< Back to previous page

Project

Fighting icing (Fighting icing)

Summary

Fighting icing project is translating the state of the art knowledge and solutions to detect, prevent and mitigate icing problems in various applications to structured and concrete methodologies for implementations. Specific attention is given to the atmospheric icing in low and moderate temperate climates such as in Belgium and similar regions. This is done by recreating the relevant icing events in a laboratory environment, by testing and evaluating the state of the art ice and no-ice detection methods, and by evaluating anti-icing or de-icing surfaces (i.e. coatings and laser texturing) for these conditions. At the end of the project, a synthesis of the optimum solutions against icing issues are provided.

Context

Icing events causes performance loss, material degradation and can create safety issues in many systems and applications. Especially in polar regions where severe icing occurs frequently, but also in Belgium where icing events are less frequent however still a concern to different industries such as the wind energy and aerospace, the optimal response to icing represents a significant economic value. Recent technological developments (e.g. sensors, IOT, machine learning algorithms, anti-ice coatings and surface treatments) have made new solutions available for detecting, preventing or removing ice . However, many companies are struggling to adequately and cost effectively cover the icing aspect when developing, validating or using their ice-sensitive systems. This is mostly due to the fact that the solutions developed for polar climates or heavily iced regions in the world are often not applicable or not economically optimal in low or moderate icing climates. For this reason our region needs new tailored technological solutions to mitigate and ‘fight’ the risk of icing.


Goals


In this project Sirris will built up knowledge and develop solutions to mitigate icing problems that are implementable by the companies in different industries in the following domains:


  1. Building a deeper understanding of the creation and prevention of ice and its impact by investigating different ice types and icing events with its associated risks, listing the certification standards relevant to icing and evaluating the icing impact particularly on the energy production of wind turbines

  2. Assessment of solutions for ice and/or no-ice detection sensors, measurement concepts and data processing and validation in the laboratory environment, including their reliability.

  3. Knowledge about the application of anti-icing or de-icing surfaces by investigating coatings and texturing in terms of their technical and economical performance, compatibility with different substrates, full validations of these.

  4. Method and infrastructure for accelerated and cost effective icing tests on real scale.

  5. Integrated approach to optimal icing management presented on selected demonstrators. 

Sirris is also partnering up with the universities (VUB, KU Leuven and University of Antwerp) to further explore the suitability of their beyond-the-state-of-the-art solutions that would be ready to be implemented by industry in the short term.





Date:1 Feb 2020 →  31 Jan 2023
Keywords:Icing, Coatings
Disciplines:Materials science and engineering not elsewhere classified
Project type:Service project
Results:

Ice adhesion testing methodology with a database of anti-ice coatings evaluation results including heatable coatings:

14 different anti-icing solutions (+ Bare Al) and one heatable coating were tested and evaluated using icing testing methodology in Sirris’ large climatic facility. The methodology provides unique insights in the effectivity and the durability of the coatings which are normally not evaluated together. Several opportunities from different companies are currently under discussion both in terms of applications and in terms of using the methodology to assess for their own solutions. Furthermore, heatable coating testing and results obtained innovation award during the winterwind conference in Sweden in 2023. 

Ice detection sensors tested and demonstrated in the Sirris’ large climatic facility

Five different ice detection methods were demonstrated in Sirris large climatic facility on a wind turbine blade located under the nozzle array system developed for icing tests and on a mock-up of aircraft fuel tank. Going through various states of water spray/icing/melting phases, it was possible to evaluate different ice detection methods. Especially the solutions from VUB and KU Leuven have been put in conference publications and followed up with peer reviewed articles.

During the project, 21 company cases have been realized and currently 40 cases are being followed up.