Heating-Enabled Dual-Band Frequency-Selective Surface for Radome De-Icing in Satellite Applications

This article proposes a heatable dual-band frequency selective surface (FSS) designed to operate in the Ku and Ka bands commonly used in satellite communications. This design effectively solves the problems arising from the integration of heating elements while maintaining the desired electromagnetic performance. The structural evolution process of a general dual-band FSS for heating element separation is described. To analyze the performance of the FSS, an equivalent circuit model is developed to provide insight into the effect of each design element. The proposed FSS was manufactured, and its electromagnetic and heat generation characteristics were measured using free space measurement, a thermal imaging camera, and a thermocouple. The FSS has a small change between heated and unheated states, with transmittances of over -0.32 dB and -0.88 dB at 15.3 GHz and 27.3 GHz, respectively. Heating performance has also been proven, with the FSS reaching a surface temperature of up to 127°C when heated at 30V for over 3 minutes. The thermal-electromagnetic analysis reveals that the FSS maintains stable performance even under heating conditions, with minimal changes in the reflection and transmission coefficients. This study successfully integrates heating functionality into an FSS designed for radome de-icing in satellite applications, providing valuable insight into the development of similar multifunctional structures.