Atmospheric icing on large wind turbine blades

A numerical study of atmospheric ice accretion on a large horizontal axis ‘NREL 5 MW’ wind turbine blade has been carried out using the computational fluid dynamics based technique. Numerical analyses were carried out at five different sections along the wind turbine blade for both rime and glaze ice conditions. Based upon the flow field calculation and the droplet collision efficiency, the rate and shape of accreted ice was simulated at different atmospheric temperatures. Results indicate that the icing is less severe near the blade root sections, where the blade profiles are larger and thicker, both in terms of local ice mass and accreted ice thickness. Change in accreted ice growth with the atmospheric temperature is significant along the blade sections from centre to tip. The research work also highlighted that the ice accretion on wind turbine blades can also be controlled by optimizing its geometric design features instead of only using the energy consuming anti icing and de-icing systems. Copyright © 2012 International Energy and Environment Foundation All rights reserved.