Study of Generation and Collection of Monodisperse Droplets Flows in Microgravity and Vacuum
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 20, Issue 2
Abstract
Results investigating the processes—of generation and collection of monodisperse droplets flowing in microgravity and high vacuum—are presented. We applied these results to droplet radiators for systems of thermal stabilization and low-potential heat rejection from spacecraft power systems. The experiments were conducted on the “Mir” orbital station. Main constituents of the working process were reproduced: Generation of the droplets and collection of droplets flow on the moving fluid film at the collector surface. The developed model—with systems of measurement, thermal stabilization, and control—allowed us to obtain and record information about the process in the model in real time and (by telemetry, video recording, etc.). As a result of this space experiment, and for the first time in microgravitation and high vacuum, we demonstrated the feasibility to realize forced capillary breakdown of jets into monodisperse droplets, under the action of acoustic oscillations. A stable ancillary film of working fluid, moving over the collector inner surface and providing collection of the droplet flow, was produced.
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Acknowledgments
The writers wish to express the deep gratefulness to Academician Yu. P. Semyonov, general designer of the Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation “Energia,” for the constant support of this work at all stages of its performance, and to all who prepared and conducted the experiment. The writers specially acknowledge the high competence of pilots-cosmonauts S. Zalyotin and A. Kaleri, who were flight directors of the Mir orbital station and B. Soloviyov, pilot-cosmonaut, when working with the Pelena-2 scientific equipment on board the orbital complex.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 20 • Issue 2 • April 2007
Pages: 124 - 127
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 9, 2005
Accepted: Mar 22, 2005
Published online: Apr 1, 2007
Published in print: Apr 2007
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