Three-dimensional simulation of electrothermal deicing systems

This paper examines three-dimensional transient heat transfer in a multilayered body that is ice covered. The physical application studied is the process of melting and removal of ice from aircraft components by use of electrothermal heaters. To model the ice-phase change, a predictor-corrector technique is used which assumes a phase for each ice gridpoint. This allows the use of the method-of-Douglas three-dimensio nal alternating direction numerical solver to iteratively converge on the correct phase of each ice node for each time step. Three-dimensional results are presented and the usefulness of the code as a design tool is illustrated. Comparisons between experimental deicer test results and numerical simulations are discussed. Nomenclature Cp = specific heat capacity, Btu/lb-°F H = enthalpy, Btu/lb h = heat transfer coefficient, Btu/h-ft2-°F k = thermal conductivity, Btu/h-ft-°F L = latent heat of fusion of ice, Btu/lb Q = rate of heat generation per unit volume, Btu/h-ft3 Rx — jc-direction Fourier number, dimensionless Ry = y-direction Fourier number, dimensionless Rz = z-direction Fourier number, dimensionless T = temperature, °F