Performance of WPA Conductivity Sensor During Two-Phase Fluid Flow in Microgravity 2003-01-2693
The Conductivity Sensor designed for use in the Node 3 Water Processor Assembly (WPA) was based on the existing Space Shuttle application for the fuel cell water system. However, engineering analysis has determined that this sensor design is potentially sensitive to two- phase fluid flow (gas/liquid) in microgravity. The source for this sensitivity is the fact that free gas will become lodged between the sensor probe and the wall of the housing without the aid of buoyancy in 1-g. Once gas becomes lodged in the housing, the measured conductivity will be offset based on the volume of occluded gas. A development conductivity sensor was flown on the NASA Microgravity Plane (KC-135) to measure the offset, which was determined to range between 0 and 50%. This range approximates the offset experienced in 1-g gas sensitivity testing. Based on these findings, a development program was initiated at the sensor's manufacturer to develop a sensor design fully compatible with two-phase fluid flow in microgravity. Testing at the conclusion of the development activity verified that the design concept has a robust tolerance for two-phase fluid flow in microgravity.
Citation: Carter, L., O'Connor, E., and Snowdon, D., "Performance of WPA Conductivity Sensor During Two-Phase Fluid Flow in Microgravity," SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-2693, 2003, https://doi.org/10.4271/2003-01-2693. Download Citation
Author(s):
Layne Carter, Edward W. O'Connor, Doug Snowdon
Affiliated:
Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
Pages: 12
Event:
International Conference On Environmental Systems
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Related Topics:
Fuel cells
Water treatment
Spacecraft
Microgravity
Gases
Conductivity
Sensors and actuators
Water
Suppliers
Assembling
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