A de-icing arrangement and method for de-icing a structural element. The arrangement includes at least one electromagnetic actuator, a capacitive storage bank, a control unit arranged to provide an excitation pulse to the at least one electromagnetic actuator, and a charging circuit arranged to charge the capacitive storage bank. The at least one electromagnetic actuator is arranged to expand in at least one direction when fed with the excitation pulse. The at least one electromagnetic actuator is placed in relation to the structural element so as to apply a mechanical force caused by the expansion on the structural element. The capacitive storage bank includes a plurality of selectable capacitors of different size. The control unit is arranged to select at least one capacitor for charging having a size such that current discharge of the capacitive storage bank into the at least one electromagnetic actuator generates a desired distribution between heat and mechanical power.

A de-icing arrangement and a method for de-icing a structural element. The de-icing arrangement includes at least one electromagnetic actuator, a capacitive storage bank, a control unit arranged to provide an excitation pulse to the at least one electromagnetic actuator, and a charging circuit arranged to charge the capacitive storage bank. The at least one electromagnetic actuator is arranged to expand in at least one direction when fed with the excitation pulse. The at least one electromagnetic actuator is arranged in relation to the structural element so as to apply a mechanical force caused by the expansion on the structural element. The control unit is arranged to control cutoff of current discharge of the capacitive storage bank into the at least one electromagnetic actuator so as to abort the excitation pulse at a predetermined timing after start of the excitation pulse.

A de-icing system for a hemispherical protective housing mounted on an aircraft structure is described. The system can include a series of piezo-electric devices mounted at the boundary of the housing. The piezo-electric devices generate ultrasonic frequencies and resonance of the protective housing is induced. One of the piezo-electric devices senses the frequency generated in the protective housing and acts as part of a feedback loop to maintain structural resonance of the protective housing. The structural resonance of the protective housing prevents the build-up of ice. Additionally, higher power resonances can be generated to remove ice already built up on the protective housing. The system also enables detection of ice build-up on the protective housing by monitoring any change in the frequency required to maintain structural resonance of the protective housing.

A device has a piezoelectric or ferroelectric substrate on which ice is deposited. Electrodes are connected to the substrate. A vector network analyzer is connected to the electrodes and configured to determine the resonant frequency of the substrate. An excitation module including a function generator communicates with the vector network analyzer and is connected to an amplifier. The amplifier is connected to the electrodes. The excitation module uses an automatic switch to apply to the electrodes an AC electrical signal having a frequency coinciding with the resonant frequency measured in the vector network analyzer and which changes gradually as the ice melts.

A microelectronic module for cleaning a surface is described. The microelectronic module comprises at least one voltage converter for converting a provided first voltage into a higher, lower, or identical second voltage. The module also comprises at least one actuator. The actuator comprises at least one generator for generating an ionic current, an electrical plasma, harmonic components and/or an electrostatic field from the second voltage which is provided by the voltage converter. At least the voltage converter and the actuator are disposed on a thin-film, planar substrate. At least most of at least one object adhering to the surface is removed by the actuator.

An aircraft may include a fuselage, and a moisture accumulation prevention system that prevents moisture from accumulating on at least one structure within the fuselage. The moisture accumulation prevention system includes at least one ultrasonic element coupled to the structure(s). The ultrasonic element(s) operates at a frequency that prevents moisture particles from adhering to a surface of the structure(s).

The present invention relates to a de-icing arrangement for de-icing a structural element {170; 270; 370). The structural element could be made of a whole polymeric or metallic material. The arrangement comprises a power source (250) being electrically connected to an electrode configuration (200), said power source is arranged to, when applicable, electrically charge said electrode configuration (200). The electrode configuration (200) is arranged to generate an impulsive force (Fn) for removal of ice adhered on said structural element (170; 270; 370). The invention relates to a method for de-icing a structural element. The invention also relates to a computer program and a computer program product. The invention also relates to a platform carrying the arrangement.

A de-icing system which includes actuators attached to the part; and a device for controlling the actuators in order to vibrate the part. The control device is designed for the following, the actuators being divided into a plurality of groups: to control the actuators of a first one of the groups in order to establish a resonant frequency of the part; then to control the actuators of a second one of the groups in order to establish a resonant frequency of the part and, in parallel, to control the actuators of the first group in order to de-ice the part by vibrating it, using the resonant frequency established with this first group.

A piezoelectric deicing system is disclosed herein. The piezoelectric deicing system includes a flexible piezoelectric patch array including a plurality of piezoelectric devices, the plurality of piezoelectric devices configured to vibrate in response to a voltage applied at a frequency, an protective material surrounding the flexible piezoelectric patch array, wherein the protective material and the flexible piezoelectric patch array are configured to conform to a surface, and a controller operatively coupled to each of the plurality of piezoelectric devices, wherein the controller is configured to operate the plurality of piezoelectric devices over a frequency range for a period of time, the frequency applied to each of the plurality of piezoelectric devices changing by a sweep rate.

A hybrid deicing system is disclosed herein. The hybrid deicing system includes a first deicing system coupled to a high critical zone of a control surface, the first deicing system providing thermal energy to the high critical zone of the control surface to remove ice from the control surface, a second deicing system coupled to a low critical zone of the control surface, the second deicing system configured to vibrate the control surface to remove ice from the control surface, and a controller configured to control the first deicing system and the second deicing system.