other Pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liqianyi/sets/72157624541862028/

Me

http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/centerforstudentinnovation/2010/07/20/summer-fellow-spotlight-on-andrew-couvertier-fall-engine/

Fishies

A dam gives way in Iowa

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/us/26iowa.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=dam%20&st=cse

Sedimentation

http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/1476

ITs working!

It has water!

Today i hooked it all up water and everything to test the pressures and the seals of the pneumatics and the PVC. The test was successful and i found that i need to re-think the float in order to get the most push for the amount of water used.

After we get the switches mounted and the float working i will be able to start to experiment with fish and sediment!

Some Videos of it working

The direction i point is what the outside will look like when the water level goes up and and down in the chamber.

ITs Alive!

Installing Pneumatics

pneumatics

Pneumatics

Pneumatics meet the Fallengine

The Fallengine was framed in order to support pneumatic switches and valves.

Today

After my meeting with Larry Villasmil of RIT Mfg. Mech. Engineering Technology and packaging science. We began the process of geting the Fallengine up and moving. Time to build a frame...

The Fallengine Rebuilt

Starting with a container of PVC parts brought to you by Home depot.
I started with the most important(and expensive) part the Gate Valve.
I made the model of the Fallengine.
This is the Fill valve much like the one missing from your toilet. Used to keep the water level just right.
All together now we got ourselves a working prototype of a Fallengine and the idea behind it. I look forward to having fish go through it Monday.

Look at this sediment pump!

http://www.piranhapump.com/agitator_slurry_pumps.html?gclid=COPesMCXlqICFY9M5QodsFsjEA

Background

This image is an example of a dam with out any bypass system other then the emergency spillway. The spillway is only used when the water level exceeds the high of the dam wall in order to spill over safely. There is no possible way for fish to go passed as well as any sediment to pass the dam unless the water is high enough. For the most part this dam will not allow water to pass the dam. Some of the issues created by this dam is sediment build up and species extinction.

interesting

http://www.hydroworld.com/index/environmental/fishprotection.html

Links that where looked at

http://www.nwcouncil.org/history/FishPassage.asp