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This investigation aims to understand how atmospheric icing affects the aerodynamics and power output of wind turbines.

March 21, 2026Applied SciencesOpen Access

An Investigation of Atmospheric Icing Effects on Wind Turbine Blade Aerodynamics and Power Output: A Case Study of the NREL 5 MW Turbine

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Numerical investigation reveals severe power losses in wind turbines due to icing effects, suggesting the need for better design considerations.

This investigation aims to understand how atmospheric icing affects the aerodynamics and power output of wind turbines.
Numerical simulations conducted using the FENSAP-ICE framework
Examinations of six representative blade sections under various icing conditions
Consideration of different liquid water content values and ambient temperatures
Analysis of both glaze and rime ice formations on aerodynamics
Ice accretion significantly degrades aerodynamic performance, with total power losses up to 40%
Glaze icing forms irregular structures leading to more severe performance losses than rime ice
Aerodynamic degradation is more pronounced toward the blade tip due to higher velocities
Economic assessments reveal significant impacts on operational costs due to energy losses from icing

Öztürk et al. (2026) studied this question.

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Numerical investigation reveals severe power losses in wind turbines due to icing effects, suggesting the need for better design considerations.