A new pair of “barochambers”, which simulate the effects of rapid pressure changes on fish, could help increase fish survival rates as they travel through hyrdopower turbines.
The mechanical chambers will measure the decompression limit that fish can safely endure and will steer the design of future turbines.
If fish evade impact with the blades of a hydropower turbine, they can still suffer injury from extreme pressure changes when they go from deep water to shallower waters.
These injuries, which include expanded swim bladders, are similar to those that scuba divers might experience when surfacing too quickly.
Read more at UNSW Sydney