THERMABLADE: WIND TURBINE ICE PROTECTION SYSTEM (WTIPS)
A practical solution to recover lost turbineoutput caused by blade icing.

THERMABLADE deices the blade's leading edge through the application of electrical power to externally mounted heater mats that safely shed small ice particles allowing for uninterrupted turbine operation during hazardous icing conditions. THERMABLADE is an electro-thermal based deicing system using technology originally developed in conjunction with NASA for Aviation and Aerospace applications.

Kelly Aerospace Thermal Systems has been manufacturing a similar deicing product, ThermaWing™, for general aviation aircraft for over 7 years. The ThermaWing™ deicing system is a reliable advanced design technology which is easy-to-install and maintain. Modified to fit the needs of large scale wind turbines and rebranded as THERMABLADE, Kelly Aerospace Thermal Systems has successfully applied this deicing technology to wind turbines. The result is increased renewable energy efficiency, lower overall operating cost and a better return on investment for the farm owner.

Advantages.

  • SHEDS ICE DURING OPERATION
  • NO NEED TO SHUT DOWN DURING ICING CONDITIONS
  • PROTECTS BLADES FROM LEADING EDGE EROSION
  • SCALED TO MATCH AVAILABLE POWER
  • SIMPLE EXTERNAL INSTALLATION ON BLADE
  • EASY TO REPAIR/MAINTAIN
  • AUTOMATIC SHEDDING CYCLES
  • PLC CONTROLLED DEICING SYSTEM
  • FLEXIBLE GRAPHITE FOIL
  • LIMITS BLADE IMBALANCE DURING ICE ENCOUNTER
  • REDUCES WIND TURBINE SYSTEM VIBRATION AND WEAR
  • FACTORY OR FIELD INSTALLABLE

Operation.
Power is cycled around the wind turbine to multiple heater mat zones which maintain symmetrical / balanced deicing characteristics. The total deicing cycle varies between one (1) and ten (10) minutes depending on environmental conditions, the length of the wind turbine blade and the power available to the deicing system.

The THERMABLADE system operates automatically based on ambient temperature. No operator interface is required. Due to the short de-ice cycle intervals, our THERMABLADE system sheds small ice particles rather than "large chunk" ice throws which can be hazardous to property and life.

 

If you have questions, Contact us anytime. (440) 951-4744


Without THERMABLADE an icing event can cause a 30%-60% Production and Profit Loss! In extreme icing environments it is not uncommon for a total shut down of the wind turbine to occur for several weeks,or even months, severely reducing the wind turbine's ROI.
 

Wind Turbine IPS Technology Competition

  1. Airflow penalties associated with pneumatic boots or coated wire disturbing airflow over the blade is reduced or eliminated with THERMABLADE.  The Kelly THERMABLADE (WTIPS) is a thin, all-electric, low profile system with energy saving pulsed heating control.
     
  2. Unlike a coated wire system, the material properties of graphite provide near ideal thermal capacitance and uniformity.  Cold to hot cycles leave no cold spots to accumulate ice, and the cycle from hot to cold is quick to reduce runback ice.

  3. The Kelly electro thermal system is more durable than fragile electro thermal etched metal or thin serpentine wire heaters.
     
  4. Ice Phobic Coatings, "super smooth treatments" to prevent blade ice lose effectiveness after short weather erosion or accumulation of bugs and dirt.  Also before they degrade, ice phobic coatings submit the turbine blade disk to imbalance from random ice sheds or throws.

 

WTIPS Wind Turbine Ice Protection System Commercial wind turbines provide an increasing portion of electricity to both urban and sparsely populated remote areas, as well as regional electrical power grids.

 

Blades are not the only Wind Turbine component susceptible to the effects of ice. In addition to reduced output and reduced income, ice on the blades takes atoll on big dollar items like the gear box, generator, brakes, bearings, etc.

 

The flexible graphite system has a near ideal thermal capacitance, which means the thermal cycle from cold to hot is nearly instantaneous.

 

The Kelly THERMABLADE heater mats are remarkably thin resulting in no detectable impact on the blade's aerodynamic performance. The externally mounted heater mats are quite durable and are capable of withstanding years of operations in harsh Northern climates. The THERMABLADE system is retrofit able and can be installed on existing turbines.

 

Blade shown is in this picture is 45 meters (148 feet) in length. Note the driver at the tractor end for scale.

 

The Graphite heater system was developed in conjunction with NASA and has been rigorously tested. The heating system was made possible from our unparalleled knowledge of flexible graphite through 24 years of aerospace and industrial experience in high temperature and chemically aggressive applications.