How Can Surface Wettability Be Used to Reduce Droplet Freezing at a Range of Droplet Velocities and Substrate Temperatures?

Ice accumulation can render many aerospace parts dysfunctional and damaged, causing energy efficiency and safety issues. Our research focuses on ice buildup on the turbine outlets of air cycle machines (ACMs), thermodynamic cycles used in aircraft to provide air conditioning in cabins and to cool electronics. While there are deicing methods currently used in industry, these methods can compromise energy efficiency and create other issues for the environment and a system’s functionality. A solution we researched is the use of superhydrophobic surfaces to prevent drop nucleation (and therefore icing) on the turbine outlet surfaces. By placing superhydrophobic surfaces in our experimental setup, we studied relationships between droplet velocity and substrate temperature. For future research, we will also study the effects of droplet temperature, substrate geometry, the effects of water streams, and the energy required to remove accumulated ice on superhydrophobic surfaces.