US 12,253,066 B2
Method for operating a wind turbine to reduce blade icing
Jörn Becker, Salzbergen (DE)
Assigned to General Electric Renovables España, S.L., Barcelona (ES)
Filed by General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L., Barcelona (ES)
Filed on Jun. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/833,119.
Claims priority of application No. 21178317 (EP), filed on Jun. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0389913 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. F03D 80/40 (2016.01); F03D 7/02 (2006.01); F03D 17/00 (2016.01)
CPC F03D 80/40 (2016.05) [F03D 7/0276 (2013.01); F03D 7/0268 (2013.01); F03D 7/028 (2013.01); F03D 17/00 (2016.05)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine includes a rotor with at least one rotor blade having a rotor blade surface, and an icing detection device configured to detect an icing condition for the rotor blade, the method comprising:
monitoring, via the icing detection device, whether an icing condition for the rotor blade is present, wherein the icing condition indicates that icing is imminent, but not actually present on the rotor blade;
when the icing condition for the rotor blade is detected, initiating operation of an ice mitigation device that provides a de-icing heat flow to the rotor blade and operating the wind turbine according to a de-rated icing-mode having a reduced rotor rotational speed; and
wherein the reduced rotor rotational speed is determined based on dissipation of thermal energy of the rotor blade due to blade rotation being at or below a maximum heating capacity of the ice mitigation device.