Design of the Thermoelectric Ice Protection System for a Tiltrotor Application

Abstract

This work presents the methodology and the results of the numerical design of a thermoelectric ice protection system (IPS) for the rotor blade of the Leonardo Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor. The IPS architecture is made up of two systems: a primary and a secondary one (backup). The primary IPS consists of a parting strip in the outer half of the blade, extending from 3% of the chord on the suction side to 4% on the pressure side, coupled with eight de-icing zones extended chordwise until 24.5% on the pressure side, and from 14.5 to 24.5% on the suction side (depending on the zone). The secondary IPS consists of the same parting strip configuration, coupled with a reduced system for the de-icing zones made of four regions, chordwise extended till 10% on the pressure side, and till 13% on the suction side. The parting strip is sized according to the end-user’s geometrical and power constraints, whereas the de-icing zones are sized for achieving the required effective heat flux and operated according to a cyclic timing law. The composite blade is also checked for its capability to sustain the thermal stress from the operation of the IPS.