Patent ID: 10124900

Abstract:
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining, based on a spatial extent of ice accretion, a maximum size of super-cooled droplets contained in an atmosphere and/or if an atmosphere contains super-cooled water droplets that equal and/or exceed a predetermined size. A testing region on an exterior surface of an aircraft is monitored for ice accretion by an ice detector. A boundary calculator determines a specific location to be tested within the testing region. The determined specific location corresponds to a calculated boundary that separates an ice-accretion region from an ice-free region if the atmosphere contains super-cooled water droplets of no larger than the predetermined size. If the ice detector detects ice accretion at the determined specific location, an alert is generated. The alert can advantageously inform a pilot of the aircraft that the atmosphere contains super-cooled water droplets that equal or exceed the predetermined size.