Abstract A novel optimization method is developed for the design of an anti-icing blunt trailing-edge wind wheel of H-type vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) based on the quasi-steady-state icing. The parametric expression of the airfoil is given using the mean camber and thickness functions, the blunt trailing-edge is constructed by the rotation and zoom of coordinates, and then through the aerodynamic design theory, the geometry control equations of the blunt trailing-edge wind wheel are established. The icing process using Solution and Icing modules is repeated at equal interval azimuths to obtain the ice on the wind wheel per revolution. The optimization model is solved using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm integrated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method to maximize the wind energy utilization in both ice-free and icing conditions. Significant improvements are realized for flow and aerodynamic characteristics, confirming that the optimization method provides important guidance for an anti-icing design of VAWT blades.