The entire experimental facility generally consists of three parts: two parallel experimental channels for carrying out the experiments under controlled and repeatable conditions, two pressure pipelines that take the required water from the Lunzer See and transport it to the channels, and the research station for controlling the water discharge in the two channels.
Pressure pipelines: The water extraction happens at the western end of Lake Lunz in the area of its natural outflow, the Unterer Lunzer Seebach. In order to be able to control the water temperature required in the experimental channels, the withdrawal takes place at two different depths, 1 m and 9 m below the lakes surface. The water (up to 600 l/s) is then transported to the facility by means of two pressure pipes . The two approximately 500 m long pressure pipes (surface and depth extraction (see water extraction) are routed underground, along the Unterer Lunzer Seebach. Immediately in front of the research station, both pipes branch out, so that each of the two experimental channels is supplied with surface water and deep water. The discharge of each individual tube is measured by means of ultrasonic sensors and regulated by electrically operated gate valves, which are located under the research station in the so-called valve chamber. The engines are controlled via an interface located above. Before water entering from the pipes into the experimental channels, the differently tempered water bodies from the two pies are homogenized in mixing basins located at the beginning of the channels. Each of the two experimental channels have a length of 40 m, a width of 6 m and are filled with appropriate gravel, enabling the modelling of various river morphologies. At the lower end, the water is fed back into the Unterer Lunzer Seebach, the natural lake outflow, via a height-adjustable wooden dam beam construction.
Research station: The research station consists of a room with the control of the gate valves, the valve chamber underneath, and a covered outdoor area with several round pools for keeping and rearing of fish.
The test channels, the actual heart of the HyTEC facility, both have a length of 40 m, a width of 6 m and are filled with river gravel, which can be used to setup different hydromorphological conditions. At the lower end, the water is led back into the Lower Lunzer Seebach, the natural lake run-off, via a height-adjustable dam beam construction.
