Patent ID: 7230205

Claim:
A surface wetting and icing detection system for a turbine engine compressor comprising: a turbine engine compressor component having a surface; an insulating coating applied on at least a portion of the component surface, the coating having an outermost surface; a heater provided proximate the outermost surface so as to selectively provide heat to the outermost surface; a power source for selectively activating the heater; a first thermocouple provided proximate the outermost surface, the first thermocouple having a first lead and a second lead, a portion of the first lead being electrically connected to a portion of the second lead to form a first thermocouple junction, wherein the first thermocouple junction is positioned proximate the heater so as to sense heat from the heater; and a detection circuit operatively connected to the thermocouple, wherein the detection circuit measures voltage at the first thermocouple junction and converts the measured voltage into a temperature value, wherein, when no water and ice is present on the outermost surface, the thermocouple measures a base temperature value in response to a heater pulse, and wherein, when at least one of water and ice is present on the outermost surface, the thermocouple measures a measured temperature value in response to a heater pulse, wherein the measured temperature value is less than base temperature value, whereby the lower measured temperature value alerts an operator of the presence of at least one of ice and water on the compressor component.