Auma Actuators were selected by Cardiff Harbour Authorities’ designer JacobsGIBB Ltd as a supplier of fish pass operating equipment for Cardiff Barrage. The fish pass, which is one of the largest in Europe and is of a unique design, represents Auma’s first direct environmental application. The barrage, designed by JacobsGIBB, on behalf of the then Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, plays a key role in the revitalisation of Cardiff’s waterfront. The fish pass enables salmon and sea trout to migrate from the estuary to the Rivers Taff and Ely to spawn.
A 14-metre tidal range, the second largest in the world, presented a number of design challenges to JacobsGIBB. Nigel Pope, Executive Engineer for JacobsGIBB said: “We have to cope with a massive tidal range to allow fish to ascend the fish pass 24 hours a day, regardless of tidal conditions. The fish pass inlet gates need to control the exit velocity to between 1.5 and 2 metres per second to provide ideal swim conditions for the fish whilst maximising the fresh water attraction plume. The Auma actuator is operating the fish pass inlet gate to maintain the 1.5 – 2m outflow: it drives through a worm reduction gearbox which in turn drives a scrolled wire rope hoist with twin stainless steel wire ropes attached to the upper leaf of the multi leaf vertical lift gate.” The initial order for one Auma actuator has been supplemented with an order for a further three actuators. The actuator type supplied is from the SA range, model size SAR10.1
