166 results about "Ice accretion" patented technology

A de-icing and anti-icing arrangement for a Wind Energy Converting System (WECS), a WECS comprising a de-icing and anti-icing arrangement and a method for preventing and eliminating ice accretion on the rotor blades of a WECS are provided. The WECS comprises a tower, a rotor having a plurality of blades that rotate due to wind force, a nacelle including a first means for transforming the rotor's rotational movement to electric power, and a second means for permitting the flow of fluid from volumes defined by the rotor blades, the rotor blades comprising an external surface having openings in fluid connection with the volumes inside the blades for permitting the flow of fluid to the outside of the blades to fluid-thermodynamically interact with the wind hitting the part of the blade surface, and thereby prevent or eliminate the accretion of ice on the external surface of the blade.

A de-icing and anti-icing arrangement for a Wind Energy Converting System (WECS), a WECS comprising a de-icing and anti-icing arrangement and a method for preventing and eliminating ice accretion on the rotor blades of a WECS are provided. The WECS comprises a tower, a rotor having a plurality of blades that rotate due to wind force, a nacelle including a first means for transforming the rotor's rotational movement to electric power, and a second means for permitting the flow of fluid from volumes defined by the rotor blades, the rotor blades comprising an external surface having openings in fluid connection with the volumes inside the blades for permitting the flow of fluid to the outside of the blades to fluid-thermodynamically interact with the wind hitting the part of the blade surface, and thereby prevent or eliminate the accretion of ice on the external surface of the blade.

A dual channel inflight ice detection system to detect ice accretion on an aircraft surface by illuminating an ice collecting surface mounted on an aircraft with linear polarized light. The backscattered light is acquired in two light conductors one with polarization sensitivity aligned to the transmitted light and the second with polarization sensitivity orthogonal to the first. The presence of ice is determined by the change in the ratio of light intensities in the two light conductors.

An environment analogue means for surface freezing of airplanes on ground. The means comprised an experiment case and a suspension positioning device installed inside or outside of the experiment case, an air cycling device, a spray system, an ice clearing liquid spray system, an illumination system, a refrigeration system, a data acquisition system and a control system. The invention provided environment analogue means for surface freezing of airplanes on ground can simulate freezing weather condition of natural environment in truth, Observing processes of ice increasing, ice melting and iceclearing liquid spraying on airplane surface, Thereby rules of icing on airplane surface in different weather condition can be obtained, Which can provide experiment basis for research of airplane surface icing and airplane surface ice proofing / deicing, Finally improving security and high effectiveness of airplane operation in icing weather condition.

A total air temperature (TAT) probe for measuring TAT includes an inlet scoop which receives airflow from free stream airflow moving toward the inlet scoop from a first direction. A first portion of the airflow entering the inlet scoop exits the probe through a main exit channel. A second portion of the airflow enters a TAT sensor flow passage, which extends longitudinally along an axis. This axis is oriented to form an angle of less than 90 degrees with the first direction from which the free stream airflow moves toward the inlet scoop. A sensor assembly extends longitudinally in the sensor flow passage and measures a total air temperature of airflow through the sensor flow passage. By increasing the angle through which the internal air turns, better inertial extraction of ice and water particles is realized. As a result, sensor clogging from accreted ice is significantly reduced. A second improvement is achieved by repositioning the sensor element to be more in-line with the internal airflow direction. This helps lower DHE by minimizing heated boundary layer spillage onto the sensing element.

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for mitigating ice throw from one or more rotor blades of a wind turbine during operation. The method includes monitoring one or more ice-related parameters of the wind turbine. Thus, the ice-related parameters are indicative of ice accumulation on one or more of the rotor blades. In response to detecting ice accumulation, the method also includes implementing an ice protection control strategy. More specifically, the ice protection control strategy includes determining a yaw position of the wind turbine and determining at least one of a power set point or a speed set point for the wind turbine based on the yaw position.

A method and an apparatus for de-icing aerial cables are provided. The cable is gripped and slowly twisted for a predetermined number of turns within the elastic domain of deformation of the cable. Mechanical elastic energy is therefore accumulated in the cable. The cable is then released and untwisted under the spring back effect, releasing the energy accumulated therein which breaks and shakes off the ice accumulated on the cable.

Systems and methods for determining a power disruption index indicative that provides subscribers with a forecast of weather conditions that are likely to cause interruptions to power distributions systems within their specific areas of service. The Power Disruption Index (PDI), is a calculation of a number of forecast weather parameters including severe thunderstorm probabilities and intensities, wind speeds, wind gusts, and snowfall and ice accretion. The index combines each of these input parameters with a specific weighting based on the forecast intensity of each of the parameters, along with alert threshold criteria provided by each client utility. The output PDI is a forecast of local weather conditions for a specific local service area or power distribution network.

Ice accretion on a probe is detected by determining the change of frequency of a vibrating type ice detector or sensor as ice starts to build up. The rate of change of frequency is determined and is combined with parameters including air velocity and air temperature for providing a signal that indicates liquid water content in the airflow as well as ice accretion on the ice detector.

The invention discloses a system and a method for predicting ice accretion on the surface of an aircraft through rolling forecast within a short time. The system comprises a simulated aircraft aerofoil, a sensor system, a data acquisition system and a computer system, wherein the simulated aircraft aerofoil is arranged on an aircraft surface ice accretion monitoring site on the ground; the sensor system is arranged on the simulated aircraft aerofoil and the aircraft surface ice accretion monitoring site; and a sensor is connected with the computer system through the data acquisition system. By the method and the system for predicting the ice accretion of the aircraft on the ground within a short time, meteorological data, ice accretion data and other factors are used as input of a mathematical model capable of predicting the ice accretion on the surface of the aircraft on the ground, the ice accretion thickness in the future several hours is acquired by a rolling forecast algorithm of a support vector machine capable of optimizing parameters by a genetic algorithm, the ice accretion on the surface of the aircraft on the ground can be monitored and warned in real time, and abundant time can be provided for scheduling the ice accretion in an airport. In addition, the method has the advantages of accurate prediction information, high practicability and the like.

A wind turbine blade ice accretion detector 65 is configured to receive an indication of power generated by a wind turbine 67 and an indication of a plurality of environmental conditions of the wind turbine 69. It is also configured to receive an indication of an error relating to the operation of the wind turbine 71. These indications are processed by the detector 65 to provide an indication of ice accretion of a wind turbine blade. In addition to or as an alternative, the wind turbine blade ice accretion detector 65 is configured to receive an indication of power generated by a wind turbine 67 in a plurality of different time periods and an indication of a plurality of environmental conditions of the wind turbine 69 in the plurality of different time periods; and to process these to provide an indication of ice accretion of a wind turbine blade.

The accretion of ice on an aerodynamic surface is predicted by identifying predetermined atmospheric parameters relevant to ice formation in a particular fluid environment. Then the behaviour of individual fluid elements is simulated based on the identified parameters to create a model of the ice accretion.

The invention provides a method utilizing an OPGW redundant cable to solve cross sensitivity existing in optical fiber Brillouin scattering monitoring, and belongs to the technical field of photoelectronic measurement. An optical fiber Brillouin scattering demodulation analyzer is connected with the optical fiber core of an OPGW. Only temperature changes can cause the Brillouin scattering frequency shift of the OPGW redundant cable on an electric power iron tower, and ice accretion, wind blowing and other external stress factors cannot cause the Brillouin scattering frequency shift. Temperature compensation is carried out on a Brillouin scattering monitor technology through the OPGW redundant cable, the temperature and strain information of the overhead OPGW is demodulated out, the running state of the OPGW is reflected through the temperature and strain information of the OPGW, and the failure point of the OPGW is located through a Brillouin scattering sensor technology. The temperature complementation is carried out by utilizing the OPGW redundant cable on the electric power iron tower, the temperature and the strain along the OPGW are monitored, and the on-line monitor of the running state of the OPGW can be achieved.

A dual channel inflight ice detection system to detect ice accretion on an aircraft surface by illuminating an ice collecting surface mounted on an aircraft with linear polarized light. The backscattered light is acquired in two light conductors one with polarization sensitivity aligned to the transmitted light and the second with polarization sensitivity orthogonal to the first. The presence of ice is determined by the change in the ratio of light intensities in the two light conductors.

The invention relates to an airport road surface ice accretion early warning system and an early warning method thereof. The system is composed of a data acquisition and monitoring center and a data center; the data acquisition and monitoring center includes a wind speed sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a road surface temperature and humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a signal conditioning board, a protocol conversion module, a first wireless communication module, a router, a man-machine interaction interface, an icing early warning device and a monitoring terminal; and the data center includes a second wireless communication module, an Internet network, an airport base station server and a mobile terminal. The airport road surface ice accretion early warning system and the early warning method thereof of the invention have wireless data transmission, mobile terminal on-site monitoring and ice accretion early warning functions. According to the airport road surface ice accretion early warning system and the early warning method thereof of the invention, probabilistic prediction for field road surface ice accretion conditions can be realized through using temperature and ice accretion models and according to the local temperature, road surface relative humidity, wind speed and road surface and internal temperature of an airport, and therefore, early warning signals can be accurately emitted to ground dispatchers and ground supporting personnel, and preparations for de-icing operation can be made.

The invention relates to a freezing detector and belongs to the technical field of freezing detection. The freezing detector comprises a freezing component, at least one vision sensor and a controller, the freezing component comprises a freezing rod with an ice accretion surface and a support structure, and the freezing rod is constructed into a streamlined wing structure and extends into air current from the support structure; the vision sensor is arranged to be an image which can acquire the ice accretion surface; and the controller is electrically connected with the vision sensor and comprises an image comparison module for comparing the acquired image with an initial image so as to judge whether the ice accretion surface of the freezing rod is frozen. According to the freezing detector, moving components are absent, and the reliability of image based judgment is high; and simultaneously, by means of the streamlined wing structure of the freezing rod, the ice accretion surface is provided with small pressure coefficients and large water collection coefficients, the freezing rod can faster and earlier freeze, and time for giving freezing warning can be brought forward.

A wind turbine blade ice accretion detector 65 is configured to receive an indication of power generated by a wind turbine 67 and an indication of a plurality of environmental conditions of the wind turbine 69. It is also configured to receive an indication of an error relating to the operation of the wind turbine 71. These indications are processed by the detector 65 to provide an indication of ice accretion of a wind turbine blade. In addition to or as an alternative, the wind turbine blade ice accretion detector 65 is configured to receive an indication of power generated by a wind turbine 67 in a plurality of different time periods and an indication of a plurality of environmental conditions of the wind turbine 69 in the plurality of different time periods; and to process these to provide an indication of ice accretion of a wind turbine blade.

The present invention discloses a pavement water accumulation and ice accumulation detection method and an apparatus thereof. The method comprises: acquiring a first pavement image picture of a pavement positioned in an imaging range, wherein the first pavement image picture is captured by a first camera through a horizontal polarizer; acquiring a second pavement image picture of the pavement positioned in the imaging range, wherein the second pavement image picture is captured by a second camera through a vertical polarizer, wherein the imaging plane of an image sensor (CCD) of the second camera and the imaging plane of an CCD of the first camera are coplanar, and a distance between the second camera and the first camera does not exceed a predetermined value; and determining whether difference between brightness of the first pavement image picture and brightness of the second pavement image picture is larger than a predetermined brightness range, wherein the case that water accumulation or ice accumulation exists on the pavement positioned in the imaging range is determined if the difference between the brightness is larger than the predetermined brightness range. The apparatus can be promoted in the existing pavement detection camera, and has advantages of simple modification, low modification cost, and no influence on the original system.

A method of providing a watercraft, especially an icebreaker or a cargo ship, tanker or similar transport vessel, with improved ice penetration characteristics and a watercraft manufactured according to the method, which watercraft has a hull (1) with a first end (2) and a second end (3) and which is equipped at said second end with a propulsion arrangement, which provides the main propulsive thrust of the watercraft, while the watercraft moves with either end ahead, and the steering of the watercraft, whereby said second end (3) of the watercraft is shaped and designed so that it, as such, has efficient ice penetration characteristics. Said propulsion arrangement is chosen so as to include at least three propulsion devices, at least the majority of which are rudder propeller devices (4) and which are arranged at least at two different distances from said second end (3) of the watercraft so that when the watercraft moves in ice or ice build-ups said second end (3) ahead, the propeller with one or more propulsion devices located near said second end (3) of the watercraft is arranged to break ice and the propeller with one or more propulsion devices located farther away from said second end (3) of the watercraft is arranged to remove disintegrated ice or ice chunks away from the ice build-up.

Aerofoils (22) of a gas turbine engine are provided with a coating (34) or filler (44) of viscoelastic material. As ice accretes on the aerofoils (22) during operation, the resulting aerodynamic stability imbalance induces vibration in the aerofoils (22). The viscoelastic material (34, 44) damps this vibration, and in so doing generates heat, which melts the ice away from the aerofoils (22). Heat-conducting members conduct the heat to regions of the component in which ice accretion is to be prevented. Alternative embodiments are described in which the pseudoelastic behaviour of a shape memory alloy (56), or eddy currents arising from the rotor blades' rotation in an axisymmetric magnetic field, are used as sources of heat.

An aircraft tail surface (11), such as a horizontal tail plane or a vertical tail plane, comprising a leading edge (14) having in at least a section along the tail span an undulated shape formed by a continuous series of smooth protrusions (17) and recesses (19) so that, in icing conditions, the ice accretion is produced only on the peaks (18) of said protrusions (17) and on the bottoms (20) of said recesses (19), thereby creating a channeled airflow and an arrangement of air vortices which impart energy to the airflow in the aerofoil boundary layer which delay the airflow separation that causes the stall, thus reducing the detrimental effects of ice accretion in its aerodynamic performance.

An ice buildup inhibitor is disclosed useful for preventing ice damming, in particular in conjunction with the use of a closed gutter. Heat escape through a roof made warm snow pack, causing it to melt and flow down toward the gutter. After moving away from the heated roof, the water may re-freeze and form an ice dam. In the ice buildup inhibitor may be configured to warm in the closed gutter, thereby preventing the formation of an ice dam. They ice buildup inhibitor may be configured to be easily installed onto an existing closed gutter, enabling responsive installation on only those homes experiencing ice damming.

A method of minimizing ice buildup on a windshield of a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) monitoring a state of the vehicle; (b) determining a state of the windshield wiper; (c) determining an ambient temperature of the vehicle; and (d) initiating a timer when the state of the vehicle changes from an on state if the ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature and the state of the windshield wiper prior to the vehicle changing to the off state is an on state, and turning the windshield wiper to the on state after a period of time. The windshield wiper may remain on at least through a full cycle from a park zone, to a fully extended position, and back to the park zone. The wiper may remain on for a predetermined period of time determined based upon the ambient temperature or other condition.

The present invention concerns a method of operating a wind power installation comprising a pod with an electric generator for generating electric current and an aerodynamic rotor coupled to the generator and having one or more rotor blades, including the steps: operating the wind power installation when ice accretion on the rotor blades can be certainly excluded, and stopping the wind power installation when ice accretion on the rotor blades is detected, and time-delayed stoppage or prevention of restarting of the wind power installation when an ice accretion was not detected but is to be expected, and / or time-delayed resumption of operation of the wind power installation when a stoppage condition which led to stoppage of the wind power installation has disappeared again and ice accretion was not detected and ice accretion or the formation of an ice accretion is not to be expected.

A flight display for an aircraft includes a virtual ice accretion meter having a liquid water content portion and an ice thickness portion. A method for determining ice accretion includes integrating over a time period a constant K multiplied by a liquid water content (LWC) and true airspeed (TAS).

Disclosed is a vehicle skid recovery system, which is able to accelerate skid recovery, when an automotive vehicle begins to skid as a result of ice accumulation on the road surface. The embodiments control operation of ice removers (e.g., blades or heaters), which are mounted within the wheel wells forward of the wheel, based on information received from the vehicle's outside temperature sensor and anti-lock braking system (ABS). When the temperature sensor indicates that the outside temperature is below a predetermined temperature (e.g., below freezing) and when the anti-lock braking system is activated as a result of detected skid, a controller activates the ice remover in one or more of the wheel wells and, thereby cause the ice remover to remove ice from the road surface forward of the corresponding wheel. Clearing the ice allows the vehicle's tires to gain traction on the road surface and, thereby stops the skid.

An ice detector includes an icing assembly that includes a transparent icing rod with an illuminating element is disposed therein and having an ice accretion surface and a support structure. The icing rod has at least one visual sensor configured to obtain an image of the ice accretion surface; a controller electrically connected to the visual sensor and including an image contrast module configured to compare the obtained image with an initial image so as to judge whether ice is formed on the ice accretion surface of the icing rod. The icing assembly includes a refrigerating element respectively connected to the icing rod and the support structure. The refrigerating element may perform active refrigeration for the icing rod, reduce the surface temperature of the icing rod and facilitate the ice detector detecting ice accretion before ice is formed on a wing / nacelle.

There is provided an ice protection system for a rotary aircraft, including a rotor blade susceptible to an ice buildup having an inboard portion and an outboard portion, the length of the inboard portion and the length of the outboard portion define a total length of the rotor blade; a first deicing system coupled to the inboard portion of the rotor blade, the first deicing system including a plurality of spanwise zones; and a second deicing system coupled to the outboard portion of the rotor blade, the second deicing system including a plurality of chordwise zones. In one aspect, there is provided a deicing system for a rotary aircraft. In another aspect, there is a method to de-ice a rotor blade of an aircraft.