Low Cost Electromagnetic De-Icer for Natural Laminar Flow Airfoils

Cirrus Design Corporation

Duluth, MN 
 

Electroexpulsive ice protection system that is compatible with natural laminar flow (NLF) wings and tails

• Developed an electroexpulsive ice protection system on natural laminar flow airfoils without compromising performance and efficiency
• Demonstrated performance with full-scale ice protection models in wind tunnel tests
• Established baseline data from wind tunnel tests

• In 1998 Cirrus Design certified an innovative general aviation airplane, at a cost of $55M to private investors
• Investors have also provided additional funds which resulted in the development and certification of a larger-engine version of the aircraft that incorporates a NLF de-icing system in 2000
• The SBIR subcontractor continues to make improvements on the de-icing system at no expense to Cirrus Design
• The SBIR subcontractor has made sales of products that were a direct result of this SBIR

• NASA application is for part of the General Aviation Revitalization Program
• Military application is for tactical unmanned aerial vehicles
• Commercial application is for tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, which will be used for search and rescue operations, pipe line surveillance and forest fire surveillance

Return to NASA SBIR Success Listings