scroll cases. It would provide reduced maintenance and greater turbine efficiency by inhibi􀆟ng fouling and biofouling of trash racks and intake gra􀆟ng filters. It would improve inspec􀆟on efforts for submerged components providing the capability of high-resolu􀆟on sonar inspec􀆟ons of coated surfaces and the composite is designed to use low cost, environmentally benign materials. The basic formula􀆟on has been shown to observa􀆟onally provide significant fluid flow fric􀆟on reduc􀆟on, biofouling and fouling resistance and acous􀆟c reflec􀆟vity. The increase in opera􀆟onal genera􀆟on from a given hydrosta􀆟c reservoir head or stream flow velocity will be significant, increasing the opera􀆟onal efficiency of a hydroelectric genera􀆟on system without a major modifica􀆟on or refitment of the intake, turbine, or genera􀆟on hardware. The reduc􀆟on in intake obstruc􀆟on from biofouling and fouling will reduce the maintenance burden and provide for a more sustainable opera􀆟ng efficiency of the turbines. The acous􀆟c reflec􀆟vity allows for a high-resolu􀆟on inspec􀆟on of the coated components u􀆟lizing unmanned remotely operated vehicles carrying imaging mul􀆟beam sonar systems for inspec􀆟on. This provides spa􀆟al and visually translatable recorda􀆟on of condi􀆟on and iden􀆟fica􀆟on of anomalies that might correlate to degrada􀆟on or problems with the structures. This reduces human exposure to underwater hazardous condi􀆟ons providing greater safety in maintenance and inspec􀆟on.