Abstract: Aircraft ice protection systems and methods include an aircraft component having an internal layer and an external layer, a piezoelectric actuator element embedded within the aircraft component between material of the internal layer and the external layer, and a control system operably connected to the piezoelectric actuator element and configured to drive actuation of the piezoelectric actuator element to at least one of remove ice formed on the aircraft component and prevent the formation of ice on the aircraft component.

Abstract: A sustainable hybrid piezoelectric matrix ice protection system is provided. The system includes at least one energy harvester and anti-icing device and an energy storage device. Responsive to electrical power generated by the at least one energy harvester and anti-icing device being greater than a first threshold, the at least one energy harvester and anti-icing device stores the electrical power in the energy storage device. Responsive to the electrical power generated by the at least one energy harvester and anti-icing device being less than the first threshold, the at least one energy harvester and anti-icing device generates continuous, low-frequency vibrations for anti-icing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for heater failure detection assemblies/systems and related methods of fabrication and use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for heater failure detection assemblies/systems for aircraft or the like, with the heater failure detection assemblies/systems utilizing thermal images to detect the operation or failure of an aircraft heater.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for heater failure detection assemblies/systems and related methods of fabrication and use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for heater failure detection assemblies/systems for aircraft or the like, with the heater failure detection assemblies/systems utilizing thermal images to detect the operation or failure of an aircraft heater.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for ice protection heater assemblies, and related methods of fabrication and use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for chordwise ice protection heater assemblies for aircraft or the like. The heater assemblies provide that the heater zones for the ice protection heater assembly are designed such that the electricity mainly flows along the chord of the aircraft component (e.g., wing). This puts the electrical connection points above and below as well as behind the stagnation point of the aircraft component. The electrical connection points are thus behind the area to be protected from icing via the heater assembly.

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: 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: An aircraft electric power supply system (10) for supplying electric power to onboard electric devices (20) during flight. To reduce the devices' power draw, the electric power is supplied via modulation at an increment-percentage that is determined by present conditions. An optimum portfolio can be established for the electrical devices (20) collectively, this portfolio being selected in accordance with an energy-management criterion or other aircraft objectives.

Abstract: An ice protection system (30) wherein a heater array (50) comprises a series of consecutive electrothermal heaters (51) which proceed one after another in a substantially aft-fore-aft path. A power source (60) supplies the heater array (50) with electrical energy and a heater interface (80) switches each heater (51) into either an ON condition or an OFF condition. The heater array (50) can be architected to effectively and efficiently protect an ice-susceptible aircraft surface (40) by strategic heater shaping, concentrated power-density allocation, and/or tactical heating-episode execution.

Abstract: A nacelle inlet lip (22) for an aircraft engine (16) comprises a structural body (30) and an ice protection system (60). The ice protection system (60) comprises a plurality of ice-protectors (62, 64, 66) independently controllable to allow inner zones (52, 54, 56) to be operated in different modes, different power levels, different time intervals and/or different energy amounts. In this manner, an inner aft zone (52), an inner mid zone (54), and an inner aft zone (56) can be anti-iced and/or de-iced to best preserve desired airflow patterns, to minimize ice particle shed size, and to optimize power consumption.

Abstract: An aircraft electric power supply system (10) for supplying electric power to onboard electric devices (20) during flight. To reduce the devices' power draw, the electric power is supplied via modulation at an increment-percentage that is determined by present conditions. An optimum portfolio can be established for the electrical devices (20) collectively, this portfolio being selected in accordance with an energy-management criterion or other aircraft objectives.

Abstract: An ice protection system (40) is provided for an aircraft surface having a plurality of ice-susceptible regions. The system (40) comprises an ice protector (51-55) for each ice-susceptible region, a controller (60) which independently controls each of the ice protectors (51-55), and input channels (71-79) which conveys data to the controller (60). The controller (60) uses the channel-conveyed data to determine optimum operation for each of the ice protectors and controls the supply electrical energy thereto in accordance with such optimization.

Abstract: An aircraft wing (12) comprising a structural casing (14) defining a leading edge, a fuel cell (16) within the structural casing (14), a deicer (18) having electrical lines which receive a supply of electrical power from an onboard power source, and a trip line (20). The trip line (20) is positioned to receive early contact upon impact of the wing by a bird or other foreign object and disruption of the trip line triggers termination of the supply of electrical power to the deicer (18).