A blade de-icing device and method

Abstract

The application provides a blade deicing device and a deicing method, which comprise a heating assembly and an air supply assembly connected with the heating assembly and blowing heated air to the cavity inside the blade; a plurality of temperature monitoring assemblies arranged at different positions of the blade and used for monitoring the temperature at each position of the blade in real time; an environment monitoring assembly used for monitoring the rain and snow conditions of the current environment; a controller in communication connection with the heating assembly, the air supply assembly, the temperature monitoring assemblies and the environment monitoring assembly, used for controlling the power or start-stop of the heating assembly and the air supply assembly according to the received rain and snow condition signals and temperature signals; and a power supply used for providing working power for each electric component. The application uses hot air circulation combined with multi-point temperature monitoring to replace the traditional local conduction heating, solves the technical problem that the heat cannot be transmitted to the distal end of the blade in the traditional heating mode, realizes uniform deicing of the whole blade, and effectively restores the power generation of the fan in winter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wind turbine blade technology, and in particular to a blade de-icing device and de-icing method. Background Technology

[0002] When ambient temperatures approach or fall below 0°C in winter, wind turbine blades are prone to icing due to rain and snow. Current technologies typically address this issue by: 1) coating the leading edge of the blade with a hydrophobic or anti-icing coating; 2) embedding localized heating elements such as heating wires or heating films inside the blade; and 3) using microwave or ultrasonic-assisted de-icing. These methods largely rely on fixed heating structures, with start-up and shutdown controlled by a temperature control system.

[0003] The existing technology has the following drawbacks: Uneven heating and low de-icing efficiency: Heating elements are usually only placed at the root of the blade or in a local area. Since the blade length can be tens of meters, the heat conduction efficiency is extremely low, making it difficult to effectively transfer heat to the middle section and blade tip, resulting in incomplete de-icing. The fan still cannot operate at full capacity or even stops due to ice load. Inaccurate temperature control poses significant safety hazards: If the temperature control of existing embedded heating elements fails, it can easily lead to localized overheating of the composite material inside the blade, and even cause a fire; at the same time, due to the lack of precise monitoring of the temperature at different locations on the blade, overheating or underheating can easily occur.

[0004] High energy consumption and slow response: Existing heating methods often involve high-power heating of local areas, which not only consumes a lot of energy, but also cannot start or stop in time according to environmental conditions such as rain or snow due to slow heat conduction. This results in the system continuing to operate even in non-rainy or snowy weather or when the temperature is too high, wasting energy. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a blade de-icing device and method that overcomes the shortcomings of existing blade heating de-icing devices, such as short heat transfer distance, inaccurate temperature control, and fire safety hazards. It can evenly distribute heat to the entire blade and has multiple temperature protection mechanisms.

[0006] This invention provides a blade de-icing device, comprising: a heating component and an air supply component, wherein the air supply component is connected to the heating component and blows heated air into the cavity inside the blade; multiple temperature monitoring components disposed at different positions on the blade for real-time monitoring of the temperature at each position on the blade; an environmental monitoring component for monitoring the current rain and snow conditions; a controller communicatively connected to the heating component, the air supply component, the temperature monitoring component, and the environmental monitoring component, for controlling the power or starting / stopping of the heating component and the air supply component based on received rain and snow condition signals and temperature signals; and a power supply for providing operating power to each electrical component.

[0007] Furthermore, the heating assembly is installed at the root of the blade.

[0008] Furthermore, the heating component is a hot air gun or a heater.

[0009] Furthermore, the air supply component is a fan or blower, connected to the air outlet of the heating component.

[0010] Furthermore, the temperature monitoring component is a temperature sensor, with at least three temperature sensors respectively located at the root, middle, and tip of the leaf.

[0011] Furthermore, the power source is connected to the internal power source of the fan via wires, or the power source is the internal power source of the fan and is connected to each electrical component via wires.

[0012] The present invention also provides a blade de-icing method based on the blade de-icing device, comprising the following steps: Start-up: The controller monitors environmental conditions through the environmental monitoring component and blade temperature through the temperature monitoring component. When rain or snow is detected and the ambient temperature is below the first temperature threshold, the controller controls the heating and air supply components to start. Heating: After startup, the heating component heats the air, and the air supply component blows the hot air through the guide pipe inside the blade to the blade tip, so that the heat is quickly transferred along the entire length of the blade. Shutdown: When any temperature monitoring component detects that the blade temperature at that location is higher than the second temperature threshold, the controller controls the heating component to stop heating to prevent the blade material from deforming due to overheating or causing a fire.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes an intermittent operation step: when the monitored temperature at all temperature monitoring components is lower than the first temperature threshold, and the environmental monitoring component detects a rain or snow signal, the controller controls the heating component to restart heating, thereby achieving intermittent operation on demand.

[0014] Furthermore, in the heating step, the air supply component operates first, followed by the heating component working to heat the air.

[0015] Furthermore, the first temperature threshold is 5°C, and the second temperature threshold is 15°C.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. Excellent de-icing effect and wide coverage: By setting heating components at the blade root and cooperating with air supply components, the heat is transferred to the blade tip by the flow of hot air. This solves the technical problem that the heat cannot be transferred to the far end of the blade by traditional heating methods, and achieves uniform de-icing of the entire blade, effectively restoring the power generation of the wind turbine in winter.

[0017] 2. High safety and good fire resistance: Multiple temperature protection mechanisms are set (sensors at the root, middle and tip), and the maximum control temperature is set at about 15°C (far below the material's ignition point), avoiding the risk of fire caused by local overheating, and preventing the blade material from aging due to high temperature.

[0018] 3. Energy-saving and environmentally friendly, intelligent control: It introduces environmental rain and snow detection and multi-level temperature threshold control (starting only when the temperature is below 5 degrees and there is rain or snow, and forcibly stopping when the temperature is above 15 degrees), avoiding ineffective heating and energy waste, and significantly reducing energy consumption compared with traditional continuous heating methods.

[0019] 4. Easy installation and maintenance: The core heating equipment is centrally installed at the root of the blade, eliminating the need to lay complex heating lines along the entire length of the blade, thus reducing installation difficulty and maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the blade de-icing device of the present invention; Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1-Heating component; 2-Air supply component; 3-Cavity; 4-Temperature monitoring component; 5-Environmental monitoring component; 6-Controller; 7-Power supply; 8-Manhole plate. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0024] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified. Furthermore, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly; for example, they may refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they may refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they may refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0025] Example 1 like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a blade de-icing device, comprising: a heating component 1 and an air supply component 2, wherein the air supply component 2 is connected to the heating component 1 and blows heated air into the cavity 3 inside the blade; multiple temperature monitoring components 4, disposed at different positions on the blade, for real-time monitoring of the temperature at each position on the blade; an environmental monitoring component 5, for monitoring the current rain and snow conditions; a controller 6, which is communicatively connected to the heating component 1, the air supply component 2, the temperature monitoring components 4, and the environmental monitoring components 5, for controlling the power or starting / stopping of the heating component 1 and the air supply component 2 according to the received rain and snow condition signals and temperature signals; and a power supply 7, for providing operating power to each electrical component.

[0026] Specifically, power source 7 is connected to the internal power source 7 of the fan via wires, or power source 7 is the internal power source 7 of the fan and is connected to each electrical component via wires to provide working power for the entire de-icing device.

[0027] Heating component 1 uses a hot air gun or heater and is installed at the root of the blade (at the blade root), near the manhole plate 8. Since the space at the blade root is relatively large and close to the hub power supply 7, it is convenient for equipment installation and maintenance.

[0028] To minimize weight, blades typically consist of an outer shell made of glass fiber or carbon fiber composite material and an internal support structure, forming a hollow cavity. In this invention, an air supply assembly 2 (fan or blower) is connected to the air outlet of the heating assembly 1 to generate air pressure, forcing heated air into the hollow cavity 3 inside the blade. By placing the heating assembly 1 at the blade root and working in conjunction with the air supply assembly 2 to form a directional hot airflow, this invention utilizes gas convection instead of solid-state heat conduction to achieve efficient heat transfer to the blade tip, forming a hot air circulation transfer structure.

[0029] Temperature monitoring components 4 (temperature sensors) are installed at three key locations on the leaf: the root, the middle, and the tip. This forms a multi-point distributed temperature monitoring system, enabling precise monitoring of the leaf temperature field.

[0030] An integrated environmental monitoring component 5, using a signal receiver, can determine whether the weather is currently rainy or snowy. These sensors are connected to the signal receiver via signal lines. Specifically, the environmental monitoring component 5 can be a rain / snow sensor based on changes in conductivity, or an optical rain / snow sensor.

[0031] The signal receiver is electrically connected to the controller 6, and the controller 6 is electrically connected to the heating component 1 and the air supply component 2, forming a closed-loop control system. The controller 6 receives rain and snow signals from the signal receiver and data from various temperature sensors, and controls the power or start / stop of the heating component 1 and the air supply component 2 accordingly. The controller 6 can be a PLC or a microcontroller.

[0032] This invention also provides a blade de-icing method based on a blade de-icing device, comprising the following steps: Start-up conditions: The controller 6 monitors the environmental conditions through the signal receiver (integrated environmental monitoring component 5) and monitors the blade temperature through the temperature monitoring component 4. The controller 6 will only allow the heating program to start when rain or snow is detected and the ambient temperature is lower than the first temperature threshold (5°C), and will control the heating component 1 and the air supply component 2 to start.

[0033] Heating operation: After startup, the air supply component 2 runs first, followed by the heating component 1 working to heat the air. The air supply component 2 blows the hot air through the guide pipe inside the blade to the blade tip, so that the heat is quickly transferred along the entire length of the blade. During the process, the controller 6 receives temperature sensor data from the root, middle and blade tip in real time.

[0034] Safe shutdown: Controller 6 sets a maximum safe temperature (second temperature threshold 15°C). When any temperature monitoring component 4 detects that the blade temperature at that location has reached the second temperature threshold (15°C), controller 6 immediately cuts off the power supply 7 to heating component 1, stopping heating and preventing the blade material from deforming due to overheating or causing a fire. By limiting the maximum operating temperature (15°C) and implementing multi-point monitoring, the safety hazard of fire caused by the heating device is fundamentally eliminated.

[0035] Cyclic control: When the temperature at all monitoring points of the temperature monitoring component 4 is below the first temperature threshold (5°C), and the environmental monitoring component 5 detects accompanying rain or snow, the controller 6 controls the heating component 1 to restart heating, achieving intermittent operation on demand. This invention combines environmental rain and snow signals to set a control logic of "starting when the temperature is below 5°C and there is rain or snow, and forcibly stopping when any point reaches 15°C," forming a dual-threshold intelligent start-stop control strategy that balances de-icing effect, safety, and energy efficiency.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A blade de-icing device, characterized in that, include: A heating assembly and an air supply assembly, wherein the air supply assembly is connected to the heating assembly and blows heated air into the cavity inside the blade; Multiple temperature monitoring components are installed at different locations on the blade to monitor the temperature at each location on the blade in real time; Environmental monitoring components are used to monitor current environmental conditions, including rain and snow. The controller is communicatively connected to the heating component, the air supply component, the temperature monitoring component, and the environmental monitoring component, respectively, and is used to control the power or start / stop of the heating component and the air supply component according to the received rain and snow condition signal and temperature signal; A power supply is used to provide operating power to various electrical components.

2. The blade de-icing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating assembly is installed at the root of the blade.

3. The blade de-icing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The heating component is a hot air gun or a heater.

4. The blade de-icing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air supply component is a fan or blower, connected to the air outlet of the heating component.

5. The blade de-icing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature monitoring component is a temperature sensor, with at least three temperature sensors respectively located at the root, middle, and tip of the leaf.

6. The blade de-icing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power source is connected to the internal power source of the fan via wires, or the power source is the internal power source of the fan and is connected to each electrical component via wires.

7. A blade de-icing method based on the blade de-icing device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Start-up: The controller monitors environmental conditions through the environmental monitoring component and blade temperature through the temperature monitoring component. When rain or snow is detected and the ambient temperature is below the first temperature threshold, the controller controls the heating and air supply components to start. Heating: After startup, the heating component heats the air, and the air supply component blows the hot air through the guide pipe inside the blade to the blade tip, so that the heat is quickly transferred along the entire length of the blade. Shutdown: When any temperature monitoring component detects that the blade temperature at that location is higher than the second temperature threshold, the controller controls the heating component to stop heating to prevent the blade material from deforming due to overheating or causing a fire.

8. The blade de-icing method according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes an intermittent operation step: when the monitored temperature at all temperature monitoring components is lower than the first temperature threshold, and the environmental monitoring component detects rain or snow signals, the controller controls the heating component to restart heating, thereby achieving intermittent operation on demand.

9. The blade de-icing method according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the heating process, the air supply unit operates first, followed by the heating unit, which heats the air.

10. The blade de-icing method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first temperature threshold is 5℃, and the second temperature threshold is 15℃.

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