Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Iowa State researchers seek solution for icy wind turbine blades [View all]
Iowa State researchers seek solution for icy wind turbine blades
WRITTEN BY
Karen Uhlenhuth
October 30, 2019
A state economic development grant is helping to fund an effort to find a cheaper and more effective ice repellent.
It’s a problem that makes rooftop ice dams seem minuscule by comparison: how to prevent ice buildup on massive wind turbine blades.
Researchers at Iowa State University are trying to develop a cost-effective antidote with the help of a $303,000 state economic development grant.
The stakes are real for the wind energy industry in Iowa and other cold weather states. Energy production can fall by as much as 50% when blades are icy, and operators sometimes turn turbines off during icy weather to prevent damage to the machines, according to Hui Hu, a professor of aerospace engineering at Iowa State who is leading the research effort there.
“Given our substantial wind resources … this has the potential to increase production, but to do it in an efficient and sustainable way,” said Brian Selinger, who directs the energy office for the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
{snip}
ABOUT KAREN UHLENHUTH
Karen spent most of her career reporting for the Kansas City Star, focusing at various times on local and regional news, and features. More recently, she was employed as a researcher and writer for a bioethics center at a children’s hospital in Kansas City. Karen covers Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
WRITTEN BY
Karen Uhlenhuth
October 30, 2019
A state economic development grant is helping to fund an effort to find a cheaper and more effective ice repellent.
It’s a problem that makes rooftop ice dams seem minuscule by comparison: how to prevent ice buildup on massive wind turbine blades.
Researchers at Iowa State University are trying to develop a cost-effective antidote with the help of a $303,000 state economic development grant.
The stakes are real for the wind energy industry in Iowa and other cold weather states. Energy production can fall by as much as 50% when blades are icy, and operators sometimes turn turbines off during icy weather to prevent damage to the machines, according to Hui Hu, a professor of aerospace engineering at Iowa State who is leading the research effort there.
“Given our substantial wind resources … this has the potential to increase production, but to do it in an efficient and sustainable way,” said Brian Selinger, who directs the energy office for the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
{snip}
ABOUT KAREN UHLENHUTH
Karen spent most of her career reporting for the Kansas City Star, focusing at various times on local and regional news, and features. More recently, she was employed as a researcher and writer for a bioethics center at a children’s hospital in Kansas City. Karen covers Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read