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Alpha-Particle-Based Icing Detector for Aircraft
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Alpha-Particle-Based Icing Detector for Aircraft

Ezzat G. Bakhoum, Marvin H. M. Cheng and Kevin M. Van Landingham
IEEE transactions on instrumentation and measurement, Vol.63(1), pp.185-191
01/2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2013.2275205
Web of Science ID: WOS:000328692600020

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2 Times Cited - Web of Science

Abstract

This paper introduces a new type of icing detector for aircraft applications. Unlike the well-known icing detectors that are based on optics, the new detector uses α particles. An α-particle source is attached to the wing of the aircraft, and a detector that mainly depends on a MOSFET transistor is placed a few centimeters away from the source. As the α particles strike the detector, they deposit their positive charges on the gate of the MOSFET (n-channel), and the transistor turns ON. If, however, a layer of ice builds up on the wing and prevents the α particles from reaching the detector, the MOSFET shuts OFF. The new detector is more reliable than optics-based detectors because it is an integral part of the wing and hence cannot miss the formation of ice.

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