Flexible rubber blades reduced rapid load fluctuations on a model tidal turbine tested in Edinburgh, Scotland. Their shape changed as the water pushed harder. The single peer-reviewed study combined basin measurements with tidal-cycle simulations, finding energy capture close to active blade-angle control while leaving full-scale marine durability untested.
Flexible rubber blades reduced rapid load changes on a model tidal turbine at the University of Edinburgh's test basin in Scotland. In the single peer-reviewed study published on November 11, the blade's rigid front supported a flexible rear edge. Stronger water forces changed the blade's curved profile, allowing the material itself to take over part of the load-control task.[1]
The experiment used a three-bladed turbine measuring 1.26 metres across. At its design point, the flexible version captured energy at a level comparable to rigid blades. Researchers then used their measurements to simulate a tidal cycle. Combined with speed control, the bending blades generated total energy close to that of a system actively adjusting blade angle. The cycle comparison came from simulation rather than continuous operation at sea.[1]
At rated speed, fluctuations fell by about 18 per cent for power, 23 per cent for thrust and 28 per cent for bending at the blade root. Some load coefficients rose at lower speeds, where absolute forces were smaller. Scaling the design changes the balance between rubber stiffness and structural support. The experiments established basin-scale behaviour, while long service life and maintenance spending in full-size marine installations remain unmeasured.[1]
