Tidal stream plant

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.19 × C.24 · Gravitational potential difference × Turbomachineryfamily: TurbomachineryD.19 × C.14 · Gravitational potential difference × Electromagnetic inductionfamily: Electromagnetic induction

Measured or reported performance

Summary figures only; no datum-level record yet. Each figure below is a reviewed summary, not a single measurement.

notes

MeyGen (Scotland) has exported tens of GWh from 1.5 MW submerged turbines since 2017

Typed bounds on this route

Every limit the atlas holds for this route, as constraint records: reached through bounded_by claims on the route's own entities. Hard bounds (an upper bound or a formula) decide the thermodynamic-bound check above; benchmarks, constitutive relations and resource limits are listed and never decisive. No prose limit exists anywhere (pass 42).

• Betz limit · upper-bound · hard, filtered out by its applicability
  C_p ≤ 16/27 ≈ 59.3% of the kinetic power through the rotor disc

Steps

1. 01
   Gravitational potential difference —drives→ Tidal flowestablishedclaim record

   gravitational → kinetic

   • coastal geometry that funnels the tidal range into a current or a head

   liquid · bulk flow required

   refs [1]
2. 02
   Tidal flow —produces→ Bulk fluid flowestablishedclaim record

   kinetic → kinetic

   refs [1]
3. 03
   Bulk fluid flow —drives→ Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic liftestablishedclaim record

   kinetic → mechanical · loss to thermal

   • a rotor whose blades meet the stream at a working angle of attack

   bulk flow required

   refs [2] [1]
4. 04
   Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift —produces→ Mechanical motionestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → mechanical

   refs [1]
5. 05
   Mechanical motion —drives→ Rotating-machine generator actionestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • a shaft turning a rotor inside a stator, or a magnet moved past a coil

   conductor required · magnetic field required

   refs [3] [1]
6. 06
   Rotating-machine generator action —produces→ Charge carriersestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   refs [3] [4]
7. 07
   Charge carriers —converts into→ Electrical workestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • carriers driven through an external load at the potential difference the source maintains

   refs [5]

Evidence for the complete composition · 1

1. [1]
   S. L. Dixon, C. A. Hall. Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Turbomachinery (7th ed.) (2014)

   Butterworth-Heinemann · doi:10.1016/C2011-0-05059-7 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Evidence for the constituent relations · 5

1. [1]
   S. L. Dixon, C. A. Hall. Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Turbomachinery (7th ed.) (2014)

   Butterworth-Heinemann · doi:10.1016/C2011-0-05059-7 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
2. [2]
   A. Betz. Das Maximum der theoretisch möglichen Ausnützung des Windes durch Windmotoren (1920)

   Zeitschrift für das gesamte Turbinenwesen 26, 307–309 · paper, no DOI · record
3. [3]
   M. Faraday. Experimental researches in electricity (1832)

   Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 122, 125–162 · doi:10.1098/rstl.1832.0006 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
4. [4]
   L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz, L. P. Pitaevskii. Electrodynamics of Continuous Media (Course of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 8, 2nd ed.) (1984)

   Pergamon · book, no DOI · record
5. [5]
   N. W. Ashcroft, N. D. Mermin. Solid State Physics (1976)

   Holt, Rinehart and Winston · book, no DOI · record