An Analytical Method for Assessing the Power Requirements of Wind Turbine Blade Anti-icers

This paper describes the procedures that were performed to adapt for wind turbine use a code developed to predict the ice growth and anti-icing heat requirements on aircraft surfaces. This additional work is required because of the variations in the aerodynamic conditions along the rotor blade. Features of the code of particular interest when considering and designing ice protection systems for wind turbines are also discussed. As an example, the electrothermal antiicing analysis of an actual wind turbine is included. Two ice conditions are modeled: glaze and rime. The results are presented and plotted showing the heat demand along the different stations of the blade.