Conceptualization and Numerical Optimization of an Energy-Efficient Electrothermal Ice Protection System for a Ducted Fan Propeller

Abstract

In-flight icing poses a major risk to the flight safety and operational availability in aviation and particularly to small electric aircraft. One suitable ice protection system (IPS) concept is the electrothermal IPS, however, it often suffers from high power consumption if not properly optimized. Ducted fans are a promising propulsion technology for urban air mobility applications, but effective IPS for ducted fan propellers are rare so far. This work thus presents a framework for the development of an energy-efficient electrothermal IPS for the application on an off-the-shelf ducted fan propeller. Three-dimensional ice accretion simulations of the ducted fan assembly were performed under centrifugal loads using the commercial icing simulation code ANSYS® FENSAP-ICE-TURBO™ and the most critical areas for ice accretion on the ducted fan were identified. On the basis of the ice accretion simulations, the expected performance change of the ducted fan due to ice accretion on the rotor blades was evaluated. Placement and activation of the heating elements on the rotor blades were investigated and optimized using a one-dimensional electrothermal de-icing solver.