Comprehensive Evaluation of Anti-icing Performance and Operational Efficiency of Superhydrophobic Propellers

The icing of propellers is a critical factor that affects the safe operation of aircraft. A superhydrophobic surface, with its extremely low wettability, is highly valuable in the field of anti-icing. This study investigates the distribution pattern of ice on propeller surfaces by employing spray coating to create superhydrophobic surfaces. Additionally, it conducts a comparative analysis of thrust and power under icing and non-icing conditions to comprehensively assess the impact of superhydrophobic surfaces on propeller operation efficiency. The results show that superhydrophobic surfaces not only diminish the ice formation area on propeller surfaces but also enhance the traction of propellers under icing conditions, reducing the power consumption of the propeller. The generated thrust can reach up to 1.6 times that of non-superhydrophobic propellers while consuming only one-third of the power. Furthermore, under non-icing conditions, superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit minimal impact on propeller performance.