Unsteady Numerical Simulation and Ground Tests of a Tailplane Electrothermal De-Icing System

For the electrothermal de-icing system of an aircraft tailplane, firstly, an unsteady numerical simulation was conducted for understanding of the heating of the skin. Then ground tests in dry air conditions for the electrothermal de-icing system were designed and conducted, where the ambient temperatures were under the freezing point. The results of theoretical calculation show that, under the given conditions, the highest surface temperature of the tailplane electrothermal de-icing system can reach 67°Cand the lowest surface temperature is close to the ambient temperature. Starting from the third heating cycle, the fluctuation of the surface temperature reaches a stationary cycle. The ground tests show that the designed electrothermal de-icing system can meet the design requirements. It takes less than 25 seconds to raise the surface temperature from -20°C to 0°C. The peak surface temperature in the periodical heating cycles is below 80°C, which is lower than the tolerance limit of the skin material.