De-icing and/or Anti-icing of a wind turbine component by vibrating a piezoelectric material

Abstract

A system for de-icing and / or for avoiding an icing of a component of a wind turbine is provided. The system includes a vibrator. The vibrator includes a piezoelectric material and which is adapted to be mounted to at least to a portion of the component, and an electric generator, which is adapted to supply an electric signal to the vibrator, wherein the electric signal causes the vibrator to vibrate and to transfer vibrational energy to at least a surface portion of the component. A corresponding method for de-icing and / or for avoiding an icing of a component of a wind turbine is also provided.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority of European Patent Office application No. 10162642.2 EP filed May 12, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the technical field of wind turbines. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and to a method for de-icing and / or for preventing an icing of a component of a wind turbine.ART BACKGROUND[0003]Icing on any exposed part of a wind turbine can occur and cause decreased performance of the wind turbine. Furthermore e.g. when ice is accumulated on one or more of the rotor blades of a wind turbine, excess vibration problems from uneven blade icing may occur. This in turn may generate excessive mechanical loads on the wind turbine components leading eventually to wind turbine shut-down or to wind turbine faults.[0004]Problems related to icing can be prevented by at least one of two different measures: A first me...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The use of a piezoelectric film may provide various advantages compared to known de-icing and / or anti-icing procedures for wind turbine components: (A) The described de-icing and / or anti-icing system can react very fast as the desired vibration (attraction and repel of the polymer molecules) occur immediately when the electric AC is applied to the films thereby breaking the microscopic attachments between ice and the turbine component. (B) The described system may be very easy to control i.e. either the piezoelectric films vibrate or they don't. This is in substantial contrast to e.g. a heating-up of a wind turbine component from the inside of the component whereby it is necessary to reach a certain temperature at the surface before an ice smelting method may work. (C) The described de-icing and / or anti-icing system may allow for a cost effective de-icing and / or ant-icing procedure e.g. compared to methods where thermal energy has to be put into a system in order to heat up the whole or parts of the wind turbine component. A further advantage which may be provided by the described system consists of the possibility, that the de-icing and / or the anti-icing can be easily controlled from remote. This may be in particular advantageous if the wind turbine is situated at a location (e.g. within the sea), which is not or which is not easily accessible. Normally those wind turbines, where icing may become a problem, are located in very remote areas. Therefore, an easy and effective operability by remote control is a very important feature.

[0049]In this respect it is mentioned that due to (a) the dimensions of modern wind turbines components, (b) the height of the turbine and (c) the speed with which the rotor rotate, it may become extremely dangerous if blocks of ice are loosen from the turbine components and maybe sling away by e.g. a rotor blade. Therefore, a rotational angle depending control of the operation of the vibrator may contribute to increase the safety within a region surrounding the wind turbine.

Problems solved by technology

Icing on any exposed part of a wind turbine can occur and cause decreased performance of the wind turbine.

Furthermore e.g. when ice is accumulated on one or more of the rotor blades of a wind turbine, excess vibration problems from uneven blade icing may occur.

This in turn may generate excessive mechanical loads on the wind turbine components leading eventually to wind turbine shut-down or to wind turbine faults.

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