Performance Deterioration of Pitot Tubes Caused by In-Flight Ice Accretion: A Numerical Investigation

In-flight ice accretion on typical pitot-static systems is numerically investigated to reveal their performance deterioration under both rime and glaze icing. Coupled with the open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) platform, OpenFOAM, the numerical strategy integrates the airflow determinati...

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Main Authors: Hao Zhang, Rui Zhao, Chih-Yung Wen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5599116
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author Hao Zhang
Rui Zhao
Chih-Yung Wen
author_facet Hao Zhang
Rui Zhao
Chih-Yung Wen
author_sort Hao Zhang
collection DOAJ
description In-flight ice accretion on typical pitot-static systems is numerically investigated to reveal their performance deterioration under both rime and glaze icing. Coupled with the open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) platform, OpenFOAM, the numerical strategy integrates the airflow determination by the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, droplet collection evaluation by Eulerian representation, and ice accumulation by mass and energy conservation. Under varying inflow conditions and wall temperatures, the calculated ice accretion performance indicates that the ambient temperature has the most significant effect on the icing-induced failure time, leading to an almost exponential growth. Meanwhile, the blocking time is found to be linearly proportional to the increase in wall temperature. With the increase in inflow velocity, the failure time follows a parabolic variation with glaze ice accretion while shows a monotonic reduction under rime icing conditions. In addition, when the angle of attack increases, failure accelerates under both the glaze and rime icing scenarios. These findings provide guidance for the protection design of pitot tubes. A nonlinear regression analysis is further conducted to estimate the failure performance. The predicated failure times show reliable consistency with numerical results, demonstrating the capability of the obtained empirical functions for convenient predictions of failure times within the applicable range.
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spelling doaj-art-abbdd47fd9854cfc94aa09661e621ed82025-02-03T07:24:24ZengWileyInternational Journal of Aerospace Engineering1687-59661687-59742021-01-01202110.1155/2021/55991165599116Performance Deterioration of Pitot Tubes Caused by In-Flight Ice Accretion: A Numerical InvestigationHao Zhang0Rui Zhao1Chih-Yung Wen2School of Professional Education and Executive Development, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong KongSchool of Aerospace Engineering and Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081 Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong KongIn-flight ice accretion on typical pitot-static systems is numerically investigated to reveal their performance deterioration under both rime and glaze icing. Coupled with the open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) platform, OpenFOAM, the numerical strategy integrates the airflow determination by the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, droplet collection evaluation by Eulerian representation, and ice accumulation by mass and energy conservation. Under varying inflow conditions and wall temperatures, the calculated ice accretion performance indicates that the ambient temperature has the most significant effect on the icing-induced failure time, leading to an almost exponential growth. Meanwhile, the blocking time is found to be linearly proportional to the increase in wall temperature. With the increase in inflow velocity, the failure time follows a parabolic variation with glaze ice accretion while shows a monotonic reduction under rime icing conditions. In addition, when the angle of attack increases, failure accelerates under both the glaze and rime icing scenarios. These findings provide guidance for the protection design of pitot tubes. A nonlinear regression analysis is further conducted to estimate the failure performance. The predicated failure times show reliable consistency with numerical results, demonstrating the capability of the obtained empirical functions for convenient predictions of failure times within the applicable range.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5599116
spellingShingle Hao Zhang
Rui Zhao
Chih-Yung Wen
Performance Deterioration of Pitot Tubes Caused by In-Flight Ice Accretion: A Numerical Investigation
International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
title Performance Deterioration of Pitot Tubes Caused by In-Flight Ice Accretion: A Numerical Investigation
title_full Performance Deterioration of Pitot Tubes Caused by In-Flight Ice Accretion: A Numerical Investigation
title_fullStr Performance Deterioration of Pitot Tubes Caused by In-Flight Ice Accretion: A Numerical Investigation
title_full_unstemmed Performance Deterioration of Pitot Tubes Caused by In-Flight Ice Accretion: A Numerical Investigation
title_short Performance Deterioration of Pitot Tubes Caused by In-Flight Ice Accretion: A Numerical Investigation
title_sort performance deterioration of pitot tubes caused by in flight ice accretion a numerical investigation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5599116
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AT ruizhao performancedeteriorationofpitottubescausedbyinflighticeaccretionanumericalinvestigation
AT chihyungwen performancedeteriorationofpitottubescausedbyinflighticeaccretionanumericalinvestigation