Physics Commons^™

Capillary Channel Flow Experiments Aboard The International Space Station, Michael Conrath, P. J. Canfield, P. M. Bronowicki, Michael E. Dreyer, Mark M. Weislogel, A. Grah

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the near-weightless environment of orbiting spacecraft capillary forces dominate interfacial flow phenomena over unearthly large length scales. In current experiments aboard the International Space Station, partially open channels are being investigated to determine critical flow rate-limiting conditions above which the free surface collapses ingesting bubbles. Without the natural passive phase separating qualities of buoyancy, such ingested bubbles can in turn wreak havoc on the fluid transport systems of spacecraft. The flow channels under investigation represent geometric families of conduits with applications to liquid propellant acquisition, thermal fluids circulation, and water processing for life support. Present and near future experiments …