Thermal and vibration induced rotor blade deicing using carbon nanotube thermophones

The accumulation of ice on helicopter blades imposes limitations on the design and operation of rotorcrafts due to the large power requirement of thermal heating mats. Carbon nanotube (CNT) loudspeakers present a lightweight and efficient solution to this issue, utilizing both thermal and vibratory methods to remove ice and prevent it from forming. To evaluate the deicing capabilities of CNT, an enclosure was created to encapsulate the loudspeaker between two thin layers of aluminum to simulate the rotor blade surface. The speaker was then operated at a range of amplitudes and frequencies in simulated cold weather conditions. Preliminary tests show promising results, with surface temperatures exceeding 120°C in under four minutes when operated in a −20°C environment and surface excitation resultant from the ultrasonic vibration. Although further testing is needed, CNT loudspeakers show great promise in becoming a lightweight and efficient solution to the issue of ice accumulation on the surface of rotor blades.