A flow body for an aircraft is disclosed having a stiffening structure and a flow surface at least partially enclosing the stiffening structure, the flow surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge at a distance to each other in a chordwise direction, the flow body including a first heating device attached to or integrated into the flow surface in a first chordwise section, a second heating device attached to or integrated into the surface body in a second chordwise section. The first chordwise section and the second chordwise section are distanced from each other, the first chordwise section is closer to the leading edge than the second chordwise section, and at least the second heating device comprises an electric heater.

A flow body for an aircraft is disclosed having a stiffening structure and a flow surface at least partially enclosing the stiffening structure, the flow surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge at a distance to each other in a chordwise direction, the flow body including a first heating device attached to or integrated into the flow surface in a first chordwise section, a second heating device attached to or integrated into the surface body in a second chordwise section. The first chordwise section and the second chordwise section are distanced from each other, the first chordwise section is closer to the leading edge than the second chordwise section, and at least the second heating device comprises an electric heater.

A method of monitoring an ice protection system of a rotorcraft or an aircraft includes applying heat to rotating blades of the rotorcraft or the aircraft according to a heater duty cycle and determining an anticipated ice shed time for ice to shed from the rotating blades. Torque of the rotating blades is sensed, and an actual ice shed time for ice to shed from the rotating blades is determined based on the sensed torque. A status of the ice protection system is determined based on the anticipated ice shed time and the actual ice shed time, and the status of the ice protection system is output for consumption by a consuming system.

During a de-ice process, heating zones associated with a rotor may be supplied with power for shedding accreted ice from the heating zone. Priority heating zones associated with the leading edge of the rotor are supplied with power to activate the priority heating zones multiple times during the de-ice process. Heating zones associated with a lower surface of the rotor may be activated after the priority heating zones are first activated. A first dwell may be waited, to allow additional ice accretion on the priority zones. The priority heating zones may then be reactivated after the first dwell. Heating zones associated with an upper surface of the rotor may be then be activated. A second dwell may be waited, to allow additional ice accretion on the priority zones. The de-ice process may then repeat.

During a de-ice process, heating zones associated with a rotor may be supplied with power for shedding accreted ice from the heating zone. Priority heating zones associated with the leading edge of the rotor are supplied with power to activate the priority heating zones multiple times during the de-ice process. Heating zones associated with a lower surface of the rotor may be activated after the priority heating zones are first activated. A first dwell may be waited, to allow additional ice accretion on the priority zones. The priority heating zones may then be reactivated after the first dwell. Heating zones associated with an upper surface of the rotor may be then be activated. A second dwell may be waited, to allow additional ice accretion on the priority zones. The de-ice process may then repeat.

An ice protection system comprises deicing zones each including an envelope defining an ice-protection area. Adjacent envelopes have spanwise edge regions flanking shared interzone borders. The edge regions are provided with nonlinear contours having features which project-and-recess in a direction generally parallel to the airstream direction.

An ice protection system comprises deicing zones each including an envelope defining an ice-protection area. Adjacent envelopes have spanwise edge regions flanking shared interzone borders. The edge regions are provided with nonlinear contours having features which project-and-recess in a direction generally parallel to the airstream direction.

Apparatus and methods for generating electrical power for powering a device associated with a bladed rotor driven by a gas turbine engine of an aircraft are disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotor shaft coupled the bladed rotor of the aircraft and driven by a turbine shaft of the engine via a speed-reducing gear train. A speed-augmenting power transfer device has an input coupled to the rotor shaft and an output for outputting a rotation speed higher than a rotation speed of the rotor shaft received at the input of the speed-augmenting power transfer device. An electric generator disposed in a hub of the bladed rotor is coupled to the output of the speed-augmenting power transfer device and configured to generate electrical power for the device associated with the bladed rotor.

Apparatus and methods for generating electrical power for powering a device associated with a bladed rotor driven by a gas turbine engine of an aircraft are disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotor shaft coupled the bladed rotor of the aircraft and driven by a turbine shaft of the engine via a speed-reducing gear train. A speed-augmenting power transfer device has an input coupled to the rotor shaft and an output for outputting a rotation speed higher than a rotation speed of the rotor shaft received at the input of the speed-augmenting power transfer device. An electric generator disposed in a hub of the bladed rotor is coupled to the output of the speed-augmenting power transfer device and configured to generate electrical power for the device associated with the bladed rotor.

An electrothermal ice protection system (IPS) installed on an aircraft includes a sensor, a parting strip assembly, and a controller. The sensor monitors a direction of a local incident airflow that is imparted on the sensor. The parting strip assembly is coupled to the critical surface and includes a plurality of heating sections. The controller is in signal communication with the sensor and the parting strip assembly. The controller determines a direction of surface airflow incident on a critical surface of the aircraft based on the local incident airflow and selectively concentrates power to at least one targeted heating section among the plurality of heating sections with respect to non-targeted heating sections among the plurality of heating sections based on the direction of the surface airflow.