Carbon nanotube (CNT) or carbon allotrobe based induction heating for aircraft ice protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11952129-B2
Application number	US-202017138453-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2020
Priority date	Dec 30, 2020
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A system for inductive heating of an aircraft surface includes a conductive outer layer configured to be located on an outer portion of the aircraft surface. The system further includes a carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn configured to receive and conduct electrical current. The system further includes an insulator located between the conductive outer layer and the CNT yarn such that the electrical current flowing through the CNT yarn generates induction heating on the conductive outer layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for inductive heating of an aircraft surface, the system comprising:
a conductive outer layer configured to be located on an outer portion of the aircraft surface;
a first carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn configured to receive and conduct electrical current, wherein the first CNT yarn is wound into a first CNT yarn coil and functions as a first inductor;
a second CNT yarn configured to receive and conduct electrical current, wherein the second CNT yarn is wound into a second CNT yarn coil and functions as a second inductor and wherein the second CNT yarn coil at least partially overlaps the first CNT yarn coil such that a portion of the first CNT yarn coil and a portion of the second CNT yarn coil are aligned with a same portion of the conductive outer layer; and
an insulator located between the conductive outer layer and the first CNT yarn coil and the second CNT yarn coil such that the electrical current flowing through the first CNT yarn coil and the second CNT yarn coil generates induction heating on the conductive outer layer.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first CNT yarn coil is configured to function as an anti-ice feature and the second CNT yarn coil is located closer to a first outer edge of the aircraft surface and configured to function as a deice feature.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a third CNT yarn coil located closer to a second outer edge of the aircraft surface and configured to function as a second de-ice feature, wherein the first CNT yarn coil is located between the second CNT yarn coil and the third CNT yarn coil.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive outer layer includes a metal or other material and functions as an erosion shield.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive outer layer includes a conductive composite material and functions as an erosion shield.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the conductive composite material includes at least one of a thermoplastic, a Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a carbon fabric, or a CNT.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the conductive composite material includes at least one of a thermoset, an epoxy, a carbon fabric, or a CNT.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the insulator includes an adhesive configured to couple the conductive outer layer to the CNT yarn and to insulate the conductive outer layer from the CNT yarn.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the CNT yarn is removably coupled to the conductive outer layer to facilitate repair or replacement of at least one of the conductive outer layer or the CNT yarn.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the CNT yarn is bonded with a dielectric polymer.

11. An induction-heated aircraft component, comprising:
an outer portion;
a conductive outer layer configured to be located on the outer portion;
a first carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn configured to receive and conduct electrical current, wherein the first CNT yarn is wound into a first CNT yarn coil and functions as a first inductor;
a second CNT yarn configured to receive and conduct electrical current, wherein the second CNT yarn is wound into a second CNT yarn coil and functions as a second inductor and wherein the second CNT yarn coil at least partially overlaps the first CNT yarn coil such that a portion of the first CNT yarn coil and a portion of the second CNT yarn coil are aligned with a same portion of the conductive outer layer; and
an insulator located between the conductive outer layer and the first CNT yarn coil and the second CNT yarn coil such that the electrical current flowing through the first CNT yarn coil and the second CNT yarn coil generates induction heating on the conductive outer layer.

12. The induction-heated aircraft component of claim 11 , wherein the insulator includes an adhesive configured to couple the conductive outer layer to the CNT yarn and to insulate the conductive outer layer from the CNT yarn.

13. A method for inductive heating of an aircraft surface, the method comprising:
providing a first carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn on an inside of the aircraft surface such that the first CNT yarn is separated from a conductive outer layer of the aircraft surface by an insulator, wherein the first CNT yarn is wound into a first CNT yarn coil and functions as a first inductor;
providing a second CNT yarn on the inside of the aircraft surface such that the second CNT yarn is separated from the conductive outer layer of the aircraft surface by the insulator, wherein the second CNT yarn is wound into a second CNT yarn coil and functions as a second inductor and wherein the second CNT yarn coil at least partially overlaps the first CNT yarn coil such that a portion of the first CNT yarn coil and a portion of the second CNT yarn coil are aligned with a same portion of the conductive outer layer;
providing a first electrical current to the first CNT yarn coil to generate induction heating on the conductive outer layer; and
providing a second electrical current to the second CNT yarn coil to generate additional inductive heating on the conductive outer layer.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising coupling the CNT yarn to the conductive outer layer via the insulator such that the insulator functions as an adhesive.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Hu Jin
• Botura Galdemir Cezar
• Atalla Mauro J

Classifications

• B64D15/12 Primary

  by electric heating (heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84) · CPC title

• C01B32/168

  After-treatment · CPC title

• D02G3/16

  Yarns or threads made from mineral substances · CPC title

• H01B1/24

  the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon · CPC title

• B82Y30/00

  Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites · CPC title