Impact of Blade Ice Coverage on Wind Turbine Power Generation Efficiency: A Combined CFD and Wind Tunnel Study

This study investigates aerodynamic degradation and power loss mechanisms in iced wind turbine blades using a hybrid methodology integrating high-fidelity CFD simulations (ANSYS Fluent, FENSAP-ICE, STAR-CCM+ with SST k-ω turbulence model and shallow-water icing theory) with controlled wind tunnel ex...

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Main Authors: Yang Ji, Jinxiao Wang, Haiming Wen, Chenyang Liu, Yang Liu, Dayong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3448
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author Yang Ji
Jinxiao Wang
Haiming Wen
Chenyang Liu
Yang Liu
Dayong Zhang
author_facet Yang Ji
Jinxiao Wang
Haiming Wen
Chenyang Liu
Yang Liu
Dayong Zhang
author_sort Yang Ji
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates aerodynamic degradation and power loss mechanisms in iced wind turbine blades using a hybrid methodology integrating high-fidelity CFD simulations (ANSYS Fluent, FENSAP-ICE, STAR-CCM+ with SST k-ω turbulence model and shallow-water icing theory) with controlled wind tunnel experiments (10–15 m/s). Three ice accretion types, glaze, mixed, and rime, on NACA0012 airfoils are quantified. Glaze ice at the leading edge induces the most severe degradation, reducing lift by 34.9% and increasing drag by 97.2% at 10 m/s. STAR-CCM+ analyses reveal critical pressure anomalies and ice morphology-dependent flow separation patterns. These findings inform the optimization of anti-icing strategies for cold-climate wind farms.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1996-1073
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-3dbd220cfc764821b9ac0b5037bd33ce2025-08-20T02:35:54ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011813344810.3390/en18133448Impact of Blade Ice Coverage on Wind Turbine Power Generation Efficiency: A Combined CFD and Wind Tunnel StudyYang Ji0Jinxiao Wang1Haiming Wen2Chenyang Liu3Yang Liu4Dayong Zhang5School of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124224, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124224, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124224, ChinaSchool of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124224, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124224, ChinaThis study investigates aerodynamic degradation and power loss mechanisms in iced wind turbine blades using a hybrid methodology integrating high-fidelity CFD simulations (ANSYS Fluent, FENSAP-ICE, STAR-CCM+ with SST k-ω turbulence model and shallow-water icing theory) with controlled wind tunnel experiments (10–15 m/s). Three ice accretion types, glaze, mixed, and rime, on NACA0012 airfoils are quantified. Glaze ice at the leading edge induces the most severe degradation, reducing lift by 34.9% and increasing drag by 97.2% at 10 m/s. STAR-CCM+ analyses reveal critical pressure anomalies and ice morphology-dependent flow separation patterns. These findings inform the optimization of anti-icing strategies for cold-climate wind farms.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3448wind turbine bladeice coveraerodynamic performancemodel testnumerical simulation
spellingShingle Yang Ji
Jinxiao Wang
Haiming Wen
Chenyang Liu
Yang Liu
Dayong Zhang
Impact of Blade Ice Coverage on Wind Turbine Power Generation Efficiency: A Combined CFD and Wind Tunnel Study
Energies
wind turbine blade
ice cover
aerodynamic performance
model test
numerical simulation
title Impact of Blade Ice Coverage on Wind Turbine Power Generation Efficiency: A Combined CFD and Wind Tunnel Study
title_full Impact of Blade Ice Coverage on Wind Turbine Power Generation Efficiency: A Combined CFD and Wind Tunnel Study
title_fullStr Impact of Blade Ice Coverage on Wind Turbine Power Generation Efficiency: A Combined CFD and Wind Tunnel Study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Blade Ice Coverage on Wind Turbine Power Generation Efficiency: A Combined CFD and Wind Tunnel Study
title_short Impact of Blade Ice Coverage on Wind Turbine Power Generation Efficiency: A Combined CFD and Wind Tunnel Study
title_sort impact of blade ice coverage on wind turbine power generation efficiency a combined cfd and wind tunnel study
topic wind turbine blade
ice cover
aerodynamic performance
model test
numerical simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3448
work_keys_str_mv AT yangji impactofbladeicecoverageonwindturbinepowergenerationefficiencyacombinedcfdandwindtunnelstudy
AT jinxiaowang impactofbladeicecoverageonwindturbinepowergenerationefficiencyacombinedcfdandwindtunnelstudy
AT haimingwen impactofbladeicecoverageonwindturbinepowergenerationefficiencyacombinedcfdandwindtunnelstudy
AT chenyangliu impactofbladeicecoverageonwindturbinepowergenerationefficiencyacombinedcfdandwindtunnelstudy
AT yangliu impactofbladeicecoverageonwindturbinepowergenerationefficiencyacombinedcfdandwindtunnelstudy
AT dayongzhang impactofbladeicecoverageonwindturbinepowergenerationefficiencyacombinedcfdandwindtunnelstudy