scuba diver sucked into pipe survives?

[dfreeman]

A good ride at about 4 MPH which is a good river current and a very normal speed for flow systems like this.


Often the water flows by gravity into a facility like this to the penstock.  Trying to suck the water this far results in Net Positive Suction Head problems, which wreck the pump or do not allow it to work at all.  The pumps are then fed from the penstock.  This allows for maintenance and gives the fish a way to escape.  There usually is a grate of some type to get the big chunks out to protect the pump impellers and downstream equipment.

In systems that do not have the long suction pipe like this, the penstock is much closer.  In some cases where a large volume and low head is needed, an Archimedes Screw can be used.  This would truly be a wild ride.

I have seen all of these designs used, would not ike to ride any of them.

Doug