Designing an efficient tidal turbine blade through bio-mimicry: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to conduct a comprehensive literature review in the tidal energy physics, the ocean environment, hydrodynamics of horizontal axis tidal turbines and bio-mimicry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an insight of the tidal turbine blade design and need for renewable energy sources to generate electricity through clean energy sources and less CO₂ emission. The ocean environment, along with hydrodynamic design principles of a horizontal axis tidal turbine blade, is described, including theoretical maximum efficiency, blade element momentum theory and non-dimensional forces acting on tidal turbine blades.

Findings

This review gives an overview of fish locomotion identifying the attributes of the swimming like lift-based thrust propulsion, the locomotion driving factors: dorsal fins, caudal fins in propulsion, which enable the fish to be efficient even at low tidal velocities.

Originality/value

Finally, after understanding the phenomenon of caudal fin propulsion and its relationship with tidal turbine blade hydrodynamics, this review focuses on the implications of bio-mimicking a curved caudal fin to design an efficient horizontal axis tidal turbine.

Citation

Kulkarni, S., Chapman, C., Shah, H., Parn, E.A. and Edwards, D.J. (2018), "Designing an efficient tidal turbine blade through bio-mimicry: a systematic review", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 101-124. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-08-2017-0077