Static Plate Heating Arrangement for Aircraft Icing

Solution Overview

Problem

Flush static plates on aircraft face challenges in heating due to limited power levels, making it difficult to prevent ice accumulation and ensure proper function in icing conditions.

Innovation Solution

A heating arrangement featuring a fixed resistance heater and a self-regulating heater connected in series, surrounded by low thermal conductivity mounts and annular gaps, which increases power efficiency and reliability while maintaining an ice-free area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a single fixed resistance heater is used to heat the flush static plate, then the heating coverage is uniform, but the power consumption is too high for available aircraft power levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating coverageVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is divided into two distinct heater segments: an inner fixed resistance heater and an outer self-regulating heater. This segmentation allows each heater to operate at different power levels and control strategies, reducing total power consumption while maintaining effective heating coverage of the flush static plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different heating characteristics are applied to different regions of the flush static plate. The fixed resistance heater provides controlled heating at the inner region surrounding the port, while the self-regulating heater provides adaptive heating at the outer region, optimizing power distribution according to local thermal requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If a self-regulating heater is used alone to heat the flush static plate, then the power consumption is reduced, but the heating control precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidheating control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is divided into two distinct heater segments: an inner fixed resistance heater and an outer self-regulating heater. This segmentation allows each heater to operate at different power levels and control strategies, reducing total power consumption while maintaining effective heating coverage of the flush static plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different heating characteristics are applied to different regions of the flush static plate. The fixed resistance heater provides controlled heating at the inner region surrounding the port, while the self-regulating heater provides adaptive heating at the outer region, optimizing power distribution according to local thermal requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If heaters are added to prevent ice accumulation on the flush static plate, then the reliability in icing conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability in icing conditionsVSAvoidheating system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Two different heater technologies (fixed resistance heater and self-regulating heater) are merged into a single integrated heating system. This combination leverages the strengths of both heater types while sharing common mounting structures and thermal pathways, improving reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system uses a nested configuration where the inner fixed resistance heater is positioned within the outer self-regulating heater. This nested arrangement allows both heaters to share the same mounting space and thermal pathways, reducing overall system complexity while providing enhanced heating capability for ice prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 manages heat to prevent ice accumulation and moisture, ensuring the static plate functions properly in cold environments with reduced power consumption and system complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a fixed resistance heater in thermal communication with the interior surface and surrounding the port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a self-regulating heater in thermal communication with the interior surface and surrounding the fixed resistance heater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

surrounded by low thermal conductivity mounts and annular gaps

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS11649057B2Static plate heating arrangement

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC

AI summary

A static plate heating arrangement includes a faceplate including a port extending from an exterior surface of the faceplate to an interior surface of the faceplate, a fixed resistance heater in thermal communication with the interior surface and surrounding the port, and a self-regulating heater in thermal communication with the interior surface and surrounding the fixed resistance heater. The fixed resistance heater and the self-regulating heater are electrically connected in series.