V•I Chips Power Wing De-Icer
It is an inescapable fact that, whenever aircraft operate where freezing temperatures and precipitation are present, important sensors and surfaces must be kept free of ice. Most travelers in cold climates have observed the de-icing process as ground crews spray these sensors and surfaces before takeoff. It is also crucial that the aircraft employ an in-flight system to keep ice from forming. Various systems have been used such as anti-freeze pumped through holes to reach the critical surfaces. One interesting scheme for dealing with ice in flight is the use of “pneumatic de-icing boots,” which are inflatable rubber coverings that are periodically inflated to crack the ice, which is then blown away. Electrical heating elements are also often used to prevent the formation of ice.
A manufacturer of aircraft systems selected Vicor V•I Chips to power their electrical de-icing system. The application uses two MIL-COTS VTMs and two PRMs per wing, providing dual redundancy. The MIL-COTS PRM operates from a wide input range of 16 – 50 Vdc, meeting many of the airborne requirements of MIL-STD-1275 and MIL-STD-704. Rated for 120 W, the 28 V PRM produces a nominal factorized bus voltage of 36 Vdc, controllable over the range of 26 – 50 Vdc. The downstream isolated VTM is available with twelve voltage division ratios from 1:1 to 1:32 and provides the user with flexibility to supply up to 100 A or 120 W at any output voltage from 1 to 50 Vdc in a surface-mount package occupying only 1 square inch.
Made in USA
