Abstract: An aircraft wing may comprise an airfoil having deicing zone, an anti-icing zone, and an ice runback control zone. An aircraft wing may comprise an electro-thermal ice protection system disposed in the aircraft wing. The electro-thermal ice protection system may be disposed along the deicing, anti-icing, and ice runback control zones of the airfoil to improve aerodynamic performance of the aircraft and reduce ice formation along the wings of the aircraft.

Abstract: A multilayer heating structure for controlling ice accumulation on a surface of an aircraft includes a carbon nano-tube (CNT) heater. The heater includes: a CNT layer; a first encapsulation layer disposed on a first side of the CNT layer formed of a first encapsulation layer thermoplastic material; and a second encapsulation layer disposed on a second side of the CNT layer formed of a second encapsulation layer thermoplastic material. The structure further includes for and aft composite structures. The first and second encapsulation layer thermoplastic materials have higher melting temperatures that one or both the fore composite structure thermoplastic material and the aft composite structure thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A system for controlling ice accumulation on a surface of an aircraft, the system includes a carbon nano-tube (CNT) heater comprising: a CNT layer; a first encapsulation layer disposed on a first side of the CNT layer formed of a first encapsulation layer thermoplastic material; and a second encapsulation layer disposed on a second side of the CNT layer formed of a second encapsulation layer thermoplastic material. The system also includes a fore composite structure that includes a fore composite structure thermoplastic material disposed on the first side of CNT heater, an aft composite structure that includes an aft composite structure thermoplastic material disposed on the first side of CNT heater and a sensor layer disposed between the CNT heater and the one of the fore and aft composite structures.

Abstract: A multilayer heating structure for controlling ice accumulation on a surface of an aircraft includes a carbon nano-tube (CNT) heater. The heater includes: a CNT layer; a first encapsulation layer disposed on a first side of the CNT layer formed of a first encapsulation layer thermoplastic material; and a second encapsulation layer disposed on a second side of the CNT layer formed of a second encapsulation layer thermoplastic material.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments for method and system for performing an integrated ice protection with prognostics and health management using fiber optic sensors. Embodiments can include reading a signal from each sensor of an array of sensors installed on a surface of a structure or equipment, wherein each sensor is a fiber optic sensor, and generating a map based on reading the signal from each sensor, wherein the map monitors a condition of the surface detected by each sensor. Embodiments can also include determining at least one of an abnormal condition or a failure based at least in part on reading the signal from each sensor; and performing at least one of adjusting power control for the structure or equipment or communicating the abnormal condition or failure of the structure or equipment.

Abstract: A method of making a resistance temperature detector includes additively manufacturing a conductive ink on a flexible substrate and applying the resistance temperature detector to a geometrically complex surface of a component requiring heating, or directly additive manufacturing the resistance temperature detector onto that surface.

Abstract: An ice protection system may include a blade and an electrothermal heater including a carbon nanotube (CNT) element and a metal element. The CNT element may be a CNT fabric or a CNT yarn. The metal element may be coupled to the CNT element via a metallization process, or the like. The electrothermal heater element may include an electric sheet resistivity between 0.01 and 0.5 ohms/square.

Abstract: A heated floor panel may comprise a base assembly and a heating element located on a first surface of the base assembly. A panel skin may be located over the heating element and the first surface of the base assembly. The panel skin may extend from the first surface of the base assembly to a second surface of the base assembly opposite the first surface of the base assembly.

Abstract: A heated floor panel assembly with an impact layer is made to absorb blunt force and protect a heating element inside the assembly. The assembly further includes a plurality of structural layer made of a reinforced polymer matrix, one or more core layer with a honeycomb or foam structure for absorbing shear stress, and a heating layer containing the heating element. The impact layer is a composite layer with a resin impregnated fiber matrix.

Abstract: A panel assembly for use in an aircraft includes a surface. The panel assembly further includes a body portion including a honeycomb material having multiple body volumes oriented perpendicular to the surface. The panel assembly further includes an edge portion extending around an edge of the panel assembly and including the honeycomb material having multiple edge volumes oriented parallel to the surface in order to increase edge strength of the panel assembly.

Abstract: A method of making a resistance temperature detector includes additively manufacturing a conductive ink on a flexible substrate and applying the resistance temperature detector to a geometrically complex surface of a component requiring heating, or directly additive manufacturing the resistance temperature detector onto that surface.

Abstract: A heated floor panel assembly with an impact layer is made to absorb blunt force and protect a heating element inside the assembly. The assembly further includes a plurality of structural layer made of a reinforced polymer matrix, one or more core layer with a honeycomb or foam structure for absorbing shear stress, and a heating layer containing the heating element. The impact layer is a composite layer with a resin impregnated fiber matrix.

Abstract: A heated floor panel assembly contains a positive temperature coefficient heater secured in the assembly through a number of welded joints through a thermoplastic dielectric layer. The positive temperature coefficient heater is on a thermoplastic substrate, which is bonded to the thermoplastic dielectric layer. The assembly further includes an impact layer, a core layer, and structural layers.

Abstract: A composite sandwich structure for heating an environment includes a first core layer made from a first cellular material and having a first thickness, and a second core layer made from a second cellular material and having a second thickness less than the first thickness. The structure further includes a heating layer having a thermoelectric heating element and disposed between the first and second core layers. The first core layer is positioned between the heating layer and the environment.