Method and apparatus for prognosticating potential ice accumulation on a surface exposed to impact icing.

摘要

@ An article and method for measuring the extent, location and rate of water vapor droplet impingements on various surfaces exposed to multi-dimensional and turbulent flow fields. The article and method are employed in a non-icing atmospheric environment, and the results are used to prognosticate not only the areas where ice would accumulate if the water droplets were supercooled but also the concentration thereof. The invention is accomplished by removably adhering a droplet impingement recorder (10) to a surface to be tested, such as an airfoil (20). The droplet impingement recorder (10) incorporates a water soluble gelatin coating (13) bonded to a substrate (11). Droplets suspended in the flow field impact upon the recording surface (18) of the droplet impingement recorder (10). The recording surface (18) is then microscopically analyzed to determine the size, location and concentration of droplet impingements which information assists one in prognosticating the most effective location for the installation of anti-icing or de-icing equipment.