Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 3

Since 2010, Senvion has installed a fleet of more than 200 MM82/92 2.05 MW Cold Climate Version (CCV) wind turbines in Quebec which are exposed to low temperatures and moderate to severe icing conditions. Ice accretion on wind turbine blades may cause aerodynamic and mass imbalances that can lead to production losses as well as increased extreme loads. The main objective of this project is to optimize the ice operation mode of a Senvion turbine in order to maximize energy yield while ensuring a minimal risk of high extreme loads. More specifically, the project aims to improve ice detection, validate ice induced loads, and optimize turbine control parameters during icing events. These objectives will be achieved by conducting a measurement campaign on four Senvion MM92 CCV wind turbines currently operating at two wind farms in Quebec, and which are exposed to moderate and severe icing conditions. The turbines are equipped with additional meteorological, ice and load sensors. The data will be analyzed and used to characterize icing events and validate load assumptions. The turbine's ice operation mode will be optimized based on the results of analysis and simulation. It is expected that the ice operation mode of Senvion turbines will be greatly improved by the end of this project, providing the said manufacturer with a competitive edge in the growing Canadian wind energy market, which is predominantly in cold climate. As a result of an optimized ice operation mode, wind farm owners will maximize their assets and the Canadian power grid will be more stable, leading to greater penetration of renewable energy.