Abstract
AbstractExperimental data on flow patterns and pressure drop in two-phase gas-liquid flows through a packed bed obtained aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are analyzed in the limit of low flow rates. Four distinct flow regimes (dispersed bubble, pulse, elongated or large bubble, and gas continuous) are observed and the transition boundaries are identified by a change in the slope of the pressure gradient versus flow rate. It is found that the pressure drop is a function of flow history with the relative magnitude of the hysteresis decreasing with increasing gas or liquid flow rates. Pressure drop (or friction factor) correlations are presented for each of the flow regimes. The capillary or interfacial contribution to the pressure gradient is found to be dominant in the gas channeling regime but comparable to the viscous contribution in the large bubble regime. Preliminary data indicating the slow accumulation of the gas in the bed in the large bubble regime over a longer time period and the intermittent nature of this regime are also presented.
Funder
NASA | Glenn Research Center
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Space and Planetary Science,Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous),Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous),Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous),Materials Science (miscellaneous),Medicine (miscellaneous)
Reference31 articles.
1. Patton, M., Bruzas, A., Rame, E. & Motil, B. J. Development of packed bed reactor ISS flight experiment. in 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition (2012).
2. Motil, B. J., Nahra, H. & Balakotaiah, V. Hydrodynamics of packed bed reactor in low gravity. SAE Trans. J. Aerosp. 114, 504–508 (2005).
3. Muirhead, D., Rector, T., Jackson, W. & Keister, H. Performance of a small scale biological water recovery system, in SAE Int. International Conference on Environmental Systems, No. 2003-01-2557 (2003).
4. Campbell, M. L. et al. Integrated water recovery system test. in SAE Int. International Conference on Environmental Systems, No. 2003-01-2577 (2003).
5. McQuillen, J. B., McKay, T. L., Griffin, D. W., Brown, D. F. & Zoldak, J. T. Final report for intravenous fluid generation (IVGEN) spaceflight experiment. NTRS. No. E-17731 (2011).