Active frost forecasting, detection and warning system and method

• US 10,179,652 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SureWx Inc.
• Original Assignee: SureWx Inc.
• Inventors: Skjoedt, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTEY, PHILIP L
• Application Number:
  US14/908,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20160176530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/20 Means for detecting icing or initiating de-icing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/18 by investigating thermal conductivity by calorimetry G01N25/20; by measuring change of resistance of an electrically-heated body G01N27/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/66 by investigating dew-point
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0036 Specially adapted to detect a particular component all the other sub-groups of G01N33/0004 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/00 Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft application of speed-measuring devices for measuring volume of fluid G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09

Abstract

An active frost warning system for the forecasting and/or detection of active frost conditions by determining the surface or skin temperature of an active frost sensor and comparing the surface or skin temperature with outside ambient temperature and frost point temperature is provided. The system predicts active frost conditions when the surface or skin temperature of the sensor is less than frost point temperature or when the rate of cooling of the surface or skin temperature indicates that the surface or skin temperature of the sensor will be less than the frost point temperature in the future.

Claims

1. A ground-based system for active frost detection comprising:

a) at least one active frost sensor comprising an upper skin and one or more temperature sensors for measuring a skin temperature of the skin;

b) at least one sensor for measuring an outside air temperature, the at least one sensor positioned in an outdoor area with a mounting bracket;

and

c) a processor configured to receive the outside air temperature measurements from the at least one sensor and to determine a frost point from the outside air temperature measurements and relative humidity, the processor further configured to compare the skin temperature with the outside air temperature and the frost point;

wherein the system is configured to provide a warning to indicate that conditions for active frost may be present if the processor determines that the skin temperature is less than the outside air temperature and the system is further configured to provide a warning to indicate that conditions for active frost are present if the processor determines that the skin temperature is less than the frost point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the skin is insulated on a lower surface of the skin.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a means of supply heat to the skin of the active frost sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the skin is manufactured from the skin material of a commercial aircraft wing.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the active frost sensor comprises a frame structure that mimics ribs and spars of an aircraft wing fragment.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the skin comprises aluminum or a composite material.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the composite material comprises aluminum or carbon fibers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more temperature sensors are configured to continually measure the temperature of the skin.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a rate of cooling of the skin.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a means for measuring relative humidity.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises one or more means for measuring dew point.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises one or more means for measuring wind speed and/or wind direction.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a means for estimating cloud cover.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for estimating cloud cover comprises one or more solar radiation sensors or one or more ground-based all-sky cameras.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises distributed sensors.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to forecast active frost condition.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is configured to determine a rate of radiation heat transfer.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the rate of radiation heat transfer is determined from the rate of cooling of the skin.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the rate of cooling of the skin is used to predict a time in the future when the skin temperature would approach the frost point and the system is configured to provide a warning to indicate that active frost conditions are approaching.