An Experimental Study on Icing on Superhydrophobic Surfaces of Wind Turbine Blades in Offshore Environments

When wind turbines operate in high-latitude offshore regions, ice accumulation on blade surfaces can severely compromise the structural safety of turbines and reduce their power generation efficiency. To mitigate the adverse effects of ice accumulation on wind turbines, it is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of various anti-icing measures in offshore environments. Superhydrophobic materials, known for their environmental friendliness, high efficiency, and energy-saving advantages, have been widely used for anti-icing in onshore wind power generation. However, their direct application to offshore wind turbines is limited due to the presence of salt in offshore environments. In this study, laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the anti-icing performance of superhydrophobic surfaces under winter atmospheric conditions simulating China’s Bohai Sea. The experiments were divided into two phases. In the first phase, the ice accretion process and morphology of superhydrophobic surfaces were analyzed under different operating conditions. The second phase expanded on the first by further examining the icing process of droplets on these surfaces. The results indicate that both the salt content and wind speed significantly affect the anti-icing performance of superhydrophobic surfaces. Additionally, the salt content influences the critical droplet diameter required for detachment. This research provides insights into icing mechanisms and supports the development of anti-icing technologies for offshore wind turbine blades with superhydrophobic surfaces.