Resistive elements for heating an aerofoil, and device for heating an aerofoil incorporating such elements

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An object of the present invention is to propose a composite heating structure that allows the thermal power dissipated per unit area to vary gradually parallel to the leading edge.
The invention thus proposes a resistive element for heating an aerofoil, comprising several superposed layers of electrically conducting fibers, the layers and the conducting fibers running parallel to a leading edge of the aerofoil.
At least a first of the superposed layers has a constant width, while at least a second of the superposed layers has a width that varies continuously along the leading edge and is smaller than the constant width of the first layer.
A device for heating the aerofoil may thus comprise one or more resistive elements of this type arranged parallel to the leading edge and powered electrically so that they dissipate heat by a Joule effect.
The variable-width layers of carbon mean that the resistance of the resistive element varies progressively along the leading edge, and this progressive variation can easily be matched to the required variation in thermal power per unit area.
The constant-width layers make it possible to keep a constant gap between adjacent elements, and this avoids the occurrence of cold spots liable to collect ice.