TYPES OF ANTI-ICING SYSTEM

Figueras, Chim Christian P.

AMTE 216 - 9B
What is Anti-Icing Systems?
Anti-icing systems reverse this paradigm. Properly used, they prevent the formation of ice continuously, resulting in a clean
wing with no aerodynamic penalties. An anti-icing system must have a means of continuously delivering energy or chemical
flow to a surface in order to prevent the bonding of ice. The typical thermal anti-icing system does this at significant energy
expense. The concept is not viable for aircraft that do not have the requisite excess energy available during all flight
phases. An exception to this is the use of a chemical system such as TKS.
What are the different
types of anti-icing systems?
Thermal Anti-Icing System
Thermal systems used for the purpose of preventing the formation of ice or for
deicing airfoil leading edges, usually use heated air ducted spanwise along
the inside of the leading edge of the airfoil and distributed around its inner
surface. However, electrically heated elements are also used for anti-icing and
deicing airfoil leading edges. There are several methods used to provide
heated air. These include bleeding hot air from the turbine compressor, engine
exhaust heat exchangers, and ram air heated by a combustion heater.
Thermal Anti-Icing System
Thermal Anti-Icing System
Thermal anti-icing systems for aircraft and methods for fabricating such
systems. The anti-icing systems have an integrated one-piece skin with
passageways formed therein to supply a heated fluid to that portion of an
aircraft structure where anti-icing is desired. The anti-icing system also has an
integrated or separately supplied manifold for routing heating fluid to the
anti-icing system flow passages. The anti-icing system can be used in the
leading edges of such aircraft structures as wings, horizontal and vertical
stabilizers, inboard and outboard slats, engine struts, and engine cowls.
Thermal Anti-Icing System
Thermal Anti-Icing System
Electro-thermal systems use resistive circuits buried in the airframe
structure to generate heat when a current is applied. The heat can
be generated continuously to protect the aircraft from icing (anti-ice
mode), or intermittently to shed ice as it accretes on key surfaces
(de-ice). De-ice operation is generally preferred due to the lower
power consumption, as the system only needs to melt the contact
layer of ice for the wind-shear to shed the remainder.
Thermal Anti-Icing System
Thermal Anti-Icing System
Thermal systems used for the purpose of preventing the formation of ice
or for deicing airfoil leading edges usually use heated air ducted spanwise
along the inside of the leading edge of the airfoil and distributed around its
inner surface. These thermal pneumatic anti-icing systems are used for
wings, leading edge slats, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, engine inlets,
and more. There are several sources of heated air, including hot air bled
from the turbine compressor, engine exhaust heat exchangers, and ram
air heated by a combustion heater.
Electric Anti-Icing System
An electric current is passed through a heating element built into the device
needed to be heated. For example, 115 VAC may be applied to a heating
element of anywhere between 5-300 ohms (resistance values vary widely
depending on the heating application). The voltage applied may be dependent
on a controller that will dictate how much voltage is applied. Using basic
Ohm's Law, we can deduce that the current draw of 115 VAC across an
example 60 ohms coil, would be approximately 1.9 A, and the power 220W.
Keep in mind, this isn't a strict calculation as phase angle and other variables
might be involved in an AC circuit - but close enough... That 220W is
dissipated as heat which thus heats the device.
Electric Anti-Icing System
Electric Anti-Icing System
Electro-mechanical Expulsion Anti-icing Systems use a mechanical force
to knock the ice off the flight surface. Typically, actuators are installed
underneath the skin of the structure. The actuator is moved to induce a
shock wave in the protected surface to dislodge the ice. Cox and
Company, Inc. of Plainview, NY developed a lightweight, low-power
system called EMEDS that is the first ice protection technology to receive
FAA certification in 50 years, and is currently in-service on multiple
commercial aircraft and military aircraft.
Electric Anti-Icing System
Electric Anti-Icing System
Electricity is used to heat various components on an aircraft so that ice does
not form. This type of anti-ice is typically limited to small components due to
high amperage draw. Effective thermal electric anti-ice is used on most air
data probes, such as pitot tubes, static air ports, TAT and AOA probes, ice
detectors, and engine P2/T2 sensors. Water lines, waste water drains, and
some turboprop inlet cowls are also heated with electricity to prevent ice from
forming. Transport category and high performance aircraft use thermal electric
anti-icing in windshields.
Electric Anti-Icing System
Electric Anti-Icing System
In devices that use thermal electric anti-ice, current flows through an integral
conductive element that produces heat. The temperature of the component is
elevated above the freezing point of water so ice cannot form. Various
schemes are used, such as an internal coil wire, externally wrapped blankets
or tapes, as well as conductive films and heated gaskets.
Chemical Anti-Icing System
Chemical anti-icing is used in some aircraft to anti-ice the leading
edges of the wing, stabilizers, windshields, and propellers. The wing
and stabilizer systems are often called weeping wing systems or are
known by their trade name of TKS™ systems. Ice protection is based
upon the freezing point depressant concept. An antifreeze solution is
pumped from a reservoir through a mesh screen embedded in the
leading edges of the wings and stabilizers. Activated by a switch in the
cockpit, the liquid flows over the wing and tail surfaces, preventing the
formation of ice as it flows.
Chemical Anti-Icing System
Chemical Anti-Icing System
All chemical anti-icers share a common working mechanism: they chemically
prevent water molecules from binding above a certain temperature that depends
on the concentration. This temperature is below 0 °C, the freezing point of pure
water. Sometimes, there is an exothermic dissolution reaction that allows for an
even stronger melting power. The following lists contains the most-commonly used
anti-icing chemicals and their typical chemical formula.
Chemical Anti-Icing System
Chemical Anti-Icing System
Unheated, undiluted propylene glycol based fluids that has been thickened, also referred to
as non-Newtonian fluids, applied to retard the future development of ice or to prevent falling
snow or sleet from accumulating. Anti-icing fluids provide holdover protection against the
formation of ice while the aircraft is stationary on the ground. However, when subjected to
shearing force such as the air flow over the fluid surface, when an aircraft is accelerating for
takeoff, the fluid's entire rheology changes and it becomes significantly thinner, running off to
leave a clean and smooth aerodynamic surface to the wing.
Chemical Anti-Icing System
Chemical Anti-Icing System
In some cases both types of fluid are applied to aircraft, first the heated
glycol/water mixture to remove contaminants, followed by the unheated thickened
fluid to keep ice before the aircraft takes off. Methanol de-ice fluid has been
employed for years to de-ice small wing and tail surfaces of small to medium-sized
general aviation aircraft and is usually applied with a small hand-held sprayer.
Methanol can only remove frost and light ground ice prior to flight.