Patent ID: 8969765
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
1. An ice management system for a structure, the system comprising: at least one electro-thermal heating element carried by the structure for heating a heated portion of the structure; and a controller for selectively controlling the operation of each heating element, the controller being configured to selectively adjust a control temperature band, the control temperature band comprising an upper control temperature and a lower control temperature; wherein the controller is further configured to repeatedly adjust the upper control temperature and the lower control temperature of the control temperature band at least partially in response to sensed changes of an air temperature near the structure and a velocity of air passing over the structure; wherein the controller is further configured to operate each heating element according to a selected duty cycle defined by a pattern of time intervals; wherein, for each time interval in the duty cycle, the controller is further configured to predict the temperature of the heated portion of the structure at the end of a next time interval to determine whether to apply an on or off condition during the next time interval, thereby operating each heating element so as to obtain and maintain a temperature of the heated portion of the structure approximately within the control temperature band; and wherein the prediction of the temperature of the heated portion of the structure at the end of the next time interval is based on an expected rate of change of a temperature of the structure were the at least one electro-thermal heating element to be operated in the subsequent time interval.