An experimental study on icing distribution and adhesion characteristics of wind turbine blades in saltwater Condition

Icing on wind turbine blades reduces output power and poses operational risks due to cold, humid environments in high-latitude coastal regions. Despite increasing studies on offshore wind turbine icing, research in this field remains relatively scarce. This study investigates the temperature effects on ice distribution and adhesion strength of glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) blade surfaces under freshwater and saltwater (1 g/L) conditions through icing wind tunnel tests and ice adhesion measurements. Results show that at −4 ℃, the blade’s lower surface forms icicles through water runback effects, while saltwater significantly suppresses icicle growth. Decreasing temperatures induce ice-type transitions from glaze to mixed and then rime ice, with the ice profile evolving from irregular to quasi-aerodynamic shapes. Saltwater ice exhibits smoother surfaces than freshwater ice, but differences diminish at −16 ℃. Ice adhesion strength increases with decreasing temperature but shows decelerating growth rates. Freshwater ice demonstrates 2.5–––4.7 times higher adhesion strength than saltwater ice at equivalent temperatures. These findings provide critical insights into the icing research of coastal wind turbine blades.