Wind Turbine Blade Ice Melting Device with Connecting Conductor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines operating in extreme weather conditions face efficiency reductions, mechanical damage, and safety hazards due to ice coating and snow accumulation on blades, with existing deicing methods having limitations in power efficiency, maintainability, and economic costs.
Innovation Solution
An ice melting device for wind turbine blades featuring a heating portion with glass fiber cloth and carbon fiber strands, where carbon fiber strands are conductively connected to electrodes and a connecting conductor is used to reduce power lead thickness and wiring complexity, allowing for efficient and reliable deicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If power leads are connected to electrodes at both ends of the heating portion, then electrical connection is achieved, but layer thickness increases and wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting conductor merges the functions of electrical connection and structural support into a single integrated component. It connects the second electrode to the first electrode while being embedded within the glass fiber cloth layers, thereby reducing the number of separate components and minimizing layer thickness increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting conductor is nested within the glass fiber cloth structure. The conductor is positioned between layers of glass fiber cloth, with the cloth wrapping around and insulating the conductor. This nesting approach allows the electrical connection to be made without adding significant thickness to the overall blade structure.
2Power
If carbon fiber strands are used for heating, then heating performance is improved, but risk of short circuit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The glass fiber cloth acts as an intermediary material between the carbon fiber heating strands. It provides electrical insulation while allowing thermal conduction, thereby maintaining heating performance while preventing short circuits. The cloth is woven or non-woven structure that separates conductive carbon fibers while permitting heat transfer to the blade surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element uses a composite structure combining carbon fiber strands with glass fiber cloth. The carbon fiber provides conductive heating properties, while the glass fiber provides insulating and structural properties. This composite material approach allows simultaneous achievement of high heating performance and electrical safety.
3Productivity
If heating element is integrated into blade, then deicing efficiency is improved, but blade structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The glass fiber cloth serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural reinforcement to the blade, acts as an insulating layer for the heating element, provides a mounting substrate for the carbon fiber strands, and offers protection to the connecting conductor. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby maintaining blade structure simplicity while achieving effective deicing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively reduces power lead thickness, simplifies wiring, and enhances heating performance while preventing short circuits, allowing for efficient deicing and integration with new or old blades, thus improving wind turbine efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The first heating portion includes a glass fiber cloth and carbon fiber strands, the carbon fiber strands are sewn on the glass fiber cloth or the carbon fiber strands are interwoven with glass fibers of the glass fiber cloth, to be integrated with the glass fiber cloth, and the carbon fiber strands are conductively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode
Data Source
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AI summary
An ice melting device for a blade, a blade and a wind turbine are provided according to the present application. The ice melting device for the blade includes: a first heating portion; a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged at two ends of the first heating portion in a length direction, respectively; and a connecting conductor, wherein the connecting conductor extends in a length direction, a first end of the connecting conductor is connected to the second electrode, and a second end of the connecting conductor and the first electrode are located at a same side. According to the ice melting device for the blade of the present application, with the connecting conductor, power leads connecting to the first electrode and the second electrode are allowed be located at a same side, thereby, in a case that an old blade is modified, an increase of a layer thickness caused by the power leads may be greatly reduced. In addition, the cumbersome wiring work may be reduced and the power leads may be saved.