SONEWIPS

SONACA Contribution to an Electro-thermal Wing Ice Protection System

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The objective of this proposal is to support Liebherr Aerospace in building up an A320 slat equipped with an electro-thermal solution for wing ice protection system. First step will be to define the top level requirements to be mutually agreed with Liebherr and Airbus. This will be followed by a technological developments phase to evaluate solutions complying with Liebherr and Airbus’s criteria and integrating electrical components in a hybrid lay-up using advanced composite and metallic materials. A technological demonstrator will conclude this activity to freeze manufacturing process and tooling concept. Heating configuration and control strategy will then be defined in collaboration with Liebherr and assessed through an icing wind tunnel test campaign in order to confirm ice protection performances and system efficiency predicted by numerical simulations. Finally, the system architecture will be optimized for 3 different functional modes (A/I only, combined A/I & D/I, and a mode based on power regulation only (External cooling rate survey)). The 3 optimized architecture concepts performances will then be validated through a full scale IWT campaign, for which 3 demonstrators will be designed, manufactured and tested. Final assessment will be done and, even if performance analysis and relevance of an electro-thermal ice protection system is the main purpose of SONACA’s proposal, structural requirements will be briefly considered in order to evaluate viability of considered solutions for potential further research and technological developments. SONACA will use its experience in aircraft system and structure developments to assess developed solutions according to both points of view. The main objective is to imagine what could be the best compromise between system and structural functionalities that could not be reached without a strong integration of them. If conclusive, advice and recommendations will then be provided to give directions for next phases aiming to an increase of technical readiness level of the whole concept.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

In winter, flights are sometimes grounded due to severe weather conditions. An EU-funded project is working to develop a self-heating wing that prevents the formation of ice.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Icing is a major challenge affecting the aviation industry and can lead to delays, stoppages and cancellations during severe weather conditions. To help reduce the likelihood of ice forming on aircraft wings, which can affect an aeroplane's ability to take off and land, the EU-backed 'Sonaca contribution to an electrothermal wing ice protection system' (SONEWIPS) project is working to develop a self-heating wing to avoid the build up of ice.

Financed by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), SONEWIPS' ultimate objective is to develop slats for the Airbus A320 equipped with an electrothermal solution to protect the wing against ice formation. To date, the project has defined the top-level requirements for this electronic wing ice-protection system (eWIPS), as well as the geometry of the A320 slat, the heating mat topology and the electrical power distribution network.

SONEWIPS has also made significant progress in developing the necessary technologies and systems, such as the electrical architecture, heating strategy and the ice-protection device. The project has so far validated many of the prototype components.

Once the project winds up in the autumn of 2015, it is expected that SONEWIPS will have developed and validated an efficient and effective eWIPS system. Further follow-up areas of research include bird impact, reparability and interchangeability.