Provide guidance on selecting rugged anemometers and frost detectors for Tugliq Energy’s wind farms
Wind power
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In northern regions, frost buildup on instruments can skew wind measurements at a time when wind farms depend on them the most. For a company that supplies a remote mine, incomplete data makes production less predictable.
Tugliq Énergie operates wind power assets in the Arctic, including the wind turbine installed at the Raglan mine site in Nunavik. The company wanted to improve the availability of its wind data and equip itself with an ice detection capability suited to these extreme conditions using rugged sensors.
To help guide the selection of sensors suited to the extreme conditions of the Far North, we evaluated the performance of heated anemometers and several frost-detection sensors, including a prototype developed at Laval University, which later became the basis for the company Icetek. The tests were conducted at our research site and on a weather mast at Mont Needle in Murdochville, under uncontrolled freezing conditions.
To evaluate these instruments, we have developed a method for interpreting images: by analyzing frost buildup and cross-referencing it with meteorological measurements, we can compare the performance of each device.
Our goal was to support our partner: to provide reliable guidelines for selecting the right instrumentation in icing conditions and to ensure the security of the data that supports the operation of its facilities in remote areas.
The Objectives
- Improving the Availability of Wind Data in Northern Conditions
- Equip the partner with frost detection capabilities suited to the climate of the Far North
- Objectively Compare the Performance of Weather and Ice Detection Sensors Under Real-World Conditions
Our Solutions
- Evaluation of Heated Anemometers and Ice Detection Sensors at Our Research Facilities
- Development of an Image Recognition Method for Identifying Ice Buildup on Sensors
- Cross-referencing images and weather measurements to characterize each instrument
- Tests under actual icing conditions
- Instrumentation recommendations that can be shared with the partner
Highlights
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Two Partners Join Forces: Laval University and Tugliq Énergie
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Project supported by NSERC, College and Community Innovation Program
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2 test sites in the Gaspé Peninsula: Rivière-au-Renard and Murdochville
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Tests conducted under actual icing conditions, outside a wind tunnel
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A Comparison of Two Families of Instruments: Heated Anemometers and Frost Detection Sensors
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1 prototype from Laval University was evaluated and is now marketed under the Icetek brand
Project Team
The professionals committed to its success
of this project
A keen and passionate mechanical engineer, Charles quickly made a name for himself within the team and the industry. He has recognized expertise in cold climate wind energy, instrumentation, wind turbine residual life assessment and energy transition.
As Senior Project Manager, he is responsible for the development, planning and implementation of large-scale research projects. With over ten years' experience at Nergica, he uses his qualities as a leader, popularizer and critical thinker to bring partners' visions to life and ensure project success.
With his natural ease on stage, Charles has taken part in numerous conferences in Canada and abroad, where he has built up a network of contacts that he now draws on in his role at Nergica.
With a master's degree in energy and fluid mechanics from Polytechnique Montréal and PMP certification, he also represents Canada on the International Energy Agency's Task 54 working group on wind power in cold climates. He is also an active member of the Winterwind international conference programming committee.
Marilys stands out for her analytical sense, rigor and ability to mobilize teams around ambitious projects, qualities that make her a key professional in meeting the challenges of the energy transition. PMP and PMI-ACP certified, she possesses solid expertise in both traditional and agile project management, a major asset when it comes to piloting complex applied research initiatives in the renewable energies sector.
For over ten years, Marilys has been applying her knowledge of atmospheric physics to Quebec's energy transition. Her projects focus on two main areas: energy modeling and community support. She quickly made a name for herself with the creation of the GPEO model, to characterize the impact of icing on wind power production, and through her key role in a pan-Canadian collaboration to study the effects of climate change on wind power. More recently, she has initiated a major collaborative project to develop energy forecasting models in the context of autonomous networks, using artificial intelligence applied to time series to predict wind production in the very short term.
Her achievements testify to her commitment to innovation and the energy transition. She has led strategic projects to improve energy system reliability and support planning in isolated contexts. She is also involved in the popularization and transfer of knowledge to make renewable energy concepts accessible. Among her major contributions is a three-year research project on renewable energies applied to the Nunavik context, the results of which were presented at the first renewable energy symposium in Inukjuak.
At the same time, Marilys conducts training and awareness-raising initiatives with aboriginal communities, Crown corporations and RCMs, reinforcing its role as a leader in disseminating knowledge and mobilizing players in the energy transition.
With a solid background in atmospheric physics, complemented by her PMP and PMI-ACP certifications, she combines scientific expertise and project management skills to lead innovative and sustainable initiatives in the field of renewable energies.
