Aircraft Slat Air Outlet Positioning for Anti-Icing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft wing leading-edge designs face challenges in preventing icing while minimizing adverse effects on the fixed leading edge, as bleed air heating methods often result in hot air impinging on the fixed leading edge, requiring additional protection measures.
Innovation Solution
A leading-edge device with a flow body having a front and back skin, a spar, and an air inlet, where the air inlet supplies heated air to air chambers, and strategically arranged air outlets at the bottom section allow air to exit without impinging on the fixed leading edge, reducing ice accumulation and minimizing impact on the fixed leading edge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If bleed air is used to heat the slat body for anti-icing, then the slat is effectively heated and ice accumulation is prevented, but the hot air exits through exhaust holes and impinges on the fixed leading edge, causing adverse effects
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is positioned at the lower end of the slat body, directing the exhaust air downward into the boundary layer flow rather than allowing it to impinge on the fixed leading edge. This spatial repositioning of the outlet changes the flow direction and eliminates the harmful impact while maintaining effective heating of the slat body.
2Loss of energy
If exhaust holes are provided in the back skin for air to exit the slat, then the heated air can leave the slat body, but the air flow path becomes complex requiring additional protection measures for the fixed leading edge
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is extracted from the conventional back skin location and repositioned to the lower end of the slat body. This simplifies the air flow path by providing a direct exit point that does not require complex routing or additional protection structures, while still enabling effective heat loss from the slat body.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the air outlet is positioned at the lower end of the slat body, then the hot air exhaust does not impinge on the fixed leading edge, but the outlet structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet structure is merged with the lower flange of the slat body, utilizing the existing structural element to form the outlet. This integration approach eliminates the need for separate outlet components and simplifies the overall structure while achieving the goal of directing exhaust air away from the fixed leading edge.
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 heats the leading-edge device using bleed air while minimizing the impact on the fixed leading edge, ensuring even temperature distribution and reducing ice accumulation, thus enhancing anti-icing performance without additional protection measures.
Implementation Method 1
A common approach to achieve this is to heat up respective parts with bleed air from turbofan engines
Implementation Method 2
the air with an elevated temperature heats up the slat
Data Source
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AI summary
A leading-edge device for an aircraft is proposed, the device comprising a flow body having a front skin, a back skin, a spar and an air inlet, wherein the front skin is curved around a spanwise axis to form a bottom section and a top section, wherein a leading edge of the flow body is arranged between the bottom section and the top section, and wherein the spar extends from the bottom section to the top section, wherein the front skin, the back skin and the spar enclose at least one air chamber that is in fluid communication with the air inlet, wherein an outlet portion is arranged at least directly adjacent to the bottom section of the front skin, and wherein the outlet portion comprises a plurality of air outlets for letting air from the at least one air chamber exhaust through the air outlets.