Deicing Skin with Localized Thickness Variations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current de-icing solutions for aircraft components, such as leading edges, are inefficient due to high power requirements, material compatibility issues, short lifespan, maintenance needs, and aerodynamic degradation.
Innovation Solution
A de-icing element with a skin that undergoes predetermined vibration modes, featuring localized thickness variations to standardize ice deformation and increase energy transfer, using an excitation actuator like an electromagnetic or piezoelectric actuator to induce vibrations, shocks, or force pulses, enhancing energy restitution and distribution for effective ice removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating is used to defrost the leading edge, then ice removal is effective, but power consumption is high and material temperature compatibility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through an excitation actuator that induces predetermined vibration modes in the skin, generating deformations with antinodes and nodes that mechanically disrupt ice deposits without requiring high power consumption thermal heating
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the skin by inducing dynamic deformations and vibrations, transforming the ice removal mechanism from thermal heating to mechanical disruption, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining effectiveness
2Reliability
If thermal heating is applied to defrost, then ice blocks are melted, but temperatures become incompatible with certain materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal heating system with a mechanical vibration system, using an excitation actuator to generate deformations that mechanically disrupt ice without raising temperatures, thus protecting temperature-sensitive materials
3Reliability
If a de-icing boot with inflated membrane is used, then ice blocks are broken up, but the system becomes bulky and requires pressurized air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of ice disruption from the bulky de-icing boot system, using a thin skin with localized thickness variations and an excitation actuator to achieve the same ice-breaking effect without the need for pressurized air and inflated membranes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a thin skin structure with localized thickness variations instead of a bulky inflated membrane, achieving flexibility and ice disruption capability through minimal material while reducing system bulkiness
4Reliability
If electromagnetic actuators apply shocks to dislodge ice, then ice removal occurs, but significant power and maintenance are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mechanical vibration through controlled deformations of the skin rather than high-power electromagnetic shocks, reducing energy consumption while maintaining ice dislodging capability through resonant vibration modes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic vibration modes that resonate with the skin's natural frequency, allowing cumulative ice disruption over time without requiring the high peak power of electromagnetic shock actuators
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively defrosts surfaces with low mechanical stress and electrical consumption, improving energy transfer and ice removal efficiency while maintaining aerodynamic integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the excitation actuator being configured to excite the skin according to at least one predetermined vibration mode generating a deformation of the skin
Implementation Method 2
the predetermined vibration mode(s) correspond to skin resonance modes
Implementation Method 3
This uniformity of the skin's curvature prevents stress localization within the ice and induces a wider area of mechanical stress. This results in an increase in the stored elastic energy available for defrosting the surface
Implementation Method 4
the de-icing element comprises at least one thermal band arranged on the skin at at least one node of the predetermined vibration mode(s), said thermal band being configured to generate heat capable of de-icing the surface to be de-iced
Data Source
Figure 1~4
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Figure 7~8
AI summary
- De-icing element likely to be exposed to frost. - The de-icing element (1) comprises a skin (2) having a surface to be de-iced (3), it also comprises at least one excitation actuator (5) fixed on the skin (2), the excitation actuator (5) being configured to excite the skin (2) according to at least one predetermined vibration mode generating a deformation of the skin (2), the deformation of the skin (2) comprising at least one antinode and one node, the skin (2) having a characteristic thickness (E) generally constant with, locally, at least one variation in thickness (9) which is localized according to the predetermined vibration mode(s).