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The University of Southampton
Engineering

Research project: Minimally Actuated Flapping Foil Energy Extractors - Dormant

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Animals use flapping foils for efficient locomotion. This project uses the same idea to extract energy from ocean currents and tidal flows.

Mechanical design of a flapping foil energy extraction device. Minimal actuation in pitch of each foil is used to adjust the angle of attack. The current causes a resulting motion in heave.
Flapping foil energy extraction

Recent studies have shown that flapping foils such as fish use for propulsion can achieve extremely high efficiency levels compared to conventional turbine designs. A simple minimally actuated design is developed which uses ocean currents and tidal flows to induce heave on a foil and efficiently extract energy across a wide band of operational speeds.

Related research groups

Energy and Climate Change
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