École Nationale Supérieure de
Techniques Avancées

Résumé

The ICA frost tunnel simulates different atmospheric conditions and the ice deposits caused by them. By injecting a mixture of water and air into a stream of cold air, ice is deposited on v arious profiles (tubes, plates, blades, NACA aerodynamic profiles). In order to test and calibrate the various de icing systems developed at ICA, it is necessary to know the properties of the injection (of the simulated cloud) and of the ice formed. To this end, the tunnel was calibrated in terms of LWC and ice density. These enabled us to conclude that the freezing tunnel can simulate a very wide range of clouds (LWC from 0.1 to 5 g/m3) and the full range of ice that can form on an aircraft (density fr om 200 kg/m3 to 900 kg/m3). These two calibrations led to a study of the thermal and energetic phenomena taking place in the tunnel, in order to understand the adjustments needed in the wind tunnel to obtain the desired icing. In addition, this detaile d analysis of the tunnel and its calibration enabled us to set up a training course on its understanding and use, so that people outside the ICA could hire and use it.