Regions: Gwich'in Settlement Area, Sahtu Settlement Area
Tags: physical sciences, hydrology, glaciology, spring breakup, hydro-electric
| Principal Investigator: | Katz, Sharon (9) |
| Licence Number: | 14230 |
| Organization: | Aurora Research Institute |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2007
|
| Issued: | Aug 02, 2007 |
| Project Team: | William Hurst (Team member, ARI), Larry Greenland (Team member, ARI), Tulita community member, TBD (Team member, Tulita Yamoria Community Sec), Tsiigehtchic Community member, TBD (Team member, Tasiighetchic Gwichya Gwich'in band) |
Objective(s): The purpose of this study is to: develop an understanding of water and ice behaviour in sites on the Mackenzie and Great Bear rivers; obtain knowledge of water speed, depth, current profile, frazil ice and how deep ice may reach into the rivers during the Spring break up; use this information to determine the feasibility of using Ducted Venturi and Gorlov Helical Turbines (DV-GHT) to harness river current for the purpose of generating electricity for the neighbouring communities.
Project Description: The goals of this study are: to develop an understanding of water and ice behaviour in sites on the Mackenzie and Great Bear rivers; to obtain knowledge of water speed, depth, current profile, frazil ice and how deep ice may reach into the rivers during the Spring break up; to use this information to determine the feasibility of using Ducted Venturi and Gorlov Helical Turbines (DV-GHT) to harness river current for the purpose of generating electricity for the neighbouring communities. A hydrographical study will be implemented to verify the feasibility of combined Ducted Venturi and Gorlov Helical Turbine (DV-GHT) systems installation in the Mackenzie River at Coney Bay near Tsiigehtchic and in the Great Bear River near Tulita. The researchers plan to verify current velocity and river depth in these locations. They also intend to discover if ice blocks during the Spring break-up could possibly hit and damage the turbine systems. To study the river and ice behaviour, an instrument called an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) will be installed on the bottom of the river in chosen locations. This is a small instrument measuring less than 10 inches x 10 inches x 10 inches, which works like a hydrographic measuring station. It tracks water velocity and also logs objects and water level within its sonar range. The ADCP will be installed with a sturdy and heavy base on the bottom of the river in the locations mentioned above. The ADCP will be installed using a boat, lowering the instrument and an attached base to the bottom of the river. The base is designed to allow sediments to flow under the ADCP to eliminate the ADCP getting buried under sediments (this is relevant to the Mackenzie River).The ADCP has a battery and does not need outside electricity to operate. Since the ADCP is very small it does not constitute a hazard to navigation or to river flora. The system will be retrieved after break up in the summer of 2008. Exact sites in the vicinity of Tsiigehtchic and Tulita will be determined by current profiling and bathymetric profiling of the river, using the ADCP on a boat. Plain language reports will be prepared annually and sent to the band offices. Other community organizations will receive the reports upon request. Copies of all reports and publications related to this project will also be made available to the Aurora College Library. Fieldwork will be conducted from August 02 to December 31, 2007 at the Mackenzie River near Tsiigehtchic, and Great Bear River near Tulita.
