The total worldwide base of installed wind energy peak capacity reached
197 GW by the end of 2010. Wind turbine systems are being installed
often in mountains and cold weather regions, due to their high wind
energy potential. Harsh cold weather climates affect wind turbine
performance. Ice accretion and irregular shedding during turbine
operation lead to load imbalances, vibration and structural failures,
often causing the turbine to shut off. This book presents an
experimental investigation including three important fundamental
aspects: energy losses of wind energy while a wind turbine is operating
under icing conditions; aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil during
a simulated icing event and heat transfer characteristics of the airfoil
with and without liquid water content at varying angles of attack. The
drag, lift and moment are measured by a force balance system to obtain
the aerodynamics of an iced airfoil. The book also quantifies the power
loss under various icing conditions. The data obtained can be used to
validate numerical models and predict heat transfer characteristics when
wind turbines operate in cold climate regions.