Filson Fish Screen:

Filson fish screen

Your Irreplaceable Fish Screen Manufacturer Specialist In China

Filson fish screen is mainly made of various stainless steels or other alloys which exhibit superior erosion resistance. Both profile bar and resistance-welded wedge wires can be provided to fabricate the Filson fish screens.

With our unique fish screen design, Filson fish screens will enable easy installation, good protection, and diversion for the desired area. Filson wedge wire fish screen contributes the high strength, smooth surface for water filtration in river, lake, ocean…

Furthermore, when you use Filson fish screen for a while, you are suggested to clean and maintain it regularly to ensure operation properly. It is easy to clean with high-pressure air or water jetting.

As one of the best fish screen manufacturers in China, Filson always devotes to produce the optimum fish screen with the highest quality. Plus, our experienced engineers will be very enthusiastic to assist you design and build the most perfect fish screen for your application.

Fish Screen: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

I know choosing a suitable fish screen can be an overwhelming task.

A reason this guide will answer all your questions on fish screens.

So keep reading to learn more.

What Is Fish Screen?

A fish screen is a device that prevents fish from swimming through waterways, diversions, aqueducts, or even water-cooling intakes.

This normally occurs in areas where water is been drawn for human use.

Also, the fish screen allows the supply of water to the intended destination that is free of debris without causing any harm to the aquatic life.

The fish screen is made of different materials put together to prevent fish from swimming through into unsafe areas.

fish screen

 Materials used in making the fish screen should be highly resistant to corrosion as well as the effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Normally you will find a fish screen with different shapes and sizes depending on where you want to install it.

It’s also important to ensure while constructing your fish screen there are no sharp edges left to prevent injuring the fish.

It’s also important to note that the fish screen requires regular cleaning to remove the excess debris that collects on the screen.

Regular cleaning helps prevent exposure of fish to the less conducive environment which poses a danger.

What Are the Available Types of Fish Screen?

Fish screen falls under a set of two groups. They include;

• The positive barrier screens

Also, the positive barrier screen can easily clean up when the continuously rotate. Positive barrier fish screen comes with immense benefits such as;

• Frequent self-cleaning ability through rotation.
• Proven to provide efficient fish protection.
• It normally passes debris downstream.

positive barrier screen

Some of the positive barrier screen include;

• Rotary drum screen
• Vertical fixed plate screen
• Vertical traveling screen
• Non-vertical fixed pate screen
• Eicher screen
• Horizontal screen
• Modular inclined screen

The modular inclined screen does not have the self-cleaning feature and therefore requires regular cleaning to remove the clogged debris.

modular inclined screen

Some modular inclined fish screen include;

• Pump screen
• Fixed cylindrical screen
• End of pipe intake screen
• Passive screen

What Factors Should You Consider While Choosing Fish Screen?

While choosing a fish screen it’s important to first have an understanding of the type of fish screen you need.

This involves knowledge of the hydraulic effects and operational features at the point of diversion.

It’s also important to be aware of all fish protections regulations that are in place.

The fish screen helps protect the fish, conserve the environment and still allow the supply of water for human use.

A good quality fish screen should portray the following characteristics;

• Low velocity
• Have an integrated self-cleaning system.
• Also, should be able to provide finer filtration of the water from the debris collections.

With the above features, it’s a guarantee of a continuous flow of water as there is minimal clogging of debris on the fish screen.

Also, the fish screen will require minimal maintained which in turn reduces the cost of maintenance.

There is also low power consumption.

Below are some of the factors you should consider while choosing a fish screen. They include;

• Approach velocity

The approach velocity of the water should always be below to prevent injuring the fish and impingement.

Besides, the velocity of the water should be uniform across the whole fish screen area this reduces the chance of head roll.

• Aperture Size

The fish screen varies depending on aperture size.

This means the size differs on the size and the type of species present in that water body.

• Self-cleaning feature

Unlike the old traditional fish screen which requires manual cleaning the current fish screen has the capability to self-clean.

This is a result of improvement in technological features of fish screen.

Furthermore, more improved cleaning methods always ensure the efficiency of the fish screen in terms of performance.

What Are the Benefits of Fish Screen?

The fish screen prevents the swimming of fish in the diversions or waterways made for human consumption.

This is the core function of the fish screen. Among other benefits include;

• The fish screen is made with materials that comply with environmental standards.

These materials are highly resistant to corrosions as a result of high ultraviolet radiation.

• The fish screen helps keep the pipes, turbines, and pipelines clean from debris.

Fish screen normally collects all the debris on the mesh which you can regularly clean out easily.

• The fish screen prevents impingement of fish to unwanted areas.
• Most of the fish screen are self-cleaning which reduces the risk of injuring the fish as a result of the accumulation of debris.
• The use of a fish screen maintains a reliable flow which also means low maintenance costs.
• The fish screen has no restrictions on where you can install it.

It can either be at the diversion, water edge among other places.

• The fish screen is highly durable.

It is made of quality materials that are resistant to rusting/corrosion as a result of ultraviolet radiation.

• Fish screen increases fish protection and also improves fish survival rates.
• It’s easy to clean and maintain the fish screen since you can easily remove it and remove all the debris on the screen.

How Does Fish Screen Work?

The fish screen is meant to prevent fish take each time you diverge water at the river ends, waterways for human use.

The fish screen acts as a barrier, this means the fish cannot go through the screen.

It’s also important to ensure that the fish screen does not have any material protruding to prevent injuring the fish.

What Is Fish Screen Made Of?

Fish screen normally comprises of two set-ups.

Metal frame and the screen fabric.

Both of these materials should always be stronger to prevent collapsing in case of excess water force.

The metal frame should be made from metals that are durable and highly resistant to corrosion.

This prevents corrosion as a result of ultraviolet radiation.

These metals include bronze, aluminum, brass, and galvanized or stainless steel.

These metals also have a low deuteriation rate which means increased longevity when you construct your fish screen using them.

Screen fabrics that are commonly used in constructing the fish screen include perforated plate, profile wire, and woven wire.

Additionally, synthetic materials are also necessary while constructing the fish screen, such materials include nylon and acrylic.

Does Fish Screen Require Regular Cleaning and Maintenance?

Proper cleaning and maintenance of fish screen are important to ensure increased fish protection.

It’s important to have both long-term and short-term maintenance procedures to ensure the fish screen is performing to its optimum.

To ensure that the fish screen is performing effectively, the following are some of the cleaning and maintenance practices to observe.

They include;

• Constantly check on your water levels in the bypass channel.
• Remove all the debris stuck on the fish screen mesh.

In most cases, you will find a fish screen that has the capability of self-cleaning.

It is easier to maintain and ensure the fish screen is fully functional.

• Assess the condition of your diversion site.

This allows you to be aware of whether the water levels are up or down and the necessary measure to take.

• Verify proper depths for your fish screen.

Ensure that the fish screen is not installed at the bottom of the waterway.

This is to prevent the collection of sediments that may block the flow of water.

• Ensure you repair your fish screen in time in case of any damages.
• Constantly check on the fish screen seals and mechanical parts.

Constant inspection allows you to grease the seals and the different parts of the fish screen to allow continuous operation of the fish screen.

Check the seals if there is any wear and replace the worn-out seals. Also, remove any debris that is stuck on the seals.

Are There Self-Cleaning Fish Screen?

Yes, there is a fish screen that is capable of self-cleaning through continuous rotation.

The self-cleaning process allows the removal of accumulated debris on the fish screen.

self cleaning fish screen

The self-cleaning fish screen is not only an efficient feature but also has the following benefits. They include;

• It helps protect fish at different life cycles.
• It improves water quality as no debris passes through.
• It helps protect the pipes or waterways from constant clogging.

What Factors Should You Consider While Selecting Materials Used in Making Fish Screen?

The following are some of the factors you should consider while selecting materials used in the construction of fish screens.

They include;

Fish Screen Material And Fabric

The fish screen is normally made of metal materials that hold the fabric screen.

Synthetic materials are also important as they protect the fish screen from ultraviolet radiation.

These metals include aluminum, bronze, brass, acrylic, and nylon.

While selecting screen fabric the important factor to consider is normally cost, durability and ease of cleaning.

Screen Porosity

Screen porosity determines the rate/strength at which the water flows, debris fabric strength, and fish entrapment.

All these factors are normally inverse to the screen porosity of the fish screen.

Fish should be able to remove themselves from the fish screen in case of impingement.

Additionally, the Rate of the flow should be inversely proportional to the screen porosity.

Screen Fabric Hole Size

The screen hole size depends on the side of debris, fish, and head roll.

In the case of large hole size, there is minimal protection of the small-size fish.

It’s therefore important to understand the size and species of fish around the area where you want to install the fish screen.

What Methods Are Used in Cleaning Fish Screen?

Cleaning of the fish screen is very crucial to remove the stuck debris which is left for a while will cause harm to the aquatic life.

Below are the major methods that you can use to clean all the debris away from the fish screen.

These methods include;

Hand Brushing Or Mechanical Cleaning.

This technique normally applies in most of the vertical flat plates fish screen and horizontal fish screen.

The brushes normally remove any impinged debris on the fish screen.

Ideally, these brushes move horizontally to remove any debris on the fish screen which then is removed by the sweeping away process.

For a small fish screen, you can use a hand brush to brush off the debris.

For this to happen you need to place the fish screen at an angle that allows contact of the fish screen surface and hand brush.

Back-flushing To Remove The Debris In The Fish Screen Mesh.

Back-flashing removes debris both in small fish screen and large fish screen. Back-flashing can either use pressurized water or screened water to clean up the fish screen.

This cleaning process normally occurs rotationally to allow all the debris to fall out as the fish screen rotates.

Creating A Very Large Velocity Ratio.

This concept normally works with three things in place approach velocity, high sweeping velocity, and fine-meshed screen which reduces debris from plugging on.

The sweeping velocity is normally greater than the approach velocity.

This ratio helps calculate the rate at which you can conduct the fish screen cleaning before the next approach from the fish.

Normally the ratio between the sweeping velocity should be 15 times higher than that of the approach velocity.

Does Fish Screen Require To Be Powered?

The basic function of the fish screen is to prevent fish from swimming into an endangered space such as electric water plants.

The installation of the fish screen only acts as a barrier and they do not need to be powered.

Remember powering the fish screen will mean endangering the fish we are trying to protect.

However, some of the large fish screen require power to operate especially during the self-cleaning process.

This cleaning process occurs in rotations, this means you will have to power the fish screen for it to rotate.

Where Fish Screen Is Normally Placed?

It’s important to consider where you are installing the fish screen.

You can install your fish screen in an in-stream divergence or upstream of a divergence.

You can install your fish screen in the following areas;

• Canal
• Swamp
• Stream
• lake

How Much Does Fish Screen Cost?

The cost of a fish screen varies depending on different factors. These factors include;

Besides, the size of the fish screen.

Also, the size of the fish screen ranges from small size to large size fish screen.

The price of a small fish screen is relatively low compared to that of a large fish screen.

Type of fish screen you want.

Different types of fish screen have different prices depending on how they are made and their physical and mechanical characteristics.

The cost of material used in constructing the fish screen.

For instance, screen fabric is normally expensive as a material.

This means the cost will relatively reflect on the final cost quotation of the fish screen.

How Long Does Fish Screen Last?

As stated, the earlier fish screen is made out of the best materials.

These materials are normally metals such as brass, copper, stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze.

These metals are well known for their high durability.

The fish screen has high durability and high resistance to corrosion as a result of strong ultraviolet radiations.

More so, regular cleaning and maintenance of the fish screen also contribute to the duration that the fish screen will be operational.

Regular cleaning means removing the debris that is clogged on the fish screen mesh to allow water passage.

It also minimizes the risk of endangering the fish spices.

A good fish screen should be able to serve you for over 25 years while still performing its operations effectively.

How Can You Test Fish Screen?

The fish screen should be made in such a way that the designs meet the set standards under the fish regulation policy.

Testing for quality, performance, effectiveness should always happen during construction.

You have come up with the complete fish screen.

The following are some of the tests that fish screen should meet;

• Locate to avoid any exposure to the fish.
• The velocity ratio should be relatively low at the outlet.
• Uniform and sufficient water intake across the whole fish screen.
• Availability of fish escape route or bypass.
• The escape route should lead to a safe exit.
• Any small openings on the fish screen can lead to the escape of fish.
• Should be fully operational as per the design made in.

Why Is Knowledge of Hydraulic Critical on Fish Screen Design?

There are two concepts when it comes to the flow of velocity.

We have screen approach velocity and screen sweeping velocity.

Screen approach velocity requires the fish to swim against the force to prevent impinging on the screen mesh.

Screen sweeping velocity provides velocity which allows fish to swim away from the screen mesh.

It’s important to have a stronger sweeping flow which is more recommendable to allow fish and debris to swim away from the screen.

Lack of strong sweeping flow results to fish swimming against the flow.

This results in fish entering the screen due to exhaustion that reduces their ability to imp regiment.

The duration taken to pass debris through the screen is almost the same duration at which the fish is in danger of being swept away.

Also, the ratio of approach velocity to the fish swimming ability should be minimal to reduce fish impingement.

This concept is also known as fish sustained swimming speed.

The sustained swimming speed varies with the size of fish and also the species. It’s therefore important to determine the screen criteria early to improve fish protection objectives.

Setting the screen criteria helps set the screen design which impacts the screen approach velocity.

This normally has an impact on fish protection objectives, the initial cost of maintenance, and screen size.

Ideally, low screen approach velocity results in increased fish protection, low maintenance, and operational cost, and an increase in screen size.

While high screen approach velocity results in low screen size, increase in operation and maintenance cost, and reduces fish protection.

An increase in approach velocity increases the water force which presses debris into screen fabrics openings.

This force causes the debris to interlock on the screen which means increased cost of cleaning and maintaining the fish screen.

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For any questions or inquiry about any type of fish screens, contact us now.