Wind turbine blade de-icing system based on shell distortion

摘要

A pressure source is connected to the interior of a wind turbine blade to modulate the internal pressure such that the blade surface (shell) is distorted sufficiently to weaken the adhesion of ice to the blade. As blade surfaces are designed to flex a great deal before damage to the blade occurs, the ice can typically be dislodged without undue stress to the blade. The pressure may be provided actively by a pump and controller (50, 52, fig.4) or passively by a lead-hole in the surface of the blade, a one-way valve and a pressure amplifier. Internal webs 90 may be provided to increase the curvature of the surface as it flexes, and to divide the blade into regions that can then be independently controlled according to the propensity of ice to build up in those regions. Hinge lines (100, 102, fig.11) in the blade surface, an ice-phobic surface (104), or heating means can be used to increase the efficacy of the system.