Numerical simulation of airfoil thermal anti-ice operation. Part 1: Mathematical modeling

A mathematical model was developed to both describe an airfoil electrothermal anti-ice system operation and enable prediction of its main parameters. A reference case was chosen to define the mathematical model and support the results validation. The first law of thermodynamics is applied to airfoil solid surface and runback water flow. In addition, liquid water is subjected to mass and momentum conservation principles. The overall heat transfer coefficient, between gaseous flow and airfoil, is very sensitive to solid surface temperature gradients and runback water evaporation, requiring an adequate solution of the thermal boundary layer. Therefore, the mathematical model included dynamic and thermal boundary layer equations in integral form, which considers variable properties, pressure, and temperature gradients on the surface, coupled heat and mass transfer effects, and laminar to turbulent transition region modeling.