Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 8.1
(continued)
Active de-icing method
Performance
categories
Thermal resistors
Hot air
Inflatable pneumatic
boots
Liquid surface
coatings
Microwave
Effective for
different types of
icing
Effective from light
to severe icing
conditions
Effective from light to severe
icing conditions
Effective from light to
severe icing conditions
Only effective
from light to
moderate icing
conditions
Only effective for
light icing conditions
Capability of
distributing thermal
energy ''optimally''
from hub to tip of
the blade
Moderate
(depending on the
number of resistors
and distances
between them)
Low (difficult to optimally control
external hot air flow over the
blade from hub to tip)
Low
Low
Not known
Modification of the
blade
Few
Few
Much
Few
Few
Ice prevention
durability
Long
Long
Long
Short
Not known
Successfully tested
on wind turbines
Yes
Yes
No successful wind
turbine application to our
knowledge
No
Concept has been
proven, no
successful wind
turbine application
to our knowledge
Commercial kit for
wind turbines
Available
Available
Not available to our
knowledge
Not available
Not available
Advantages
Energy distribution,
implementation,
minimal blade
modification
Direct deflection of cold water
droplets
Fast reaction time for de-
icing
Minimal
system
complexity
Very low thermal
power
