How to ice-proof the next generation of aircraft

Science Daily  April 1, 2019
To prevent ice formation on aircraft during flight, current systems utilize the heat generated by burning fuel, but these high-temperature, fuel-dependent systems cannot be used on the proposed all-electric, temperature-sensitive materials of next-generation aircraft. An international team of researchers (China, USA – Iowa State University) has shown that equipment important in controlling landing and takeoff can double-up to control icing based on plasma acutators. When high voltage is applied across electrodes most is converted into heat and the rest is converted into an induced flow or ionic wind over the actuator, so the plasma actuator has both aerodynamic and heat effects. By coupling the aerodynamic and thermal aspects of the plasma actuator, they have provided a completely new method for efficient icing and flow control…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE