Patent ID: 11312500

Abstract:
An electro-pneumatic de-icer for an airfoil includes an electrically-powered compressor for compressing air, an air-storage tank for storing compressed air, a source of negative pressure, an airfoil pneumatic boot, and a control valve located between 1) the air-storage tank, 2) the source of negative pressure, and 3) the pneumatic boot for cycling between compressed air to inflate the pneumatic boot and negative pressure to deflate the pneumatic boot for cracking accumulated ice on the airfoil. An airfoil de-icing method lacking engine bleed air extraction includes compressing air with an electrically-powered compressor, storing high-pressure air from the compressor in an air-storage tank, delivering high-pressure air from the air-storage tank to inflate a pneumatic boot located along an airfoil, providing a negative-pressure source, deflating the pneumatic boot with the negative-pressure source, and alternating between inflating and deflating the pneumatic boot for cracking accumulated ice on the airfoil.