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Research Containing: Liquid

Capillary Channel Flow (CCF) EU2–02 on the International Space Station (ISS): An Experimental Investigation of Passive Bubble Separations in an Open Capillary Channel

by cfynanon 22 August 2016in Physical Sciences No comment

It would be signi cantly easier to design uid systems for spacecraft if the uid phases behaved similarly to those on earth. In this research an open 15:8 wedge- sectioned channel is employed to separate bubbles from a two-phase ow in a micro- gravity environment. The bubbles appear to rise in the channel and coalesce with the free surface in much the same way as would bubbles in a terrestrial environ- ment, only the combined e ects of surface tension, wetting, and conduit geometry replace the role of buoyancy. The host liquid is drawn along the channel by a pump and noncondensible gas bubbles are injected into it near the channel vertex at the channel inlet. Control parameters include bubble volume, bubble frequency, liq- uid volumetric ow rate, and channel length. The asymmetrically con ned bubbles are driven in the cross- ow direction by capillary forces until they at least become inscribed within the section or until they come in contact with the free surface, whereupon they usually coalesce and leave the ow. The merging of bubbles en- hances, but does not guarantee, the latter. The experiments are performed aboard the International Space Station as a subset of the Capillary Channel Flow experi- ments. The ight hardware is commanded remotely and continuously from ground stations during the tests and an extensive array of experiments is conducted identi- fying numerous bubble ow regimes and regime transitions depending on the ratio and magnitude of the gas and liquid volumetric ow rates. The breadth of the pub- licly available experiments is conveyed herein primarily by narrative and by regime maps, where transitions are approximated by simple expressions immediately useful for the purposes of design and deeper analysis.

Related URLs:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160001341

EFFECT OF THERMAL DRIFT ON THE INITIAL TRANSIENT BEHAVIOR IN DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF A BULK TRANSPARENT MODEL ALLOY

by cfynanon 22 August 2016in Biology & Biotechnology, Physical Sciences No comment

In situ monitoring of directional solidification experiments on a transparent model alloy was carried out under low gravity in the Directional Solidification Insert of the Device for the Study of Critical Liquids and Crystallization (DECLIC-DSI) on-board the International Space Station. The present work is focused on the analysis of the interface recoil and its macroscopic shape evolution. Theoretically the interface movement is due to the formation of a solute boundary layer in front of the interface. However, the bulk configuration and the thermal specificities of transparent systems induce thermal effects, which are usually not observed in the classical thin sample configuration. Numerical thermal modeling highlights two thermal contributions to the interface recoil, both increasing with pulling rate. The Warren and Langer model is modified to take into account these contributions that modify the interface dynamics, and a good agreement is obtained between the experiments and the modified model.

Related URLs:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119274896.ch3/summary

System for detecting and estimating concentrations of gas or liquid analytes

by cfynanon 9 June 2015in Technology Development & Demonstration No comment

A sensor system for detecting and estimating concentrations of various gas or liquid analytes. In an embodiment, the resistances of a set of sensors are measured to provide a set of responses over time where the resistances are indicative of gas or liquid sorption, depending upon the sensors. A concentration vector for the analytes is estimated by satisfying a criterion of goodness using the set of responses. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Related URLs:
https://www.google.com/patents/US8024133

Methanol droplet combustion in oxygen-inert environments in microgravity

by cfynanon 9 June 2015in Physical Sciences No comment

The Flame Extinguishment (FLEX) experiment that is currently underway in the Combustion Integrated Rack facility onboard the International Space Station is aimed at understanding the effects of inert diluents on the flammability of condensed phase fuels. To this end, droplets of various fuels, including alkanes and alcohols, are burned in a quiescent microgravity environment with varying amounts of oxygen and inert diluents to determine the limiting oxygen index (LOI) for these fuels. In this study we report experimental observations of methanol droplets burning in oxygen-nitrogen-carbon dioxide and oxygen-nitrogen-helium gas mixtures at 0.7 and 1 atmospheric pressures. The initial droplet size varied between approximately 1.5 mm and 4 mm to capture both diffusive extinction brought about by insufficient residence time at the flame and radiative extinction caused by excessive heat loss from the flame zone. The ambient oxygen concentration varied from a high value of 30% by volume to as low as 12%, approaching the limiting oxygen index for the fuel. The inert dilution by carbon dioxide and helium varied over a range of 0% to 70% by volume. In these experiments, both freely floated and tethered droplets were ignited using symmetrically opposed hot-wire igniters and the burning histories were recorded onboard using digital cameras, downlinked later to the ground for analysis. The digital images yielded droplet and flame diameters as functions of time and subsequently droplet burning rate, flame standoff ratio, and initial and extinction droplet diameters. Simplified theoretical models correlate the measured burning rate constant and the flame standoff ratio reasonably well. An activation energy asymptotic theory accounting for time-dependent water dissolution or evaporation from the droplet is shown to predict the measured diffusive extinction conditions well. The experiments also show that the limiting oxygen index for methanol in these diluent gases is around 12% to 13% oxygen by volume.

Related URLs:

Foam stability in microgravity

by cfynanon 9 June 2015in Physical Sciences No comment

Within the context of the ESA FOAM project, we have studied the stability of aqueous and non-aqueous foams both on Earth and in microgravity. Foams are dispersions of gas into liquid or solid. On Earth, the lifetime of a foam is limited by the free drainage. By drainage, we are referring to the irreversible flow of liquid through the foam (leading to the accumulation of liquid at the foam bottom, and to a global liquid content decreases within the foam). When the liquid films become thinner, they eventually break, and the foam collapses. In microgravity, this process is no more present and foams containing large amounts of liquid can be studied for longer time. While the difference between foaming and not-foaming solutions is clear, the case of slightly-foaming solutions is more complicated. On Earth, such mixtures are observed to produce unstable froth for a couple of seconds. However, these latter solutions may produce foam in microgravity. We have studied both configurations for different solutions composed of common surfactant, proteins, anti-foaming agents or silicon oil. Surprising results have been obtained, emphasizing the role played by gravity on the foam stabilization process.

Related URLs:
http://stacks.iop.org/1742-6596/327/i=1/a=012024

Crystal-arrested phase separation

by cfynanon 9 June 2015in Physical Sciences No comment

We have studied the interplay between phase separation and crystallization in a colloid-polymer mixture along one kinetic pathway in samples which exhibit three-phase equilibrium coexistence. In analogy with atomic systems, the range of the effective attractive interaction between colloids is sufficiently long to allow for a stable liquid phase. By direct imaging in microgravity on the International Space Station, we observe a unique structure, a "crystal gel," that occurs when gas-liquid phase separation arrests due to crystallites within the liquid domain spanning the cell. From the initial onset of spinodal decomposition until arrest caused by this structure, the kinetics of phase separation remain largely unaffected by the formation of the third phase. This dynamic arrest appears to result from the stiffness of the crystalline strands exceeding the liquid-gas interfacial tension.

Related URLs:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23215400

The effect of microgravity on the composition of SHS products of the mixture NiO + Ni + Al + WC

by cfynanon 9 June 2015in Physical Sciences No comment

The structure formation of the liquid-phase products of the synthesis of the model SHS mixture of the thermite type NiO + Ni + Al under microgravity conditions aboard the International Space Station ALPHA is investigated. Comparative investigations of the microstructure and chemical and phase compositions of synthesis products formed on the Earth and under microgravity conditions are performed. In the process of terrestrial experiments, the main attention was paid to the search for optimal compositions capable of burning under reduced pressure with a minimal spread of combustion products.

Related URLs:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1134/S0020168509060119

IVIDIL: on-board g-jitters and diffusion controlled phenomena

by cfynanon 9 June 2015in Physical Sciences No comment

The experiment IVIDIL (Influence of Vibrations on Diffusion in Liquids) has been performed in 2009-2010 onboard the ISS, inside the SODI instrument mounted in the Glovebox at the ESA Columbus module. 55 experimental runs were carried out and each of them lasted 18 hours. The objectives of the experiment were multi-fold and here we report results for one of them. After each space experiment there is a discussion about the role of onboard g–jitters. The attention is focused on reproducibility of the results, their accuracy and comparison with numerical simulations conducted in exact geometry and using the physical properties of the system. We shortly report on the results of six experiments which were performed in natural environment of the ISS without forced vibrations. Thermodiffusion process in the cells filled with binary mixtures was monitored by means of optical digital interferometry. Perturbations of the diffusion control processes by on-board g-jitters is not observed in nominal regime of the ISS. Perturbations of thermodiffusion process were observed in non-nominal regime of the ISS, e.g. attitude control maneuvers.

Related URLs:
http://stacks.iop.org/1742-6596/327/i=1/a=012031

Interim Results from the Capillary Flow Experiment Aboard ISS: The Moving Contact Line Boundary Condition

by cfynanon 9 June 2015in Physical Sciences No comment

This paper highlight the in-flight operations of the Capillary Flow Experiment Contact Line experiments (2 each) performed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the period between Increment 9 ad 13 (8/2004-9/2006). The CFE-CL vessels are simple fluid interface experiments that probe the uncertain impact of the boundary condition at the contact line – the region where liquid, gas, and solid meet. This region controls perhaps the most significant static and dynamic characteristics of the large length scale capillary phenomena critical to most multiphase fluid management systems aboard spacecraft. Difference in fluid behavior of nearly identical statics interfaces to nearly identical disturbances are attributed to differences in fluid physics in the vicinity of the contact line. The CFE-CL experiments are conducted on five occasions by ISS Astronauts M. Fincke, W. McArthur, and J. Williams. The number of tests performed including additional science experiments is made possible by various centrifuge techniques employed by the astronauts permitting the re-use of the once-wetted container. Several of these ‘extra science’ experiments are briefly described herein. Intermittent real-time video and audio downlink, continuous communication with the ground crews at NASA JSC, MSGFC and GRC, and the clear and entreating commentary of the crew made the conduct of the tests on ISS an enjoyable, laboratory-like experience for the science on the ground. The flight tapes from the onboard cameras have been results to Earth (name flight) and are expected to be digitized, reduced and made publically available in the near future. A concurrent blind numerical analysis is underway to predict the experiments result using a generally accepted CFD-tool with specific contact line boundary conditions.

Related URLs:
http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2007-747

The Capillary Flow Experiments Aboard ISS: Moving Contact Line Experiments and Numerical Analysis

by cfynanon 9 June 2015in Physical Sciences No comment

This paper serves as a first presentation of quantitative data reduced from the Capillary Flow Contact Line Experiments recently completed aboard the International Space Station during Expeditions 9-16, 8/2004-11/2007. The simple fluid interface experiments probe the uncertain impact of the boundary condition at the contact line—the region where liquid, gas, and solid meet. This region controls perhaps the most significant static and dynamic characteristics of the large length scale capillary phenomena critical to most multiphase fluids management systems aboard spacecraft. Differences in fluid behavior of nearly identical static interfaces to nearly identical perturbations are attributed primarily to differences in fluid physics in the vicinity of the contact line. Free and pinned contact lines, large and small contact angles, and linear and nonlinear perturbations are tested for a variety of perturba- tion types (i.e. axial, slosh, and other modes) to right circular cylinders. The video and digi- tized datasets are to be made publicly available for model benchmarking. In parallel with the experimental effort, blind numerical predictions of the dynamic interface response to the experimentally applied input perturbations are offered as a demonstration of current capa- bilities to predict such phenomena. The agreement and lack of agreement between the experiments and numerics is our best guide to improve and/or verify current analytical methods to predict such phenomena critical to spacecraft fluid systems design.

Related URLs:
http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2008-816

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