Universitè Laval

Jean Lemay

Jean Ruel

André Bégin-Drolet

Andre Begin-Drolet

Methods and systems are described herein which allow to determine an icing condition without requiring a wind speed measurement. The methods and systems use two sensing members both being exposed to conditions in an environment. The determination is made based on a capacity of the sensing members to react differently to the conditions to which they are exposed. The conditions can be environmental or controlled. The determination includes measuring a variable indicative of the thermal state of each individual sensing member, and processing the measured values to generate the signal indicative of icing condition. The icing condition can be instrumental or meteorological.

System and method for determining an icing condition status of an environment

The method includes receiving a value of a quantity of heat applied to at least a portion of a structure, said structure having a sensor surface exposed to the environment, receiving a temperature measurement of the sensor surface, receiving a wind speed measurement of the environment, receiving an ambient temperature measurement of the environment, determining a heat transfer projection of the sensor area using at least the wind speed measurement, the ambient temperature measurement, and one of the value of a quantity of heat and a target temperature of the sensor surface; comparing the heat transfer projection to an associated heat transfer value, and generating a signal indicating the icing condition status based on the comparison.

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Québec, Canada

Jean Lemay