An Assessment of Goodrich Ice Detector Performance in Various Icing Conditions

Understanding the performance of ice detectors in various icing conditions is an important part of helping protect an aircraft against icing. Ice detector annunciation helps make pilots aware of ice accretion, so that ice protection systems may be activated to prevent hazardous ice formation on aircraft critical surfaces.

Icing conditions can vary significantly from conditions with low liquid water content to supercooled large droplet (SLD) conditions. It is important to know if low liquid water contents can be detected by ice detectors, or if dynamic heating and other phenomena prohibit such detection. The possibility that droplet splashing in SLD conditions could result in a reduction of ice accretion on the ice detector also needs to be addressed.

Sensor Systems, Goodrich Corporation (Rosemount Aerospace Inc.) has undertaken an investigation into the performance of selective ice detector models in the icing conditions described above. Reliability, repeatability, and responsiveness of the ice detector are discussed, as are the implications these factors have on the performance and effectiveness of the ice detector. The fundamentals of operation of Goodrich ice detectors are addressed, as well as practical applications for both research and commercial uses.