Analysis of three-dimensional icing characteristics of large wind turbine blades based on profile segmentation

Ice accretion is a crucial factor affecting the safe and stable operation of wind turbines. Developing a numerical model for simulating ice formation on wind turbine blades is essential for predicting icing phenomena. Although the finite element method is currently the most widely used approach, it is computationally intensive and inefficient for large-scale applications. This study focuses on the blades of a 300 kW wind turbine, employing a profile segmentation method to investigate water droplet impact, freezing, and ice accretion morphology changes on blade surfaces. A multiphase flow simulation model for air and liquid on the blade surface is developed, and formulas for local and overall collision and freezing coefficients are derived. This approach enables characterization of overall water droplet impact and freezing behavior with reduced computational load. Results reveal that the water droplet collision coefficient decreases gradually from the blade tip toward the root, with reductions exceeding 80% in the maximum values of β₁ and α₁ at approximately 0.5R. Maximum water droplet capture occurs near the blade tip (0.8R to 0.9R), while significant ice accretion predominantly occurs between 0.5R and R. The overflow effect of the water film results in low freezing coefficients in the droplet collision zone but higher values in the overflow region. Furthermore, closer to the blade tip, ice growth exhibits greater iterative shape changes, and reduced linearity in the ice accretion rate.