Franciolini Power Plant
Downstream fish guidance system at small run-of-the-river hydropower plant in central Italy.- Location: Castelplanio, Ancona, Italy
- Commissioned: 2016
- Type: Headpond
Project description
The Franciolini Power Plant is a run-of-the-river hydropower facility on Fiume Ecino in the Province of Ancona, Italy. ENEL SpA operates the power plant and retained Smith-Root to direct downstream-migrating trout and barbel to a spillway gate rather than the power headrace gates.
With assistance from Smith-Root’s partner in Italy, Aquaprogram s.r.l., a design was developed that featured a low and variable voltage pulsed DC field enabled by a pair of vertical electrode arrays. The pulsed DC field created by the guidance system was constructed and commissioned in Autumn 2016. Smith-Root prepared the barrier design and manufactured the guidance system equipment, and Aquaprogram provided on-site project management and commissioning services.
Services provided
- Electrical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Software Development and Engineering
- Equipment Supply
Site characteristics
- Pulsators: 1.5kVA POW
- Pulsator Qty: 1
- Power Output: 700W max. with variable voltage output
- Water Depth: 2.0 meters
- Waterway Width: 19.3 meters
- Water Velocity: <1.1 m/s
- Conductivity: 300-500 µS/cm