Generation of Surface Maps of Erosion Resistance for Wind Turbine Blades under Rain Flows

Abstract

Rain erosion on wind turbine blades raises considerable interest in wind energy industry and research, and the definition of accurate erosion prediction systems can facilitate a rapid development of solutions for blade protection. We propose here the application of a novel methodology able to integrate a multibody aeroelastic simulation of the whole wind turbine, based on engineering models, with high-fidelity simulations of aerodynamics and particle transport and with semi-empirical models for the prediction of the damage incubation time. This methodology is applied to generate a parametric map of the blade regions potentially affected by erosion in terms of the fatigue life of the coating surface. This map can represent an important reference for the evaluation of the sustainability of maintenance, control and mitigation interventions.

From Hydrometeor Size Distribution Measurements to Projections of Wind Turbine Blade Leading-Edge Erosion

“…A range of modeling techniques has been advanced to simulate the process of material stresses that lead to blade leading-edge erosion [67][68][69]. Herein, we use the Springer model [49,54] combined with Miner's rule.…”

Atmospheric Drivers of Wind Turbine Blade Leading Edge Erosion: Review and Recommendations for Future Research

“…Reports suggest "structural repair of a single wind blade can cost up to $30,000, and a new blade costs, on average, about $200,000" [8], both of which inflate the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) from wind. Increasing evidence of blade LEE has spurred development of advanced methods for detection of LEE [8][9][10][11], and to replicate the process of LEE in the laboratory [12,13] or using numerical modeling [14][15][16]. As an example of the latter, the Springer model has been applied for assessing the material properties and combined with Minor's rule to assess time to failure [17].…”