Ice growth detection and the de-icing using dual functional capacitive sensor

Abstract

Ice detectors are vital for ice mitigation systems, ensuring accurate ice growth measurements across multiple icing-de-icing cycles. Residue ice on the sensor can lead to erroneous readings in subsequent cycles, so its removal is critical to obtain accurate readings. This article presents a novel capacitive ice detector with self-deicing functionality employing nichrome electrodes for both sensing and de-icing. The sensor underwent testing in a cooling chamber for validation. The results confirm the developed ice detector’s ability to quantify ice within 1 to 4 mm with up to 7.5 % error, while the de-icing unit consumes 35 W to remove a 2 mm ice layer in 60 s. Capacitive sensor de-icing can significantly enhance the performance of ice mitigation systems. This research significantly advances ice detection technology by providing a reliable method for accurate ice measurement and removal, offering a valuable foundation for future improvements in the field of ice mitigation systems.