SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION

PROJECT SUMMARY

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27683

Proposal Number:

03.01-0533

Project Title:

A LOW POWER HYBRID ICE PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR AGATE CATEGORY AIRCRAFT

Technical Abstract:

While larger turbojet and turbofan powered aircraft are typically de-iced using bleed air, electrothermal or a combination of those two technologies, lower powered aircraft are typically de-iced using pneumatic de-icers. The primary reasons for using pneumatic de-icing systems are low weight and low power requirements. However pneumatic de-icers typically impose a performance penalty wich will become even more significant on future laminar flow and AGATE category aircraft operating at over 200 kts. Pneumatic de-icers were invented prior to world war II and while they are still being incorporated into new aircraft designs they have many design limitations. Based on recent breakthroughs in low power de-icing technologies at IDI, we propose to design and build a hybrid ice protection system based on Shape Memory Alloy and electro- magnetic de-icing actuators, which are suitable for incorporation into todays high performance laminar flow wings. This approach combines the recently proven Shape Memory Alloy de-icing system which efficiently de-bonds accreted ices, and an efficient electromagnetic system which sheds the debonded ice into the free stream air. A system of the type proposed would enable the efficient de-icing of large surface areas with a very low power requirement. Such a system could be needed to meet future requirements by the FAA for large droplet ice protection. The Phase I effort will emphasize the development of a functional demonstrator. Phase II will center around designing and building a full scale wing cuff system, then testing the wing cuff both in an icing wind tunnel and in flight.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed de-icing system could potentially be offered as a retrofit system to all general aviation aircraft currently equipped with pneumatic de-icing boots. Additionally, resulting improvements in thin-layer ice removal provide substantial enhancements to safety when considering the sensitivity of modern airfoils to thin layers of ice. The market for such a device in lower powered turboprop and general aviation aircraft is substantial. IDI will be teaming with Cox & Company, Inc. and Bell Helicopter Textron for commercialization of the Low Power De-Icing technology during the Phase II and III program (see enclosed letters) .

Name and Address of Offeror:

Innovative Dynamics, Inc.
244 Langmuir Lab
95 Brown Road
Ithaca, NY 14850-1252