Numerical Study on Glaze Ice Accretion Characteristics over Time for a NACA 0012 Airfoil

Ice accretion on wind turbine blades can significantly impact their aerodynamic performance, increasing additional load and reducing power generation. This paper utilizes numerical simulation to predict the cross-section at the blade tip of a small wind turbine and study the ice accretion process and aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil. The research investigates the dynamic characteristics of ice accretion on NACA 0012 airfoil, as well as the influence of dynamic icing at different angles of attack and airflow velocities on the lift coefficient of the airfoil. The findings show that ice accretion leads to a more significant decrease in the lift coefficient of the airfoil at angles of attack of 8° and 12°. From 0 min to 30 min, the decrease rate of the lift coefficient is up to 48% and 46.2%, respectively. The aerodynamic performance of airfoil at 70 m/s deteriorates the most severely and the reduction degree of the lift coefficient can exceed 23.2%. These results may supply guidance for wind turbine anti-icing solutions.