General Electric Company
Icing condition detection using instantaneous humidity sensing

Abstract:

A system and method for monitoring icing conditions that are suitable ice formation on an aircraft and propulsion system. The system includes instrumentation that instantaneously detects ambient humidity, ambient temperature and ambient pressure. The sensed information is transmitted to a controller that evaluates the information to determine whether certain pressure, temperature and humidity criteria are favorable for icing and, declaring icing conditions. The system also includes an aircraft engine-mounted ice mitigation system. When conditions for ice formation are favorable, the controller either informs the pilot that conditions for ice formation are favorable or automatically activates the ice mitigation system, or both. The pilot optionally may inactivate the ice mitigation system. When sensed conditions indicate that conditions for ice formation are not favorable, the controller determines whether the ice mitigation system is activated and inactivates the system if activated.