ACTIVE FROST FORECASTING, DETECTION AND WARNING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160176530A1
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SureWx Inc.
• Original Assignee: SureWx Inc.
• Inventors: Skjoedt, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 10,179,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 senor will be less than the frost point temperature in the future.

Claims

1. A 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 temperature of the skin;

b) at least one sensor for measuring outside ambient temperature; and

c) a processor configured to compare a skin temperature with outside ambient temperature;

wherein if the skin temperature is less than outside ambient temperature, the system is configured to provide a warning to indicate that conditions for active frost may be present and/or if the skin temperature is less than the frost point, the system will provide a warning to indicate that conditions for active frost are present.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the skin is manufactured from a material with good heat transfer properties.

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

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

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

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the active frost sensor is configured to mimic an aircraft wing fragment.

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

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

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensors are configured to continually measure the temperature of the skin.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the active frost sensor is configured to determine a rate of cooling of the skin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is configured to determine rate of radiation heat transfer.

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

21. The system of claim 20, wherein 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.

16. (canceled)