Device for removing and preventing the formation of ice on surfaces

A device for removing and/or preventing the formation of ice on surfaces, based on the generation of short-wavelength acoustic waves (AWs), which comprises:

• a substrate made of a piezoelectric or ferroelectric material, wherein a side of the substrate is exposed to the environment,
• one or more electrodes, deposited on the substrate,
• a vector network analyzer, connected to the electrodes, and configured to determine the resonant frequency of the substrate,
• an excitation module, connected to the electrodes and grounded, comprising a function generator and a signal amplifier, where the function generator is in communication with the vector network analyzer, the excitation module being configured to apply an AC electrical signal in the MHz frequency range to the electrodes, the frequency of said signal coinciding with the resonant frequency of the substrate measured with the vector network analyzer, and
• an automatic switching unit, connected alternatively between the excitation module and the electrodes or between the vector network analyzer and the electrodes.