Efficient power generation in wind turbines through intelligent rotor blade heating systems

In the recently launched research project SOWINDIC - Smart Operation of Wind Turbines under Icing Conditions - an interdisciplinary team of experts from VERBUND, the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, the University of Vienna and Meteotest is investigating the operation of intelligent rotor blade heating systems in wind turbines to ensure efficient electricity production even in winter temperatures.

Wind energy is Austria's second most important alternative energy source. However, the alpine climate often causes the rotor blades of wind turbines to ice up in the winter months. Then the wind turbines have to be shut down until they defrost naturally or artificially by means of rotor blade heaters. There are several reasons for the shutdown:

• the efficiency of the wind turbine decreases as the ice changes the aerodynamic properties of the rotor blades
• the icing causes mechanical damage
• breaking out ice becomes a danger to people and animals.

The standstill of the plants results in production losses that cannot be calculated in advance. In order to ensure a stable power supply, producers have to purchase additional expensive electricity or switch to conventional – e.g. gas-fired -  power plants.

Intelligent rotor blade heating systems

Under the consortium leadership of VERBUND - funded by the Climate and Energy Fund - the experts are working hand in hand to develop intelligent decision-making algorithms based on weather data, weather forecasts, operating and SCADA (Supervisiory Control and Data Acquisition) data etc.. The goal is to heat rotor blades optimally, i.e. also preventively, in order to enable even more efficient and sustainable energy generation in winter.

More about
Verbund-  Austria's leading energy company: www.verbund.com
The research platform "Data Science @ Uni Wien": www.univie.ac.at
Meteotest -  a specialist for weather, climate and environmental data: www.meteotest.ch bzw. www.meteotest.ch/en