Articles with tag: "ice protection"

1. Conclusions of the Porter Perkins Series

   "our knowledge of aircraft icing and the penalties associated with it has not changed substantially in the last forty to fifty years" ¹

   

   From NACA-TN-1586. I believe that this is Porter Perkins, circa 1946.

   Summary

   The three areas of the many and varied contributions of Porter Perkins are reviewed.

   Discussion

   I will focus on three areas of Porter Perkins' publications:

   • Foresight about supercooled large drop (SLD) icing
   • A shift in instrument calibration
   • Contributions to the Appendix C icing regulation

   Foresight about supercooled large drop (SLD) icing

   I am not sure that I agree with the quote at the top (from 1993) now. A lot of things have happened in three decades.

   Perkins and Rieke ¹ foreshadowed in 1993 the potential effects of large-size water-drop icing conditions, now commonly termed supercooled large drop (SLD) icing:

   [Emphasis added]

   Protection from "Severe" icing encounters is not possible by definition. Likewise, there is little …

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2. Reproducing NACA-TN-2738 Calculations

   "In view of the number and complexity of the possible sources of error, it is not possible at this time to make a reliable estimate of the total accuracy" ³

   

   Summary

   Calculations are made to assess the probability of encountering certain icing conditions.

   Introduction

   In Porter Perkins Ice Shapes and Ice Protection, references NASA TM 83564 ¹ and NASA TM 86906 ², the probability of encountering certain icing conditions was assessed, using methods from NACA-TN-2738 ³. Here, we will attempt to reproduce those calculations.

   Discussion

   In NACA-TN-2738, data were divided by geographical region.

   

   The NASA Technical Memos did not state where the natural icing test flights were. However, as three of the authors were based out of the NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, I will assume that the flights operated out of there and were in the Eastern United States region.

   So, the appropriate chart to use is Figure …

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3. Porter Perkins Ice Shapes and Ice Protection

   "An approach to characterizing the severity of an icing encounter is to relate that encounter to the frequency of its occurrence." ¹

   

   Introduction

   Three publications with Porter Perkins as an author are included here. Two publications are related, as they cover a flight test campaign to gather detailed ice shape data. The third publication describes a potential improvement to ice protection.

   There is much to see in these publications with multiple authors, and I will focus on what I believe to have been Perkins' contributions.

   Ice Shapes, NASA TM 83564 ¹ and NASA TM 86906 ²

   NASA TM 83564:

   Summary

   This paper deals with the initial results of the NASA Lewis Research Center's flight research in quantifying the performance of an aircraft in various measured icing conditions. Flight research performed in natural icing conditions supports a number of major program elements at NASA. One of these elements is to develop …

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4. Porter Perkins

   "As the demand for all-weather protection on aircraft for unimpaired and continuous commercial and military service developed, the detrimental effects of ... icing on airplane performance became increasingly important" (1948)

   

   From NACA-TN-1586. I believe that this is Porter Perkins, circa 1946.

   Summary

   Porter Perkins published on icing topics for over 50 years while at NACA, NASA, and other groups.

   Biographies and Memorials

   Porter J. Perkins is a senior aerospace engineer working in aviation safety as manager of airworthiness of research flight activity at the Lewis Research Center of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. He has specialized in research on aircraft icing for more than 25 years. His in-flight measurements to characterize icing clouds were later incorporated into U.S. icing protection certification standards. He has authored or co-authored more than 25 reports in the field of aircraft icing, and continues to participate in …

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5. Conclusions of the Ice Protection Thread

   "The industry has now passed through the experimental stages of heating and anti-icing ..." (1946) ¹

   From NACA-ACR-A-53, 1941.

   Summary

   Ice protection system development continues to address new challenges.

   Key Points

   1. Design guides can lead you to "adequate" designs for several technologies.
   2. Design guides provide procedures to compare candidate systems.
   3. Optimal designs and new requirements may require system development.

   Discussion

   We have seen "the possible methods for overcoming the ice hazard" that were developed in the NACA-era in this Ice Protection Thread. The period up to and through WWII (1945) was largely characterized by expeditious tests to address immediate icing problems.

   The quote above "The industry has now passed through the experimental stages of heating and anti-icing ..." from 1946 was not completely the case, but NACA did move on to more planned scientific and engineering tests and analysis methods development. By the 1950's useful Engineering Design Manuals were available, so that …

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6. Design Manuals

   "An aircraft engineer can use this report to design adequate ice protection systems for any type aircraft for any flight mission profile." ¹

   
   Figure 4.2-2 of ADS-4.

   Summary

   The knowledge of aircraft icing matured to produce engineering design manuals.

   Key Points

   1. NACA publications contributed heavily to later design manuals.
   2. Extensive design publications distilling research into practical methods appeared in the 1950s.
   3. I do not know of a comprehensive design resource for some recent topics such as 3D design and analysis.

   Discussion

   NACA had an early period (up to and including WWII) that was largely characterized by expeditious tests to address immediate icing problems. Later, NACA embarked on more scientifically oriented studies. The science and experience of aircraft ice protection had matured enough by the 1950s for comprehensive engineering design manuals to be written.

   While NACA did not write all of the design manuals, all of the design manuals heavily …

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7. Thermal Analysis and Surface Wettedness

   "ice formation can be redefined in more general terms as a thermodynamic problem" ¹ (1936)

   Summary

   The thermal analysis of icing conditions has unique challenges, including the determination of heat transfer coefficients and fraction of the surface wetted.

   Key Points

   1. Measured heat transfer coefficients in dry air can be different between flight and tunnel tests, due to free stream turbulence.
   2. Icing conditions tend to promote more turbulent flow on the surface.
   3. Assumptions about the fraction of the surface wetted aft of impingement affect the thermal analysis.

   Introduction

   Experience indicates that certain types of control surfaces, for example, accumulate ice, while others do not. It suggests the need for particular care in the design of slotted controls, the more especially as de-icers can hardly be used in a slot. While of course much of this work can only be done in a refrigerated tunnel where practical tests of actual ice deposit …

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8. Component Icing

   "I am surprised to find that there are so many details which have not been anticipated before the de-icing tests were started." (1942)

   
   Figure 1 from NACA-TN-1789.

   Summary

   The effects of icing on small components must be addressed.

   Key points

   1. Flight tests in natural icing revealed (and still reveal) small component icing effects.
   2. Fuel vents designs were evaluated.
   3. "At present very little is known of the effect of radome icing on radar operation."
   4. The effect of icing on the radome for radar was evaluated.

   Introduction

   We saw some details of the Lewis Rodert's work on the Lockheed 12A test aircraft in Engine Exhaust Heat. However, wing ice protection was not the only challenge:

   To fly into ice clouds and survive, the Ames group necessarily became expert on the impact of ice on the total aircraft. "I am surprised to find", noted [NACA Langley] Engineer-in-Chief Smith DeFrance, "that there are so …

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9. Windshield Ice Protection

   "... ice on the airplane windshield, which is known to be a problem in urgent need of solution."

   
   Figure 14 from NACA-TN-1434.

   Summary

   Ice protection for windshields matured during the NACA-era.

   Key points

   1. In 1939: "The existing practice of making the airplane windshield retractable or removable by the pilot ... against loss of vision due to rain or ice"
   2. By 1947, window heat designs similar to current designs were available.

   Discussion

   Ice protection for windshields matured during the NACA-era.
   Technology progressed from this in 1939 (NACA-SR-130):

   The existing practice of making the airplane windshield retractable or removable by the pilot ... against loss of vision due to rain or ice

   By 1947, there were electrical window heating ice protection designs similar to current designs (NACA-TN-1434).

   "An Investigation of the Prevention of Ice on the Airplane Windshield", NACA-SR-130 ¹ and NACA-TN-754 ²

   INTRODUCTION
   The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics is conducting a program of …

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10. Freezing Point Depressant Fluids

    "Alcohol as a means of protection against ice formation on propeller blades is widely used by commercial air lines on transport airplanes." ¹

    
    Figure 2 from NACA-RB-4F06.

    Summary

    Freezing point depressant fluids were used widely in the NACA-era.

    Key points

    1. The use of freezing point depressant fluids were not pioneered by NACA, NACA studied improvements.
    2. Analysis methods were developed in the NACA-era.
    3. Freezing point depressant fluids are still used today.

    Discussion

    This is a technology that was not invented by NACA. NACA studies sought to improve the use of freezing point depressant fluids.

    When mixed with water, a freezing point depressant fluids lowers the freezing/melting temperature of the mixture, and enough fluid can lower that temperature below the equilibrium wet surface temperature, preventing or removing ice.

    There are many potential freezing point depressant fluids. In the NACA-era, alcohols were the most widely used. Today, for aircraft deicing on the …

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11. Combustion heated air and heat transfer coefficients

    "an effective system for ... wing surfaces to prevent the formation of ice requires knowledge"

    
    Figure 2 of NACA-ARR-A506

    Summary

    Combustion heated air, independent of the engines, was used on some aircraft.

    Key Points

    1. Combustion heaters were developed independently of NACA.
    2. 38 NACA publications detail technical aspects of aircraft heaters, including many details on heat exchangers, maturing engineering designs.
    3. Three publications deal with heat transfer for ice protection.

    Discussion

    There were numerous NACA publications on aircraft heaters. For the combustion heaters, air was scooped in, heated by burning aviation gasoline, and used for cabin heating, and wing ice protection on some airplanes (The DC-6, for example).

    Combustion heaters were developed independently of NACA prior to these NACA publications. However, the NACA publications very much detailed the design of not just the heaters, but also associated heat exchangers and components, as well as data needed for analysis (such as "An Investigation of …

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12. Electrothermal Ice Protection

    "... the power required for ice prevention may be excessive for certain applications, although sufficient power for some degree of ice removal may be provided readily." ¹

    
    Figure 12 of NACA-ARR-4A20.

    Summary

    Electrothermal deicing is studied in the NACA-era.

    Key Points

    1. The power levels required for continuous anti-ice are challenging, so deicing was persued.
    2. Runback ice and residual ice are challenges for deicing.
    3. Analogue computers calculated transient heating and deicing.
    4. A chordwise-sequenced zone heating ice shedding strategy was devised.
    5. The current 787 jet aircraft uses electrothermal heating for wing anti-icing and de-icing.

    Discussion

    The electric powered deicing of propeller blades, as well as wing leading edges, was studied by NACA.

    The deicing of propellers is perhaps easier in some ways, as the centrifugal of the spin greatly aids the shedding of ice. Also, there are scale differences, as a wing airfoil usually has a larger chord length than a propeller. However …

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13. Compressed Air Heat

    "the most economical icing protection ... consists of a system utilizing hot gas from a convenient heat source, namely, the turbojet-engine compressor" ¹

    
    From NACA-TN-2866.

    Summary

    Compressed air heating becomes common for ice protection in the jet era.

    Key points

    1. To support jet engine powered transportation, NACA had several studies of ice protection using compressed air heating.
    2. Deicing schemes were proposed to reduce the amount of air bled from the engines.
    3. Some innovative features, like continuously heated parting strips and recirculating hot air supply, did not see much use.
    4. Compressed air heating is used widely today for jet powered transports.

    Discussion

    As aviation entered the jet propulsion age, reciprocating-engine exhaust heat was not an option. However, the jet engine air compressor offers an ample (but not unlimited) supply of hot, compressed air that may be bled from the engine compressor airstream for ice protection, cabin heating, and other functions.

    Several NACA …

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14. Engine Exhaust Heat

    "an airplane that will be immune from the dangers of ice accumulation ... is only a matter of technical development." ¹

    

    Summary

    Practical wing heating designs are developed and proven in natural icing flight tests.

    Key Points

    1. Flight tests were used extensively, as icing wind tunnels were still under development.
    2. Much detailed development over 10 years was required.
    3. "Existing data indicate that sufficient heat is available... the problem is one of distribution".
    4. Design elements were developed that could be used in future compressed air heating.

    Discussion

    NACA-TR-403 ¹

    This investigation was conducted by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics to study the practicability of employing heat as a means of preventing the formation of ice on airplane wings. The report relates essentially to technical problems regarding the extraction of heat from the exhaust gases and it proper distribution over the exposed surfaces. In this connection a separate study has been made …

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15. Carburetor and Induction Systems

    "A demon was operating the throttle." S. W. Sparrow, 1920. ¹

    
    From NACA-TR-982.

    Summary

    Carburetor icing has been a known hazard for over 100 years, and many protection strategies were studied in the NACA-era.

    Key Points

    1. Carburetor icing has been a known hazard for over 100 years.
    2. Part of the hazard can occur in clear air (throttling icing and fuel-evaporation icing).
    3. "The NACA induction-system icing program at the National Bureau of Standards was initiated in January 1941. The project is financed jointly by the Army, the Navy, and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics."
    4. Numerous tests and studies were conducted in the NACA-era.
    5. Many aircraft today have carburetor protection similar to that developed in the NACA-era.

    Discussion

    The spark ignition, Otto cycle engines commonly used on airplanes in the NACA-era typically had carburetors to control the air and fuel entering the cylinders for combustion. These could be affect by ice …

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16. Deicing boots and ice adhesion

    "The removal of ice from a De-Icer surface depends on the true adhesion of ice to rubber..." ⁴

    
    Image from “Engineering Summary of Airframe Icing Technical Data” ADS-4, 1963.

    Summary

    Pneumatic boot deicers were the first widely used form of aircraft ice protection, and are still used today.

    Key Points

    1. Deicing boots were developed independent of NACA.
    2. Oil coatings aid the shedding of ice.
    3. NACA development efforts largely shifted to thermal deicing in the 1940s.

    Introduction

    As detailed in "We Freeze to Please": A History of NASA's Icing Research Tunnel and the Quest for Flight Safety, the “expanding rubber sheet” or “ice-removing overshoe” for ice protection was developed independently of NACA in the 1930s, and was the first widely used method of aircraft ice protection. Small passages within the rubber could be periodically inflated to shed ice (typically once every two minutes). While some "inter-cycle" ice forms, the maximum amount …

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17. Ice Protection

    "The possible methods for overcoming the ice hazard ..." ¹

    
    From NACA-ACR-A-53, 1941. ²

    Summary

    Numerous methods were tested to find effective aircraft ice protection in the NACA-era.

    Introduction

    During the war, more than a hundred cargo planes of the Air Transport Command, flying from bases in India over the Hump to battlefronts in China, crashed in the Himalayas. Most of them were brought down by ice. In a single day in 1944, nine of these big Army transports, loaded with sorely needed supplies for the Allies’ fighting forces, were lost.
    Many of the fatal crashes of commercial aviation have been traced to this same cause. For years commercial transports have been equipped with anti-icing devices, but the apparatus in common use was designed to assist in meeting an emergency when it arises, not to prepare the plane for deliberate flight into ice clouds. If dangerous icing conditions are inadvertently encountered …

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