This paper describes the development of an array of coplanar capacitive sensors applied to marine icing. Current atmospheric icing monitoring systems consider single phase conditions in their operation. Marine icing conditions present a unique environment where the liquid water phase effects cannot be neglected and require a novel approach. We have conducted an initial proof of concept and propose a new icing monitoring system which can distinguish between the individual phases. A numerical model confirmed our initial hypothesis of the system's ability to discriminate the multiphase domains based on the array of geometrically dissimilar capacitive sensors. In addition, we also developed a novel experimental technique based on a comparative study under constant conditions to eliminate the need for an independent ice accretion monitoring system normally required in sensor development. The new approach promises a better characteristic in marine icing monitoring systems or in similar applications where multiphase dielectric is present.
In this paper, a novel approach is presented to the measurement of marine icing phenomena under the presence of a two-phase condition. We have developed a sensor consisting of an electrostatic array and a signal processing based on a decision tree method. A three-element electrostatic array is employed to derive signals having linearly decoupled characteristics from which two key parameters, ice and water accretion layer dimension, can be determined for the purpose of environmental monitoring. The quantified characteristics revealed a correlation with the ice layer thickness in spite of the strong influence from the top water phase layer. The decision tree model established a relationship between the signal characteristics and the two accretion thickness parameters of water and ice layer. Through experimental verification, it has been observed that our sensor array in combination with the decision tree model based signal processing provides a simple practical solution to the challenging field of a two phase composition measurement such as in the marine icing considered in this study.
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