Development of anti-icing airfield pavement using surface-embedded heat wire

Abstract

ABSTRACTSnow and ice pose a significant risk for aircraft ground operation safety. Ploughing and chemical treatment are used for snow removal, but yield long-term detrimental impacts to the airfield infrastructure and environment. A proof-of-concept airfield heated pavement system (AHPS) prototype using near-surface embedded heat wire for pavement anti-icing is presented in this paper. Surface-embedded wires were used to study heat performance and energy warranted to maintain above-freezing slab surface temperatures. This approach concentrated heat energy to the pavement surface. Testing this AHPS prototype contained the following objectives: (1) optimise surface-embedded heat wire configuration, (2) investigate surface temperature distribution and (3) summarise system heating performance in outdoor winter conditions. Preliminary laboratory testing used a 150 mm wire spacing in a serpentine configuration. At this spacing, an energy flux of 142 W/m2 produced a 6°C temperature rise in 6 h in a −14°C freezer chest. Sufficient surface temperature rise was attained in preliminary field-testing during the 2015–2016 winter season using a 213.1–697.5-W/m2 energy range. Using the presented AHPS prototype, a 25-mm layer of crushed ice melted within 1 h during an experimental ice test.