Aircraft Ice Detector Using Active Cooling Rod
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice detection systems for aircraft face challenges in accurately detecting ice accretion due to critical temperature differences between the detector and the wing/nacelle, leading to potential ice formation before it can be detected.
Innovation Solution
An ice detector utilizing image processing technology with a transparent icing rod and semiconductor refrigerating element, where the icing rod is designed with a streamlined shape and wavy lateral sides for enhanced ice accretion, and equipped with visual sensors and an illuminating element to facilitate early detection of ice formation, and an electrical heater for deicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the ice detector is equipped with a refrigerating element to reduce its surface temperature for earlier ice detection, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerating element is activated before the aircraft enters icing conditions to pre-cool the icing rod surface. This preliminary cooling action ensures that when supercooled large water droplets contact the rod, ice forms immediately, enabling early detection before ice accumulates on the wing or nacelle.
Solution Approach 2:
The icing rod serves as an intermediary element between the aircraft structure and the detection system. It is a streamlined, transparent rod positioned at the wing leading edge that actively accumulates ice under refrigeration, allowing visual sensors to detect ice formation indirectly through the rod rather than directly on the wing.
2Measurement precision
If image processing technology is used for ice detection, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic sensing systems with an optical imaging system. Visual sensors capture images of the transparent icing rod, and image processing algorithms analyze these images to detect ice accretion, substituting mechanical detection methods with optical and computational approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent icing rod creates an optical copy or representation of the ice accretion condition. By making the rod transparent and using visual sensors to capture its appearance, the system creates an optical record of ice formation that can be analyzed without direct contact sensors, reducing overall system weight.
3Reliability
If the icing rod is designed with a streamlined shape and wavy lateral sides to enhance ice accretion, then the ice detection effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The icing rod features a streamlined shape with curved surfaces and wavy lateral sides. These curved geometries are designed to enhance ice accretion by creating favorable flow patterns and surface characteristics that promote droplet accumulation and freezing, improving detection reliability through optimized aerodynamic shape.
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 system effectively reduces the surface temperature of the icing rod, allowing for earlier detection of ice accretion on the rod before it forms on the wing/nacelle, expanding its detection scope to include supercooled large water droplets and ensuring reliable ice detection under varying light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerating element is a semiconductor refrigerating element which cold end is connected to the icing rod to perform active refrigeration for the icing rod
Implementation Method 2
a controller electrically connected to the visual sensor and comprising an image contrast module configured to compare the image obtained from the visual sensor with an initial image of the ice accretion surface
Implementation Method 3
an illuminating element is disposed therein
Data Source
AI summary
An ice detector includes an icing assembly that includes a transparent icing rod with an illuminating element is disposed therein and having an ice accretion surface and a support structure. The icing rod has at least one visual sensor configured to obtain an image of the ice accretion surface; a controller electrically connected to the visual sensor and including an image contrast module configured to compare the obtained image with an initial image so as to judge whether ice is formed on the ice accretion surface of the icing rod. The icing assembly includes a refrigerating element respectively connected to the icing rod and the support structure. The refrigerating element may perform active refrigeration for the icing rod, reduce the surface temperature of the icing rod and facilitate the ice detector detecting ice accretion before ice is formed on a wing/nacelle.