ANTI ICE AND DE-

ICING SYSTEMS
OF AIRCRAFT
PNEUMATIC DE-ICING BOOTS

• The pneumatic boot is usually made of layers of rubber, with one or more air chambers
between the layers. If multiple chambers are used, they are typically shaped as stripes aligned
with the long direction of the boot.
• It is typically placed on the leading edge of an aircraft's wings and stabilizers. The chambers are
rapidly inflated and deflated, either simultaneously, or in a pattern of specific chambers only.
• The rapid change in shape of the boot is designed to break the adhesive force between the ice
and the rubber, and allow the ice to be carried away by the relative wind flowing past the
aircraft.
ELECTRO-THERMAL

• Use resistive circuits buried in the airframe structure to generate heat when a current is
applied. The heat can be generated continuously to protect the aircraft from icing (anti-ice
mode), or intermittently to shed ice as it accretes on key surfaces (de-ice).
• De-ice operation is generally preferred due to the lower power consumption, as the system
only needs to melt the contact layer of ice for the wind-shear to shed the remainder.
BLEED AIR

• the method used by most larger jet aircraft to keep flight surfaces above the freezing
temperature required for ice to accumulate.
• The hot air is "bled" off the jet engine into piccolo tubes routed through wings, tail surfaces,
and engine inlets. The spent bleed air is exhausted through holes in the lower surface of the
wing.
ELECTRO-MECHANICAL

• Use a mechanical force to knock the ice off the flight surface. Typically, actuators are installed
underneath the skin of the structure.
• The actuator is moved to induce a shock wave in the protected surface to dislodge the ice.
PASSIVE

• Passive systems employ hydrophobic surfaces. Appropriately designed textiles, characterized by

a high level of water resistance and a natural self-cleaning effect can repel water, thereby
eliminating ice build-up.
ROTARY-SURFACE ICING

• Ice can also accumulate on helicopter rotor blades and aircraft propellers.
• The accretion causes weight and aerodynamic imbalances that are amplified due to the rapid
rotation of the propeller or rotor.
ENGINE-INLET ICING

• Ice accumulation on the leading edge (lip) of engine inlets causes flow problems and can lead
to ice ingestion. In turbofan engines, laminar airflow is required at the face of the fan.
• Because of this, most engine ice protection systems are anti-ice systems (prevent build up).
ICEPHOBIC MATERIALS

• In order to minimize ice accretion on the various surfaces of the aircraft, researchers have
during the course of history sought to find icephobic materials for usage in aeronautical
applications.
• Examples of such materials are carbon nanotubes and slippery liquid infused porous
surfaces (SLIPS).
WEEPING-WING

• A chemical aircraft airborne ice protection system wherein a glycol-based chemical is released
onto the wing surface using small orifices on the leading edge of the wing.
• This system provides both ice formation prevention (anti-ice) and removal of ice which has
already formed (de-ice).