Joined Blade Wind Turbine

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In 2014/2015, six Mechanical Engineering students at the University of Southampton completed their final-year project, which involved creating a prototype for a patented "Joined Blade Rotor" (JBR) wind turbine concept. This innovative design includes six blades in total, with two blades forming each joined blade assembly. By using this bi-blade setup, the JBR offers several advantages over traditional wind turbines. Its lattice structure provides improved structural performance, resulting in stiffer, lighter blades that are more aerodynamically efficient along their entire span. Additionally, the joined blades lead to a higher Lift-to-Drag ratio and increased rotor aerodynamic efficiency. The students' project involved bringing this theoretical JBR concept to life by designing, building, and testing a 2-meter diameter prototype in the university's wind tunnel facilities.