MS#01.4 Icing of wind turbine blades

T. KARLSSON¹, T. KIM²
¹ VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd.|² DTU Dept of Wind and Energy Systems

Wind resource, metocean and extreme conditions

Cold climate wind represents a significant share of global wind power install base. In 2021, IEA Wind Task 19 estimated the cold climate install base to be over 200 GW and growing. Wind turbines face unique atmospheric and operational challenges in cold climate regions, most significant being icing of blades and instruments.

Two main icing related challenges are performance losses and increased safety risks. Atmospheric icing affects turbine aerodynamics resulting in reduced lift and increased drag reducing the amount of power that could be produced. Ice accreting in the turbine blades, tower and nacelle poses a safety risk in areas surrounding the wind turbines for workers and other people moving in the area. Reduction of icing related risks requires specialized technological and operational solutions in order to maximize production and minimize operational and personnel related risks.

The focus of the session would be on blade icing and related technologies.

These could be divided into separate categories:

 1. Technologies: ice detection methods or sensors, icing impact mitigation such as blade heating and new materials and coatings to prevent ice growth. Control solutions to improve turbine performance in cold and icing climates.

 2. Risk assessment and reduction: evaluating and understanding ice throw and ice fall risk. Evaluating and understanding the uncertainty and risks related to impact icing has on power production.

Icing and ice physics: experimental and modelling studies related to ice growth and removal of ice from wind turbine blades and aerodynamic impacts of icing.