The short answer, at the level most people are really asking about: a single ADENCO screen unit costs €1,500 to €5,000 ex works, depending on slot width, material grade, screen dimensions and the number of units.
A complete intake is more than the unit. The total for a complete intake depends on the number of units, the concrete works and the protection bars; we quote it per project. Pre-built and self-built (do-it-yourself, DIY) screens are used for small intakes, typically 10–20 l/s in total, especially in the United States. Producing a working Coanda effect on a self-built screen is very difficult, but at such low capacities efficiency matters little. For an industrial intake a self-built screen is not an option: it needs experience, special fabrication tooling and techniques.
The more useful answer: the purchase price of the screen panel is only one part of the total cost. Coanda screens have near-zero operating costs, no energy consumption, and minimal maintenance for up to 25 years, which means the real question is not "how much does it cost?" but "how much does it save?"
This guide breaks down the 11 factors that determine Coanda screen pricing, explains the total cost of ownership, and shows you how to get an accurate project-specific quote.
The 11 Factors That Determine Coanda Screen Cost
1. Screen Width (Weir Length)
Screen width (the dimension parallel to the weir crest) is the main factor in flow capacity. As a generic industry baseline, using the reference geometry of the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), a Coanda screen delivers approximately 140 litres per second per metre of weir width [1][2]. A project requiring 500 l/s needs roughly 3.6 metres of weir width; one requiring 2,000 l/s needs over 14 metres. ADENCO's own series have rated capacities of 35 l/s (ADENCO-45), 67 l/s (ADENCO-70) and 150 l/s (ADENCO-127) per metre of screen width depending on drop height, so the width in a real quotation follows the rated capacity of the chosen model: see the products page.
Impact on price: Wider screens require more wedge wire material, larger support frames, and longer weir structures. Width is typically the single largest cost variable.
2. Screen Length (Flow Direction)
Screen length (measured along the direction of flow from the top of the screen to the bottom) determines the number of wire slots and how much of the incoming water is collected and how much bypasses the screen. Longer screens collect a higher percentage of the inflow but use up more hydraulic head.
Impact on price: Longer screens use more material and require more precise curvature control during manufacturing. The USBR design software calculates the optimal screen length for a given set of design parameters [3][4].
3. Material Grade
Coanda screens are manufactured from stainless steel wedge wire. Each of the three standard options has a different price level:
| Grade | Typical Use | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|
| AISI 304 / 304L | Freshwater (chloride <200 ppm) | Baseline |
| AISI 316 / 316L | Brackish, coastal, or high-chloride water | +30–50% vs. 304 |
| Duplex 2205 / 2507 | Seawater, corrosive industrial water | +80–120% vs. 304 |
The price premium between 304 and 316 is caused mainly by the cost of molybdenum, the alloying element that gives 316 its superior chloride resistance. In 2026 markets, 304 stainless steel sells for approximately $2.50–3.50/kg while 316 ranges from $3.50–5.00/kg [5][6].
Choosing the wrong grade is expensive whether the grade is too high or too low. Choosing 316 for a freshwater application wastes 30–50% on material. Choosing 304 for brackish water leads to premature corrosion failure and full screen replacement within years instead of decades [7].
4. Slot Width (Slot Opening)
Narrower slot widths require tighter manufacturing tolerances and more wires per unit area of screen. 1.0 mm is the standard slot width and the baseline used for the prices in this table, because it is what most intakes are built with. The percentages show what the same screen costs relative to that standard: wider slots cost less, narrower slots cost more.
| Slot Width | Application | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5–2.0 mm | General debris screening | −10–15% |
| 1.0 mm | Standard: fish and sediment exclusion | Baseline |
| 0.5 mm | Larval fish exclusion, fine sediment | +15–20% |
Impact on price: The main factor is the number of wires per metre. A 0.5 mm slot screen requires approximately 3x more wires per metre than a 1.5 mm slot screen, which raises material use, welding time and inspection time in proportion.
5. Wire Tilt Angle
The standard wire tilt angle is 5 degrees, with options from 3° up to the practical limit of 7° [3][8]. Non-standard angles may require custom tooling.
Impact on price: Standard 5° tilt is the most cost-effective. Custom angles of 3°, 6° or 7° add a modest premium (typically 5–10%) due to tooling and setup changes.
6. Number of Screen Panels (Array Configuration)
Large intakes often use multiple screen panels arranged side by side across a wide weir, or combined in a multi-unit array to collect as much water as possible. Each panel must be individually fabricated, inspected, and fitted with connecting bolts and fixings.
Impact on price: Multi-panel arrays cost less per panel than single custom units due to manufacturing repetition, but total project cost increases with panel count. A 6-panel array is not 6x the cost of one panel: typical savings for quantity are 10–20%.
7. Support Structure and Frame
The screen panel alone does not constitute a complete intake. The support structure includes the frame, mounting brackets, the fixings that attach the frame to the weir, and the collection chamber below the screen. Support structures can be fabricated from stainless steel, galvanized steel, or concrete, with significant cost variation.
Impact on price: Support structure costs typically range from 30–60% of the screen panel cost, depending on material choice and site complexity.
8. Protection Bars
Protection bars (stainless steel bars mounted in front of the wedge wire that take the impact of rocks and timber) are a coarse barrier fitted upstream of the screen face to stop logs, large gravel and debris carried at high speed by floods before it reaches the wedge wire. At flood-event velocities that debris dents and tears panels, and the panel is the expensive part of the assembly. For any site with a known history of debris, this is the most important item on the list: it decides whether a flood season ends with an inspection or with a replacement panel. The BUSKI Muratbey case study, an intake of BUSKI (Bursa Water and Sewerage Administration) inspected just after a flood, shows what protection bars do: the wedge wire was intact and water was still flowing.
Include them if the river has any record of large floating debris during storm events. Silt-heavy lowland rivers and steep flood-prone mountain streams are the usual cases, and they are also standard scope of supply on heavy-duty versions: the three Trabzon intakes were produced with protection bars against large debris alongside a heavier build.
Impact on price: Protection bars add 10–15% to the screen assembly cost, depending on bar spacing, span and the flood loading they are designed for.
9. Acceleration Plate Design
The ogee-shaped (S-curved) acceleration plate upstream of the screen is critical for proper hydraulic performance [3]. Standard plate shapes are calculated using the USBR design software. Complex site geometries may require custom acceleration plate shapes.
Impact on price: Standard acceleration plates are included in base pricing. Custom or retrofit acceleration plates that must match existing weir geometry add 5–15% to the screen assembly cost.
10. Surface Treatments and Coatings
Pickling and passivation of every weld is standard on all ADENCO screens and is included in the base price. It restores the chromium oxide layer in the heat-affected zone, which makes it corrosion protection rather than an upgrade, so it is not a priced option. The priced option in this category is anti-icing treatment for cold climate applications.
Impact on price: Anti-icing treatments vary by technology but typically add 15–30%.
11. Shipping, Delivery, and Site Location
Coanda screens are heavy, precision-fabricated stainless steel assemblies. Shipping costs depend on screen dimensions, weight, destination, and whether crating or special handling is required.
Impact on price: Delivery within the same country typically adds 5–10% of screen cost. International shipping can add 10–25%, depending on destination and logistics.
Total Cost of Ownership: The Full Picture
The purchase price of a Coanda screen is only one part of the cost. The real financial advantage emerges when you compare total cost of ownership over a 25-year project life.
What You Pay Once (Capital Costs)
- Screen panel(s) and acceleration plate
- Support structure and collection chamber
- Civil works (weir construction or modification, bypass channel)
- Installation labour
- Shipping and delivery
What You Pay Every Year (Operating Costs)
| Cost Item | Coanda Screen | Mechanical Screen (Drum/Traveling) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | None | Continuous electricity for drives and rakes |
| Maintenance labour | Typically one inspection a year | Weekly to daily attention |
| Replacement parts | None | Chains, bearings, motors and rakes wear out |
| Downtime losses | Near zero | Variable |
Over 25 years, the operating costs of a mechanical screen add up year after year, while a Coanda screen has almost none: that difference usually outweighs any capital cost premium.
Real-World ROI: Lodore Falls Case Study
At the Lodore Falls hydropower plant in the UK (170 kW, 150 m gross head, 235 l/s), a Coanda screen replaced a wire basket screen that blocked within hours during autumn leaf fall. Post-installation evaluation by the Energy Technology Support Unit found [2]:
- 15% increase in annual energy production (from 700–800 MWh base)
- Annual revenue increase of over $7,000
- Manual cleaning cost reduced to nearly zero
- Payback period: approximately 2 years
The civil works were limited to building a collection chamber, refurbishing the weir crest, and lowering the pipe slightly: a straightforward installation.
Price Ranges by Application
While exact pricing requires project-specific engineering, the per-unit range gives you a planning-level starting point: a single ADENCO screen unit costs €1,500 to €5,000 ex works, depending on slot width, material grade, screen dimensions and the number of units. The total for a complete intake depends on the number of units, the concrete works and the protection bars; we quote it per project. The table shows the typical screen size for common applications, so that you can estimate the number of units before requesting a quote.
| Application | Typical Screen Size |
|---|---|
| Micro-hydro (DIY-built, not a manufactured screen) | 0.3–0.4 m wide, single panel |
| Small hydro (<100 kW) | 1–2 m weir, 1–2 panels |
| Medium hydro (100–500 kW) | 2–5 m weir, 2–4 panels |
| Large hydro / municipal | 5–15 m weir, multi-panel array |
| Irrigation diversion | 1–3 m weir, 1–3 panels |
| Snowmaking intake | 1–3 m weir, anti-icing treatment |
The sizes shown are typical values for planning purposes only. The real price depends on all 11 factors described above. Contact ADENCO for a binding project quote.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
ADENCO provides project-specific Coanda screen quotations within 1–2 business days. To prepare an accurate quote, our engineering team needs:
- Design flow rate (l/s or m³/s)
- Available head (elevation difference between the upstream water level and the intake pipe)
- Type of water body (river, canal, lake, reservoir) and water quality (freshwater, brackish, chloride level if known)
- Screening requirement (target slot width, or the particle/organism size to be excluded)
- Site constraints (available weir width, access limitations, climate/temperature range)
- New intake or retrofit of an existing intake
With these inputs, we provide a complete quotation including screen panels, acceleration plate, support structure, and delivery: along with hydraulic performance calculations based on the USBR Coanda Design Guide (Wahl, 2003, report R-2003-03) [3].
Request a Quote, or email our engineering team directly for project consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Coanda screen cost?
A single ADENCO screen unit costs €1,500 to €5,000 ex works, depending on slot width, material grade (304 vs. 316 vs. duplex stainless steel), screen dimensions and the number of units. The total for a complete intake depends on the number of units, the concrete works and the protection bars; we quote it per project. Pre-built and self-built (DIY) screens are used for small intakes of typically 10–20 l/s in total; for an industrial intake a self-built screen is not an option.
Why don't Coanda screen manufacturers publish prices?
Every Coanda screen is custom-designed for its specific site conditions: flow rate, available head, water chemistry, screening requirements, and physical constraints. Published prices would be misleading because a 2-metre screen in 304 stainless steel with 1.5 mm slots costs significantly less than a 2-metre screen in 316L with 0.5 mm slots and anti-icing treatment. Custom quoting ensures you get accurate pricing for your exact requirements.
Is a Coanda screen more expensive than a drum screen?
The capital cost of a Coanda screen is typically lower than a drum screen of equivalent capacity. More importantly, the 25-year total cost of ownership is dramatically lower because Coanda screens require no electricity, no mechanical maintenance, and no replacement parts. A drum screen's annual operating costs (electricity, drives, maintenance labour and parts) accumulate year after year over 25 years.
What is the payback period for a Coanda screen?
Payback periods vary by application. At the Lodore Falls hydropower site in the UK, the payback period was approximately 2 years due to a 15% increase in annual energy production and elimination of manual cleaning costs. For a new intake where no existing screen is replaced, payback is calculated by comparing with the higher lifetime operating costs of the alternative technologies.
Does ADENCO offer financing or leasing?
Contact our team to discuss project financing options. For large projects, we can work with your procurement team on payment scheduling aligned with project milestones.
How fast can I get a quote?
ADENCO provides detailed, project-specific quotations within 1–2 business days of receiving your site parameters. Request a quote here.
References
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Wahl, T.L. (2001). "Hydraulic Performance of Coanda-Effect Screens." Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, Vol. 127, No. 6, pp. 480–488. ASCE.
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"The Coanda Effect." International Water Power & Dam Construction. Retrieved April 2026, from https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/analysis/the-coanda-effect/
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Wahl, T.L. (2003). Design Guidance for Coanda-Effect Screens. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Research Report R-2003-03. Denver, CO.
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USBR. "Coanda-Effect Screens Software & Design Tools." Retrieved April 2026, from https://usbr.gov/tsc/techreferences/computer%20software/software/coanda/
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"2025 Stainless Steel Cost Analysis: Comparing Grade 201, 304, 316, 410, and 430." TBK Metal. Retrieved April 2026, from https://www.tbkmetal.com/stainless-steel-cost-analysis/
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"304 vs 316 Stainless Steel: Price Comparison Explained." Vishwa Stainless. Retrieved April 2026, from https://www.vishwastainless.com/304-vs-316-stainless-steel-price/
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"Susceptibility of Type 304/304L and 316/316L Austenitic Stainless Steels to Chlorides in Cooling Water." Digital Refining. Retrieved April 2026, from https://www.digitalrefining.com/article/1002873/
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Filson Filter. "Coanda Screen: Manufacturer Specifications." Retrieved April 2026, from https://www.filsonfilter.com/coanda-screen/
Published by ADENCO: Advanced Engineering Coanda Intake Screens. As a manufacturer with in-house engineering, fabrication, and quality control, ADENCO delivers custom Coanda screens optimized for your specific project requirements. Request a quote in 1–2 business days.