Numerical simulation on the aerodynamic effects of blade icing on small scale Straight-bladed VAWT

AbstractTo invest the effects of blade surface icing on the aerodynamics performance of the straight-bladed vertical-axis wind turbine (SB-VAWT), wind tunnel tests were carried out on a static straight blade using a simple icing wind tunnel. Firstly, the icing situations on blade surface at some kinds of typical attack angle were observed and recorded under different cold water flow fluxes. Then the iced blade airfoils were combined into a SB-VAWT model with two blades. Numerical simulations were carried out on this model, and the static and dynamic torque coefficients of the model with and without icing were computed. Both the static and dynamic torque coefficients were decreased for the icing effects