The expansion of background studies of icing into condensing flow (mixtures of droplets, ice particles) and the consideration of the flow regime (combined ice deposition and erosion of the accreted ice) provides new opportunities and challenges in experimental science. An area of novelty is how a combination of droplet and solid particle erosion data are used to specify suitable impact conditions for erosion testing. ERICE´s approach, based on an close coupling of experiment and ice mechanical modelling, is novel in the development of a methodology for predicting the correct conditions for ice shedding. In addition, to the best of partners´ knowledge, it is the first fracture mechanics-based ice adhesion test on the inside of a pipe. The work is also novel in relation to the specific application.
New surface treatments have been developed based on the modification of hybrid sol-gel formulations and its combination with new processing methods such as nanoimprinting lithography. ERICE is a great opportunity for studying the combination of the mentioned technologies, with the aim of developing low surface free energy and super-hydrophobic surfaces and understanding the relationship to anti-icing and ice-phobicity properties. Thanks to the tailoring of an organic-inorganic material, which allows to balance mechanical properties such as hardness and flexibility, corrosion and erosion resistance in specific conditions have been demonstrated and a patent awarded.
ERICE novel technology has projection in more electrical aircraft configurations, as part of electrically driven environmental control systems and in bleed-less power configurations, thus contributing to the environmental, competitiveness and societal impacts. ERICE development is free of toxic materials with a detrimental impact on the environment and it meets REACH regulations. In addition, ERICE solution will substitute the active anti-icing systems currently used, based on heating systems and hence energy consuming. ERICE provides a passive anti-icing answer, which contributes to energy saving. The novel technology is also transferrable to other ice-sensitive turbine environments, ice-sensitive laminar-flow environments and even to ice-mitigation in other industry sectors, such as wind turbines or high-tension electrical cables.
In the medium/long term, the project will help strengthening the position of TECNALIA and CU (and associated business network) as leading technology providers for anti-icing application, contributing to European competitiveness targets. New scientific/technology knowledge is also generated, which will strengthen the position of the European scientific community in the field.
