Simulation of unsteady ice accretion on horizontal axis wind turbine blade sections in turbulent wind shear condition.

This article focuses on a comprehensive simulation study quantifying power losses in a 2.5 MW horizontal axis wind turbine operating under environmental icing conditions influenced by turbulent wind shear. Using field data from the Eolos wind energy research station, the study employs the unsteady blade element momentum (UBEM) method combined with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and a dispersed multiphase (DMP) model to analyze ice accretion effects on blade aerodynamic performance across varying turbulence intensities (1%–20%). Results indicate that turbulence-induced fluctuations in wind speed and flow angle significantly affect ice formation patterns on blade sections, leading to aerodynamic efficiency degradation, altered power distribution along the blade, and a substantial reduction in overall turbine power output over time. The study highlights that ice accretion shifts the maximum power-producing regions from the blade tip toward the root and that increased turbulence intensities exacerbate power losses, although effects tend to converge beyond 10% turbulence intensity.