YIP Active and Passive De-icing Protection Systems based on Ice-responsive Metamaterials
Abstract
The proposed research aims to develop a new platform of active and passive anti-icing and de-icing mechanisms based on reconfigurable ice-responsive metamaterials. This unique strategy will enable the reduction and prevention of ice accretion on the air cycle machine (ACM) condenser of aircraft environmental control systems (ECS) which is exposed to extreme thermal conditions. Aircrafts refrigeration units, also called ACM, represent an important component of the ECS which provides air supply, thermal control, and cabin pressurization for the crew and passengers. In the ACM, the cooling and reheating of the bleed air is performed by a plate-fin heat exchanger in cross flow configuration, named the condenser. The ACM condenser is subjected to frosting issues, and, in turn, this affects the ACM performance increasing thermal resistance and pressure drop. To address this ice formation issue, several approaches have been proposed. One strategy is introducing icephobic coatings on the fin designs. However, this strategy shows some challenges because the durability and degradation of icephobic surfaces are highly impacted by erosion stress, mechanical abrasion, thermal cycling, accelerated corrosion, and ageing.To overcome current limitations in the design of anti/de-icing systems, a more reliable and tunable mechanical platform able to sense and respond to different ice formations is needed. In this framework, mechanical metamaterials with their unique properties represent an untapped potential to unlock next-generation anti/de-icing strategies. The proposed research aims to leverage shape-shifting metamaterials to embed passive and active anti/de-icing mechanisms in aircrafts ACM#s condenser. A new class of multistable metamaterials, named meta-fins, with tunable dynamic properties will be designed to sense water film buildups and shed ice formations at their inception.A combination of numerical and experimental methods will be used to achieve the following research tasks: (i) developing metastable thermoresponsive meta-fins with tunable properties to be integrated in condenser#s fin surfaces, (ii) enabling mechanosensing capabilities to recognize ice-coating signatures and trigger ice-shedding through transition waves, (iii) integrating external energy inputs to control meta-fins# reconfigurations as a function of the condenser performances, (iv) optimizing the meta-fins# distribution and ice-shedding characteristics by introducing a I-SMART (Ice-Safe Model Adversarial Regression Tree) machine learning algorithm and validating the anti/de-icing performances in wind tunnel tests.To guarantee fail-safe anti/de-icing solutions in future aircraft, a hybrid approach will be proposed to integrate passive ice-responsive metamaterials with active low-energy actuation systems. The combination of active and passive mechanisms will enable us to sense ice formationsand shed small ice fragments at a high frequency with low energy inputs. Avoiding the shedding of large ice pieces will prevent adverse effects on surrounding control elements. Thanks to low-power consumption, low maintenance and cost, and instant actuation, the proposed anti/de-icing meta-fins will pave the way for augmented performances of aircrafts ACM#s condenser. Being lightweight, durable, and electronic-free, this ice protection system is ideal for military applications in extreme environments encompassing aerospace and maritime operations.Approved for Public Release.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 12, 2025
- Source ID
- N000142512215
Entities
People
- Eleonora Tubaldi
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Maryland