OnWings
ON Wing Ice DetectioN and MonitorinG System
Collaborative projects
Call identifier: FP7- AAT- 2008- RTD-1
Although aviation safety has improved over recent years, one key area still remains a major cause for concern: icing. Icing conditions are part of a complex atmospheric phenomenon experienced by aircraft flying through moist cold air, resulting in the accumulation of ice on the leading edges of the aircraft. This causes a significant change in the aerodynamic performance of the aerofoil, reducing lift, changing the aircraft handling characteristics, and can be difficult to predict, and thus to train pilots for taking corrective action.
The initial objective of the programme is to produce a robust fixed point optical ice detector sensor whilst the ultimate objective of the programme is to develop and demonstrate sensor technology that is fully integrated into an ice protection system mounted into a composite structure and offering real time control. To this end the ON-WINGS project is to specify, design, develop and integrate a smart air-conformal point ice sensor, capable of detecting:
a) onset of icing,
b) ice presence, and at a later stage,
c) ice thickness.
The sensing system will be made “smart” using dedicated algorithms, and will be integrated in a representative wing-slat together with composite electro-thermal zone heaters.
A second phase of advanced sensing concepts will develop a multi-zone based system, each with its dedicated sensor, and control electronics. The system will form an autonomous de-icing system and will be tested in the icing tunnel on a representative coupon. The specifications, design development and icing tunnel testing programme, as well as the analysis of the results, will require full end-user participation.
Part of the advanced concepts will be:
a) To use the point ice sensor to investigate parameters for detecting ice thickness, and roughness.
b) To specify, design and develop a quasi-distributed fibre optic ice sensor which will be integrated in wing-slat coupon with electro-thermal heating capable of detecting the presence of ice at a multitude of points.
Another aspect to the project is health monitoring, and in particular distributed temperature sensing of the heating zones using fibre optics. The heat monitoring system will provide feedback to the electrothermal control system, and protect the composite substructure from any adverse thermal influences As part of the advance concepts a “threshold” impact detection method will also be investigated with the aim of detecting impacts that may lead to delamination of an electro-thermal ice protection system. Such delamination within the electro-thermal ice protection system may lead to thermal run-away of the heater element itself.