Effect of Rime Ice Accretion on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Wind Turbine Blade Profiles

A numerical study of rime ice accretion and resultant flow field characteristics of blade profiles for four different fixed speed, stall controlled wind turbines was performed. Analyses were carried out at Reynolds numbers ranging from of 2.5 x 106 to 5.5 x 106, corresponding to the operational wind speeds and angles of attack ranging from -10 degree to + 20 degree. Numerical analyses showed that an increase in blade profile size reduces the dry rime ice accretion at leading edge, both in terms of local mass and ice thickness. A significant change in the flow behaviour and aerodynamic characteristics is observed, when a comparison is made between plain and iced blade profiles. Results showed an increase in both lift and drag coefficients of wind turbine blade profiles with the leading edge ice.