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I³PS - Integration of Innovative Ice Protection Systems

The project goal is to economically remove ice accreting on aircraft structure critical parts and thus increase reliability and mass saving on the global function. By comparison with the present existing solutions which are based on active pneumatic and electro-thermal means the targeted solutions will enable electrical power consumption, cost and mass reductions and ease the overall integration process.

Short Description

Motivation

Currently, the ice protection systems (IPS) on jet aircrafts are mainly made of hot-bleed air systems. For instance all the aircrafts of the Airbus family are equipped with this technology and so are the current aircrafts from Boeing, except the B787, which is equipped with an electro-thermal ice protection system. The last encountered IPS technology, for a large number of commercial airplanes, is the use of inflating pneumatic boots, observed on the leading edges of the turboprop aircrafts (ATR42/72; Bombardier Dash8; …). These 3 technologies have various limitations and the two systems investigated in this project, proposed better solutions on the problematic aspects.

Objectives

  • Reducing fuel and power consumptions
  • Economically remove ice accreting on aircraft structure critical parts
  • Increase reliability and mass saving on the global function

Content

The main subject of this project is to integrate and test two innovative ice protection systems in aircraft structures. The first system is based on two-phase heat transport and will be tested in a turboprop metallic air intake. The second system is based on electromagnetic induction and will be tested on a wing fixed leading edge and on a flap leading edge.

Methodology

An electromagnetic induction system and a two-phase system will be designed and built for integrating them into the structure of the three demonstrators. The prototypes will be designed, manufactured, tested and analyzed along the twenty four months of this project. Two of them will be equipped with an ice protection system made of an electromagnetic system embedded in the composite structure. One test article will be equipped with a two-phase ice protection system integrated on a metallic skin. 
The process will be similar for the three demonstrators with a sequence of 4 phases.

Expected results

The innovation capacity stands in the perspective of replacing the current technology used for the ice protection systems.

Project Partners

Funding program: Clean Sky II