Development of a Novel Electro-thermal Anti-icing System for Fiber-reinforced Polymer Composite Airfoils
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Abstract
Given the trend towards expanded use of polymeric composites for wind turbine blades and aircrafts wing, icing of polymer composite airfoils is a challenge; this thesis is addressing this issue from a conceptual perspective. For the first time, the concept of embedded thermal elements as an anti-icing system for polymer composite airfoils is investigated experimentally and numerically. A manufacturing technique was developed to implement the electro-thermal anti-icing system. Thermography was used to understand surface temperature distribution of the composite airfoil surface in cold (dry) and icing (wet) condition tests. The effect of thermal elements’ spacing and input power on the airfoils’ surface temperature distribution, and the effectiveness of the thermal elements’ pattern for icing mitigation were studied. Also, a methodology based on IR image analysis was developed for obtaining simultaneous information about airfoils’ temperature field and ice accretion; such information is imperative for energy efficient design of an anti-icing system.