Wedge-Shaped Blade for Aircraft Sensor Probe Ice Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft turbofan engine temperature sensors are prone to icing, leading to undesirable ice chunks shedding into the engine, which can cause operational issues.

Innovation Solution

A wedge-shaped blade is integrated into the sensor probe, positioned to face the incoming air stream, which redirects ice accumulation to break it into smaller pieces, reducing the risk of large ice chunks entering the engine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a temperature sensor probe is installed in the air stream to measure total temperature, then the engine controller can control the engine during operation, but the probe is prone to icing which causes ice chunks to shed into the engine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine control reliabilityVSAvoidice accumulation and shedding

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A heating element is introduced as an intermediary component within the sensor probe to counteract the harmful icing effect. The heating element applies thermal energy to the probe surface, preventing ice accumulation and eliminating the source of ice chunks that would otherwise shed into the engine, thus protecting engine control reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the sensor probe is exposed to the air stream for accurate temperature measurement, then total temperature data can be obtained, but ice chunks may be ingested by the engine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal temperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidice chunk ingestion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element serves as a protective intermediary that prevents ice formation on the probe surface. By maintaining the probe surface temperature above freezing, the heating element eliminates ice chunk generation at the source, allowing the probe to remain exposed to the air stream for accurate measurements without creating harmful ice ingestion risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element converts the harmful cold environment that causes icing into a beneficial controlled thermal field. By applying heat to the probe, the system transforms the freezing air stream conditions into a controlled measurement environment where ice prevention is actively managed, turning the potentially harmful cold exposure into a controlled measurement process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 mitigates ice accumulation and shedding, reducing the risk of engine ingestion by breaking ice into smaller, harmless pieces, thereby ensuring smoother engine operation.

Implementation Method 1

a wedge-shaped blade disposed in front of the sensor, the wedge-shaped blade having two faces meeting at a leading edge oriented to face the stream of air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic force:

Data Source

PatentUS11885261B2Ice accumulation and shedding mitigation for sensor probe

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP

AI summary

Ice accumulation and shedding mitigation devices associated with sensor probes extending into a stream of air entering an aircraft engine are provided. An exemplary device comprises a wedge-shaped blade configured to be exposed to the stream of air and disposed upstream of the sensor probe. The wedge-shaped blade has two faces meeting at a leading edge oriented to face the stream of air.