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Ice Grid - Investigation of Ice Formation on Protection Grids in Aircraft Air-Conditioning Systems

The IceGrid project examined protection grids in the air conditioning systems of passenger aircraft and at the interface to mobile climate modules on the ground for icing and de-icing. The methods used included both experimental testing in the icing wind tunnel and numerical simulations.

Short Description

Objectives

  • To produce wires and grid prototypes coated with heating paint and ice-repellent chemical substances.
  • To conduct icing and de-icing tests with the coated prototypes in the icing wind tunnel.
  • To develop calculation/simulation methods by FH JOANNEUM and Icon for designing icing-free grids under variable operating conditions.
  • To provide proof that heated grids can be realised in a form in which, on the one hand, reliable ice accretion can be prevented and, on the other hand, the air flowing through it is heated as little as possible.

Content

For investigating protection grids in the air conditioning systems of passenger aircraft and at the interface to mobile climate modules on the ground (e.g., PCA systems) different methods were used. These included both experimental testing in the icing wind tunnel and numerical simulations. The main goal of the project was the study of heated and/or chemically coated grids.

Outcome

All goals were achieved; the grids functioned as desired and the predictions of the developed simulation methods were consistent with the icing wind tunnel measurements.

Picture gallery

Aviation Forum Austria 2016: IceGrid

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Project Partners

Funding program: TAKE OFF