New vibration system cuts aircraft deicing energy use by 80 percent

Scientists at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF, in collaboration with Airbus, Parker-Meggitt, and partners from the EU’s Clean Aviation program, have developed an innovative aircraft wing deicing system that reduces energy consumption by up to 80 percent. Unlike conventional methods that use energy-intensive hot air from engines to melt ice, this new technology employs sensors and piezoelectric actuators to generate low-frequency vibrations targeted at icy spots on the wings. These micro-vibrations cause the ice to crack and flake off without heating the surface, offering a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution. The system’s effectiveness hinges on continuously identifying the wing’s natural resonance frequency, which varies with flight conditions such as speed, altitude, temperature, humidity, and ice thickness. Algorithms process sensor data in real time to adjust the vibration frequency accordingly. Tested successfully in an icing wind tunnel, the vibration-based deicing method demonstrated reliable ice removal with significantly less energy than traditional thermal systems