On Icing and Icing Mitigation of Wind Turbine Blades in Cold Climate
01 Sep 2015-Journal of Energy Resources Technology-transactions of The Asme (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)-Vol. 137, Iss: 5, pp 051203
TL;DR: In this article, a review on icing physics, ice detection, anti-icing and de-icing techniques for wind turbines in cold climate has been performed, and the main passive and active ice mitigation techniques and their advantages and disadvantages are presented.
Abstract: A review on icing physics, ice detection, anti-icing and de-icing techniques for wind turbines in cold climate has been performed. Typical physical properties of atmospheric icing and the corresponding meteorological parameters are presented. For computational modeling of ice accretion on turbine blades, the LEWINT code was adopted to simulate ice accretion on an aerofoil for a 2 MW wind turbine. Ice sensors and the basic requirements for ice detection on large blades are described. Besides, this paper presents the main passive and active ice mitigation techniques and their advantages and disadvantages. Scope of future work is suggested as wind turbine blades scale up.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare the existing ice mitigation solutions and provide an indication on their efficiency, and present an analysis of the current market, compare ice protection techniques and systems, based on various criteria, and measure the additional costs generated by ice mitigation.
Abstract: The impact of icing on wind turbines and energy production in northern regions is a severe problem. Therefore, emphasis on developing ice mitigation systems has become a significant part of the wind energy conversion systems. These systems use various technologies and have different specifications, sometimes with no clear indication of their efficiency. Since the effect of cold climate on wind turbines is complex, not every ice protection system is suitable for a given wind farm. Therefore, the aim of this work is to compare the existing ice mitigation solutions and provide an indication on their efficiency. In this paper, we first review the most recent standards set by experts, and the major issues associated with wind energy in cold climates. Then, we present the ice protection techniques found in the literature, and then highlight the recent research on the optimization of the systems. Finally, we present an analysis of the current market, compare ice protection techniques and systems, based on various criteria, and measure the additional costs generated by ice mitigation.
131 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarize the recent progress on polymeric anti-icing coatings prepared from low surface energy, hydrophilic or amphiphilic polymers, including morphology, wettability and ice adhesion strength.
Abstract: Anti-icing is of great importance in society since icing on facility surfaces may bring about serious disasters and economical losses in fields such as aerospace, transportation and electrical communication. Development of polymeric coatings with excellent anti-icing behaviours has been one of the practical topics in recent years. Control of the chemical compositions and topological surface structures is vital to anti-icing coatings. In this review, we summarize the recent progresses on polymeric anti-icing coatings prepared from low surface energy, hydrophilic or amphiphilic polymers. Surface characteristics of the anti-icing coatings including morphology, wettability and ice adhesion strength are discussed. Comparisons between representative studies, including low surface energy coatings and liquid-infused slippery surfaces will be highlighted, with emphasis on the polymer substrate properties and innovative aspects. This review is aimed at giving a brief and crucial overview of the strategies for preparation of icephobic coatings and fulfillment of the anti-icing behaviours.
109 citations
88 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art and outstanding challenges in wind farm control and identify the key research areas that could further enable commercial uptake and success of wind farm controller solutions.
Abstract: Abstract. Wind farm control has been a topic of research for more than two decades. It has been identified as a core component of grand challenges in wind energy science to support accelerated wind energy deployment and to transition to a clean and sustainable energy system for the 21st century. The prospect of collective control of wind turbines in an array, to increase energy extraction, reduce structural loads, improve the balance of systems, reduce operation and maintenance costs, etc. has inspired many researchers over the years to propose innovative ideas and solutions. However, practical demonstration and commercialization of some of the more advanced concepts has been limited by a wide range of challenges, which include the complex physics of turbulent flows in wind farms and the atmosphere, uncertainties related to predicting structural load and failure statistics, and the highly multi-disciplinary nature of the overall design optimization problem, among others. In the current work, we aim at providing a comprehensive overview of the state of the art and outstanding challenges, thus identifying the key research areas that could further enable commercial uptake and success of wind farm control solutions. To this end, we have structured the discussion on challenges and opportunities into four main areas: (1) insight in control flow physics, (2) algorithms and AI, (3) validation and industry implementation, and (4) integrating control with system design (co-design).
39 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the NREL Phase VI test case was selected as the test case to investigate the effect of different wind turbine parameters on the ice distribution and load response of different components.
31 citations
References
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TL;DR: It is argued that any further appreciable reduction in ice adhesion strength will require textured surfaces, as no known materials exhibit receding water contact angles on smooth/flat surfaces that are significantly above those reported here (i.e., the values of [1 + cos θ(rec)] reported here have essentially reached a minimum for known materials).
Abstract: Ice formation and accretion may hinder the operation of many systems critical to national infrastructure, including airplanes, power lines, windmills, ships, and telecommunications equipment. Yet despite the pervasiveness of the icing problem, the fundamentals of ice adhesion have received relatively little attention in the scientific literature and it is not widely understood which attributes must be tuned to systematically design “icephobic” surfaces that are resistant to icing. Here we probe the relationships between advancing/receding water contact angles and the strength of ice adhesion to bare steel and twenty-one different test coatings (∼200−300 nm thick) applied to the nominally smooth steel discs. Contact angles are measured using a commercially available goniometer, whereas the average strengths of ice adhesion are evaluated with a custom-built laboratory-scale adhesion apparatus. The coatings investigated comprise commercially available polymers and fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquio...
684 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed an active and passive anti-icing and de-icing strategies to minimize the effects of wind turbine icing in various ways, including measurement and control errors, power losses, mechanical and electrical failures and safety hazard.
648 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a complete analysis of the temperature of an unheated surface in icing conditions is presented for the several significant regimes (i.e., less than 32°F, at 32° F, and above 32 °F) as a function of air speed, altitude, ambient temperature, and liquid water content.
Abstract: The thermal analysis of a heated surface in icing conditions has been extensively treated in the literature. Except for the work of Tribus, however, little has been done on the analysis of an unheated icing surface. This latter analysis is significant in the design of cyclic thermal deicing systems that are attractive for small high-speed aircraft for which thermal anti-icing requirements have become severe. In this paper, a complete analysis of the temperature of an unheated surface in icing conditions is presented for the several significant regimes (i.e., less than 32°F., at 32°F., and above 32°F.) as a function of air speed, altitude, ambient temperature, and liquid water content. The results are presented in graphical form and permit the rapid determination of surface temperature for a wide range of variables. Curves are presented to determine the speeds beyond which no ice accretion will occur. Curves are also presented to indicate the surface temperature and the rate of ice sublimation which takes place when an ice-covered surface emerges into clear air. One significant result of this study is the introduction of a new basic variable referred to as the "freezing-fraction," which denotes the proportion of the impinging liquid which freezes in the impingement region. The fact that some of the liquid does not freeze in the impingement region tends to explain the observed variation in ice formation shape with temperature, speed, and water catch. New test data obtained at Mt. Washington, N.H., for stagnation-point surface temperatures of an unheated plastic cylinder in natural and artificial icing conditions are included in the Appendix. These data substantiate the validity of the assumptions made in the theoretical analysis.
573 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of this topic suggests that a desirable solution may be a single surface engineered coating that reduces the incidence of ice adhesion, insect fouling, and protects the blade surface from erosive deterioration.
Abstract: Wind turbine performance can be significantly reduced when the surface integrity of the turbine blades is compromised. Many frontier high-energy regions that are sought for wind farm development including Nordic, warm-humid, and desert-like environments often provide conditions detrimental to the surface of the turbine blade. In Nordic climates ice can form on the blades and the turbine structure itself through a variety of mechanisms. Initial ice adhesion may slightly modify the original aerodynamic profile of the blade; continued ice accretion can drastically affect the structural loading of the entire rotor leading to potentially dangerous situations. In warmer climates, a humid wind is desirable for its increased density; however, it can come at a price when the region supports large populations of insects. Insect collisions with the blades can foul blade surfaces leading to a marked increase in skin drag, reducing power production by as much as 50%. Finally, in more arid regions where there is no threat from ice or insects, high winds can carry soil particles eroded from the ground (abrasive particles). Particulate-laden winds effectively sand-blast the blade surfaces, and disrupt the original skin profile of the blade, again reducing its aerodynamic efficiency. While these problems are challenging, some mitigative measures presently exist and are discussed in the paper. Though, many of the current solutions to ice or insect fouling actually siphon power from the turbine itself to operate, or require that the turbine be stopped, in either case, profitability is diminished. Our survey of this topic in the course of our research suggests that a desirable solution may be a single surface engineered coating that reduces the incidence of ice adhesion, insect fouling, and protects the blade surface from erosive deterioration. Research directions that may lead to such a development are discussed herein.
488 citations