Wind turbine blade coating leading edge rain erosion model: Development and validation

摘要

This paper applies existing research to develop an analytical surface fatigue model to predict the initiation of leading edge erosion on wind turbine blade coatings due to rainfall. We have used rain erosion whirling arm tests to determine the surface impact fatigue resistance of different coatings used in the field. The analytic model has been validated to predict the initiation of wind turbine leading edge erosion by using a large data base of photos of leading edge erosion observations taken from wind farms in multiple countries, offshore, and onshore. The aerodynamic impact of the erosion has also been modeled and been used to determine the expected sectional efficiency loss of the damaged airfoils. Combining the leading edge erosion forecast model with the efficiency reduction model, we can predict annual energy production loss over time on different sites due to rain-induced wind turbine blade coating leading edge erosion.