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This paper introduces a recent development in electrothermal heating technology that enables increased power densities on the leading edge of aircraft wings for the purpose of de-icing. Key aspects of this development include a high temperature heater mat, minimal thermal interference between the heating element and leading edge skin, a high quality bond of the heater to the skin and a power density profile that compensates for non-uniform thermal loads on the leading edge skin. Icing tunnel testing results corroborate the value of these key aspects in enabling operation at extreme power densities, even to the point of achieving full evaporative anti-icing operation under Intermittent Maximum conditions. The advent of higher power density capabilities has opened the door to new approaches to electrothermal deicing that were previously impracticable. Some of these new approaches and their benefits are presented.

The European Union (EU) ‘Clean Sky’ [1] Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) is a research programme aimed at developing breakthrough technologies which will minimise the impact of aviation on the environment. Within this, the System for Green Operations (SGO) Integrated Technology Demonstrator (ITD) looks to improve aircraft operation through management of energy and mission trajectory. As part of the SGO ITD, a series of environmental icing tests have been conducted on an ice protected, acoustically protected, electrically powered, scoop intake and channel. The range of conditions tested included in-flight icing (CS-25 Appendix C, same as 14 CFR 25), super-cooled large droplets (proposed 14 CFR 25 Appendix O, [2]), snow and ice crystal conditions as well as ground icing in freezing fog conditions.

Under the EU Clean Sky 2 research project InSPIRe – Innovative Systems to Prevent Ice on Regional Aircraft, numerical and experimental studies have been performed to investigate the potential to minimise the electrical power required for wing ice protection on a regional aircraft wing. In a standard electrothermal de-ice protection scheme there is a parting strip heater which runs along the full spanwise protected extent and is permanently powered. This splits the ice formation on the leading edge into an upper and lower region, which makes it easier to shed. However, the parting strip is relatively energy intensive and contributes a significant portion of the overall power demand. Developing a system which is able to provide the desired ice protection function without a parting strip would therefore offer a substantial power saving. The great difficulty with such a system is in ensuring that acceptable ice shedding occurs.

Research institutes and companies are currently working on 3D numerical icing tools for the prediction of ice shapes on an international level. Due to the highly complex flow situation, the prediction of ice shapes on three-dimensional surfaces represents a challenge. An essential component for the development and subsequent validation of 3D ice accretion codes are detailed experimental data from ice shapes accreted on relevant geometries, like wings of a passenger aircraft for example. As part of the Republic of Austria funded research project JOICE, a mockup of a wingtip, based on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration common research model CRM65 was designed and manufactured. For further detailed investigation of electro-thermal de-icing systems, various heaters and thermocouples were included.