Ice detector and deicing fluid effectiveness monitoring system

Link to Full Patent:
US5,523,959

Objective

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration seeks companies to license its patented Ice Detector and Deicing Fluid Effectiveness Monitoring System (US Patent Number 5,523,959) developed originally for aircraft. The accumulation of ice on any lifting or control surface of an aircraft can lead to loss of control, with potentially disastrous results. In flight, it is critical for an aircraft to have an ice detection system to sense the buildup of ice and to warn the flight crew so that corrective actions may be taken. On the ground it is important to prevent the buildup of ice during conditions of snow and freezing rain by applying deicing fluids to aircraft prior to takeoff. Deicing fluids are environmentally hazardous and should be used only in quantities sufficient to insure safety of the aircraft and no more.

Product Profile

Researchers at NASA have developed a new system that provides an in-flight ice detection and warning system along with a means to monitor the effectiveness of deicing fluid used on aircraft on the ground. The ice detector subsystem provides an early indication of ice accumulation on aircraft control surfaces during flight, enabling the flight crew to make a timely correction before the ice becomes dangerously thick. NASA's ice detection system permits monitoring of large areas of aircraft surfaces, unlike other ice detectors that are limited to monitoring small, localized surface areas.

The deicing fluid effectiveness monitoring subsystem is best suited for use on the ground to alert flight and ground crews of the possible loss of effectiveness of the deicing fluid. The effectiveness of deicing fluid is directly related to its concentration or strength. NASA's system monitors the dilution of the deicing fluid and provides a warning to flight and ground crews when it is losing effectiveness. The system permits ground crews to predict future effectiveness of the deicing fluid on the aircraft surface so that they can use just the right amount to insure safety. This prevents overuse of the deicing fluid and avoids unnecessary environmental harm.

Benefits

• System detects ice at user-specified levels
• Provides warning when ice accumulation exceeds specified threshold
• Monitors large areas of aircraft surfaces for ice buildup
• Reduces potential for environmental pollution by preventing use of excess deicing fluid
• Saves money due to use of precisely the right amount of deicing fluid
• Provides visible and audible alarm when conditions exceed acceptable limits

Potential Commercial Uses

The NASA Ice Detector and Deicing Fluid Effectiveness Monitoring System is suitable for the following commercial applications:

• Commercial airline operations (passenger, cargo)
• Military aircraft
• General aviation aircraft
• Helicopters
• Road, highway and driveway surface monitoring
• Sidewalk and parking lot surface monitoring

• Commercial refrigeration and industrial processes involving low temperatures
  

Technical Basics

NASA has a fundamental and chartered interest in aeronautical safety. Ice buildup on aircraft surfaces is a known safety hazard, contributing to loss of aircraft control and death of passengers and crew. NASA's Ice Detector and Deicing Fluid Effectiveness Monitoring System is intended to provide a means for mitigating the hazards of ice accumulation and to allow cost-effective, environmentally sound use of deicing fluid on the ground.

The ice detection subsystem uses a temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple, and an array of inductive ice-sensing electrodes flush-mounted on various aircraft surfaces. The surfaces may include lifting surfaces, control surfaces, engine inlets, helicopter rotors or other surfaces where ice accumulation would have a detrimental effect. The thermocouple determines whether the surface temperature is at or below the freezing point of water and the inductively coupled ice-sensing electrodes determine the presence of water or ice on the surface, and its thickness. The array of ice-sensing electrodes may be laid out in a straight line or in other geometric configurations, such as sinusoidal, circular, zig-zag and others.

The deicing fluid effectiveness subsystem uses a temperature sensor and an array of ionic conduction cells to measure the ionic conductivity of the deicing fluid. Ionic conductivity provides an indication of the level of concentration of the deicing fluid on the aircraft surface. If the concentration is low, the effectiveness of the deicing fluid is reduced and more fluid can be applied. The system includes a set of reference points for calibration and for computer comparison of actual field readings. The computer transmits signals to an audible alarm and a visual display unit when system readings exceed specified reference points.

Technology Commercialization Status

NASA Ames currently seeks to license the Ice Detector and Deicing Fluid Effectiveness Monitoring System technology to U.S. companies interested in developing commercial applications. The technology is described in U.S. Patent #5,523,959 issued to Lee B. Seegmiller on June 4, 1996 and assigned to NASA.

Contact

If your company is interested in this technology please contact:

Marty Zeller
University of Southern California
NASA Far West RTTC
3716 S. Hope St #200
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (213) 743-2927
Fax:  (213) 746-9043
Email: zeller@usc.edu