The Ice Particle Threat to Engines in Flight

Abstract

This paper discusses jet engine powerloss and damage due to ingestion of ice particles. In the mid-90s several commercial airplane jet engines experienced more frequent powerloss in ice particle conditions, resulting in a focused investigation, and a greater awareness that led to recognition of similar events on other aircraft. Since the mid-90s, events have been more numerous, and costly, and have generated greater industry interest. These events have been predominately associated with flight at high altitude near deep convective systems, often in tropical regions. Data are presented from flight-testing and an event data base to support the contention that the events are caused by ingestion of high concentrations of ice particles, and that supercooled liquid water is either of secondary importance or not required. The basic theory of how ice accretes in the engine by this process is described. Complex issues facing industry to mitigate the problem, and simulation of the ice particle environment are discussed.

Evaluation of radar reflectivity factor simulations of ice crystal populations from in situ observations for the retrieval of condensed water content in tropical mesoscale convective systems

“…First HIWC studies (Mason et al, 2006) indicated that this new form of icing (now referred to as ice crystal icing) was due to the production of high concentrations of small ice crystals by deep convection. In this context 23 flights were performed over the Darwin area, mainly over the ocean north of Australia, during the monsoon season.…”

Eulerian method for ice crystal icing in turbofan engines

“…The events reported engine damage due to shed ice or loss of engine power caused by flameout, surge or rollback due to a lower airflow into the combustion chamber in combination with ice ingestion. Mason et al [95] concluded that the engine rollbacks were caused by build up of ice between the blades of the low-pressure compressor in the engine core, see Figure 1.5. The engines could be restarted and regain normal operation when the aeroplane descended to an altitude with warmer air.…”

“…An analysis by Mason et al [95] of the events of loss of power of jet engines reported since 1990 implied a connection with atmospheric ice crystals that were encountered in convective clouds. The resulting database [13,95] it has been concluded that approximately 90% of the events occurs in (sub-)tropical regions between 38…”

“…Mason et al [95] have listed the following conditions common to the observations made during or right before the events:…”

A Prototype Method for Diagnosing High Ice Water Content Probability Using Satellite Imager Data

“…original hypotheses of Mason et al, (2006) was obtained in an exploratory in-situ flight campaign in HIWC conditions (Grandin et al, 2014). In more recent years, icing of aircraft air data probes (e.g.…”