Recent Operational Experience with the Internal Thermal Control System Dual-Membrane Gas Trap 2004-01-2428
A dual-membrane gas trap is currently used to remove gas bubbles from the Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) coolant on board the International Space Station. The gas trap consists of concentric tube membrane pairs, comprised of outer hydrophilic tubes and inner hydrophobic fibers. Liquid coolant passes through the outer hydrophilic membrane, which traps the gas bubbles. The inner hydrophobic fiber allows the trapped gas bubbles to pass through and vent to the ambient atmosphere in the cabin. The gas removal performance and operational lifetime of the gas trap have been affected by contamination in the ITCS coolant. However, the gas trap has performed flawlessly with regard to its purpose of preventing gas bubbles from causing depriming, overspeed, and shutdown of the ITCS pump. This paper discusses on-orbit events over the course of the last year related to the performance and functioning of the gas trap.
Citation: Leimkuehler, T., Lukens, C., Reeves, D., and Holt, J., "Recent Operational Experience with the Internal Thermal Control System Dual-Membrane Gas Trap," SAE Technical Paper 2004-01-2428, 2004, https://doi.org/10.4271/2004-01-2428. Download Citation
Author(s):
Thomas O. Leimkuehler, Clark Lukens, Daniel R. Reeves, James M. Holt
Affiliated:
Honeywell, Inc., The Boeing Company, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Pages: 6
Event:
International Conference On Environmental Systems
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Also in:
SAE 2004 Transactions Journal of Aerospace-V113-1
Related Topics:
Spacecraft
Control systems
Gases
Coolants
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