Deicing System in Sodar Systems

A system for heating the sound-reflective mirror surface of a phased array monostatic sodar apparatus, comprising:

• a heat source located at a position that is spaced from the mirror, where the heat source comprises a heater fueled by propane, and where the heater operates catalytically, oxidizing the propane without an open flame;
• a control system that controls the operation of the heat source, in which the control system comprises a means to sense precipitation, an ambient temperature sensor and a mirror temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the mirror, wherein the control system turns on the heat source upon the simultaneous detection of precipitation and an ambient temperature or a mirror temperature close to or below the freezing point of water, and turns off the heat source when the mirror temperature reaches at least a certain temperature above freezing;
• a liquid antifreeze solution working fluid that is heated by the heat source and used to transfer heat from the source to the mirror;
• a delivery system that constrains the heated working fluid and delivers it from the heat source to the mirror, where the delivery system comprises an electrically driven circulation pump that circulates the working fluid from the heater to the mirror and back, and further comprises a series of pipes within which the working fluid circulates, wherein the pipes are coupled to the mirror in a manner that accomplishes an effective thermal connection that efficiently and relatively evenly transfers heat from the pipes to the mirror;
• a series of conductive structures to which one or more pipes are coupled, the conductive structures sized and shaped to as to conform to the outside surface of the pipe over a majority of the pipe's circumference and with a generally flat surface that is coupled to the rear surface of the mirror, to accomplish the effective thermal connection between the pipes and the mirror;
• and
• a thermally conductive epoxy adhesive used to make a joint of low resistance to heat transfer between the conductive structures and the mirror, and also used to make a joint of low resistance to heat transfer between the pipes and the conductive structures;
• in which the pipes, the conductive structures and the mirror are all made of the same metal.