Open Access

ARTICLE

Electrically Heated Composite Leading Edges for Aircraft Anti-Icing Applications

by

1 University of Naples, Naples, Italy

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2012, 8(1), 107-128. https://doi.org/10.3970/fdmp.2011.008.107

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and the performance of an electrically heated composite leading edge for aircraft anti-icing applications. A prototype was designed, manufactured and equipped with a High Temperature composite leading edge with embedded Ni alloy resistance fed by a DC power supply unit. Running wet and fully evaporative functional modes have been verified both analytically and experimentally with reasonable agreement. A room temperature thermal endurance test has been run for 10⁴ cycles aiming to preliminary verify the integrity of the composite laminate after the imposed thermal stress. The EHCLE system (Electrical Heated Composite Leading Edge) showed an enormous potential which justify the need for future development in a larger scale under more severe icing condition for a final assessment about the applicability to real aircraft.

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