Temperature Distribution Characteristics and Surface Temperature Rise Influencing Factors of Wind Turbine Blades Based on Air-Heating Deicing Method: Full-Scale Experiment and Simulation Study

Abstract

Wind turbine blades are prone to ice accretion in winter. The air-heating deicing device for blades is easy to construct; however, it suffers from significant heat loss during the deicing process, and the temperature distribution characteristics of the blades and the influencing factors remain unclear. In this study,  a full-scale air-heating deicing experiment on a 42-meter-long blade is realized and a three-dimensional fluid-heat transfer model that considers the internal structure of the blade is developed. We examined the influence of  blower air flow, air pressure, blade rotation, ambient temperature, and cavity flow channel on the blade's temperature rise effect. The results indicate that the surface temperature distribution of the blade increases from the root to the tip, then decreases, and rises again. Under -5°C cold wave condition, the maximum surface temperature of the 42-meter-long blade reached approximately 40°C, effectively removing surface ice. Reducing the blower air flow appropriately can enhance the steady-state temperature of the blade, while increasing air pressure can accelerate the temperature rise to reach a steady state faster. Additionally, an optimized air duct design incorporating a leading edge-to-upper web return air path was proposed, which significantly improves the air-heating efficiency of obstructed blades in operation

Keywords: Induced overvoltage, wind turbine blade, deicing system, shield wire, grounding methods