Coupled Atmospheric–Ice Load Model for Evaluation of Wind Plant Power Loss

Abstract

AbstractIcing is a weather phenomenon that is typical of cold climates. It impacts human activities through ice accretion on tower structures, transmission lines, and the blades of wind turbines. Icing on turbine blades, in particular, results in wind turbine performance degradation and/or safety shutdowns. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of using a coupled atmospheric and ice load model to simulate icing start-up, duration, and amount while also quantitatively evaluating power loss in wind plants related to icing events and mechanisms. Eight of 27 icing episodes identified for a wind plant in the Gaspé region of Québec (Canada) during the period 2008–10 were simulated using a mesoscale model (the Global Environmental Multiscale Limited-Area Model, or GEM-LAM). The simulations were verified using near-surface temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed, all of which compared well to in situ observations. Simulated wind speed, precipitation, cloud liquid water content, and median volume diameter of the droplets were used to drive ice load models to simulate the total ice load on a cylindrical structure. The three ice load models accounted for freezing rain, wet snow, and in-cloud icing, respectively, and in all three cases a sink term was added to account for melting due to radiation. The start-up and duration of ice were well captured by the coupled model, and a positive correlation was found between icing episodes and wind power reduction. This study demonstrates the improvements of the icing forecasts by using three ice load models, and provides a framework for both qualitative and quantitative evaluation of icing impact on wind turbine operations.