Compact microwave system for de-icing and for preventing icing of the outer surfaces of hollow or shell structures which are exposed to meterological influences

A compact microwave system for preventing icing and for de-icing outer surfaces of shell structures exposed to meteorological influences and including form-stable hollow structure of plastic or compound materials with dielectric properties, at least one microwave source with a controllable power output and a hollow conductor flanged to said microwave source and including an uncoupling system for the release of monochromatic microwaves in the frequency range of 500 MHz to 20 GHz,

• said shell structure including a front area which is subject to icing, consisting of a laminated structure including a dielectric compound material and a metallic skin disposed on the outside of said shell structure front area and being in electrical contact with other adjacent electrically conductive components so that a hollow shell space surrounded by metal is formed, an independently operable microwave system disposed in each such hollow shell space, said microwave system comprising a microwave source with a power supply, an uncoupling structure connected to said microwave source and extending in the interior of said shell structure along the front area thereof such that the microwaves uncoupled from said uncoupling structure reach the inner surface of said compound material in the form of a wave-front which penetrates the compound material whereby the compound material is heated and the heat is conducted rapidly to the outer surface of the compound material from where the heat is removed so that the inner surface of the compound material remains substantially below the delamination temperature of about 130° C. of the compound material while at the interface between the compound material and the metal skin a predetermined area energy density of up to 60 kW/m2 may be maintained when the metal skin is covered by clear ice, whereby the metal skin can be maintained at a temperature of +10° C. to 70° C. depending on the meteorological conditions so as to de-ice the metal skin or to prevent icing thereof when the microwave system is in operation.