Dielectric Introduces New Aquatic Guidance Lighting(TM) for Protection of Fish at Water Intake Sites
RAYMOND, Maine, July 20 / Dielectric Communications' Flash Technology division has developed a patented underwater lighting technology that provides a cost-effective method for utility and industrial operators to meet new federal regulations requiring the protection of fish at water intake systems. Aquatic Guidance Lighting(TM) (AGL), the company's new bioengineering technology, uses rapidly pulsing underwater strobe lighting to create a "wall of light" in front of water intake entrances. Due to their strong aversion to strobe lighting, many species of fish can be directed away from the intake entrance.
By 2007 the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Water Act 316(b) Phase II regulations will mandate a reduction in the entrainment and impingement of all fish species at more than 500 utility plants nationwide.
Traditional methods used to keep fish from passing into water intakes have relied on physical barriers such as screens and nets, which are costly to install and maintain -- often requiring the plant to be shut down during both installation and periodic cleaning and repairs. Other options for compliance to 316(b) regulations are very expensive and include mitigation with state environmental agencies or changing the facility's cooling water system from a "once through" to a "closed cycle" system.
"We're very pleased with how the AGL technology has performed in independent, third-party tests. AGL has already proven to be successful at reducing fish impingement mortality rates by up to 90 percent for more than 20 highly representative species of fish. Testing continues on other species as well," said Ron Brown, director of environmental services for Dielectric's AGL products. "Combining such a high success rate with simple installation and maintenance, our AGL technology represents a cost-effective means for compliance with the new federal regulations."
Dielectric creates a custom AGL system for each site by evaluating each candidate facility's characteristics, including the water turbidity and flow, species and age of the fish, and the facility's compliance requirements. These configurations, customized to allow for an extremely high flash rate, enable utility and industrial facilities to create a "wall of light" that fish naturally avoid and to which they do not acclimate. Maintenance of the AGL system is inexpensive and requires no specialized training.
The EPA and Electric Power Research Institute have funded a one-year field-testing of AGL technology at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Widow's Creek Fossil Fuel Plant. Located on the Tennessee River, the Widow's Creek facility was selected because its species mix, seasonal turbidity, and intake designs are representative of the majority of facilities that are impacted by 316(b) regulations. Results of the Widow's Creek field test will be available in early 2007.
Learn more about Dielectric's Flash Technology Aquatic Guidance Lighting system at http://flashtechnology.com/agl.html.
About Dielectric Communications
Based in Raymond, Maine, Dielectric Communications (www.dielectric.com) is the world's largest manufacturer of Aviation Obstruction Lighting, sold under its Flash Technology brand, and the nation's largest manufacturer of broadcast systems for radio, MobileMedia, and television. Dielectric Communications is a leading provider of system and asset monitoring (M2M) solutions and operates a Global Operations Center in Franklin, Tenn. Dielectric Communications is a unit of SPX Corporation, a leading global provider of flow technology, test and measurement solutions, thermal equipment and services, and industrial products and services. More information is available at the company's Web site at www.spx.com.
Source: Dielectric Communications
CONTACT: Sally Rich, Director, Marketing Communications of Dielectric Communications, +1-561-735-0835, sally.rich@dielectric.spx.com
Web site: www.spx.com/
Web site: http://www.dielectric.com/
http://flashtechnology.com/agl.html
