Nacelle inlet assembly with composite lipskin

A method for providing an inlet assembly of a nacelle, the method comprising:

• forming an inlet cowl that includes a leading edge, the inlet cowl forming step comprising:
• curing a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material to form a composite panel of a lipskin, the lipskin including a front section that defines the leading edge of the inlet cowl, the lipskin including a first protrusion and a second protrusion that project from an interior surface of the lipskin;
• applying a metallic coating to define an exterior surface of the lipskin to protect the composite panel from damage;
• and
• forming perforations that continuously extend through both the composite panel and the metallic coating, the perforations located along the front section of the lipskin and configured to deliver a liquid through a thickness of the lipskin onto an exterior surface of the inlet cowl;
• affixing a plenum back wall to the first and second protrusions to define a plenum at the front section that is open to the perforations, wherein a thickness of the plenum is defined between the interior surface of the lipskin and the plenum back wall and a length of the plenum is defined between the first and second protrusions, wherein the plenum is configured to receive an anti-ice liquid therein and the perforations are configured to convey the anti-ice liquid through a thickness of the lipskin onto the exterior surface of the lipskin.

An inlet assembly of a nacelle, the inlet assembly comprising:

• an inlet cowl including a leading edge, an inner barrel portion, and an outer barrel portion, the inlet cowl comprising:
• a lipskin that includes a front section that defines the leading edge of the inlet cowl, the front section including a composite panel and a metallic coating that defines an exterior surface of the lipskin to protect the composite panel from damage, the lipskin defining perforations that penetrate through the composite panel and the metallic coating at the front section, the lipskin including a first protrusion and a second protrusion that project from an interior surface of the lipskin;
• and
• an acoustic panel coupled to the lipskin and extending along the inner barrel portion;
• and
• a fluid ice protection system (FIPS), the FIPS including a plenum back wall affixed to the first and second protrusions to define a plenum at the front section that is open to the perforations, wherein a thickness of the plenum is defined between the interior surface of the lipskin and a front surface of the plenum back wall, and a length of the plenum is defined between the first and second protrusions, the FIPS including a fluid delivery conduit coupled to the plenum back wall and configured to supply an anti-ice liquid into the plenum through an aperture in the plenum back wall for the anti-ice liquid in the plenum to penetrate through the perforations onto the exterior surface of the lipskin.