Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME)
ACME is focused on advanced combustion technology via fundamental microgravity research. The primary goal is to improve efficiency and reduce pollutant emission in practical terrestrial combustion. A secondary objective is fire prevention, especially for spacecraft.
Currently, ACME includes five independent experiments (see ACME Experiments below) investigating laminar, gaseous, non-premixed flames.
The ACME experiments will be conducted with a single modular set of hardware (see ACME Implementation) in the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) on the International Space Station (ISS).
An ACME precursor, Structure & Liftoff In Combustion Experiment (SLICE), was conducted in the ISS’ Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) in early 2012.
The ACME design is complete and the engineering hardware is being assembled for integrated testing. On-orbit testing is expected to begin in 2017 and continue for a few years.
![In this Jan. 17 photo [iss066e114301], NASA astronaut Raja Chari is at the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) making changes to the Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) hardware in preparation for its final days of testing. The ACME insert can be seen partially withdrawn from the CIR combustion chamber.](https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/275235181_334305388742755_6291551364853601310_n-300x300.jpg)
For the latest updates and photos, see www.facebook.com/space.flames/ and www.flickr.com/photos/space-flames, respectively. February 2020 900 Space Flames: Testing for the Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME, https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/go/acme) project is underway on the International Space Station. In the past 2.25 years, over 900 flames have been ignited for the CLD Flame, E-FIELD Flames, BRE, Flame Design, and … Read the rest ⇢
The Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) project includes six independent experiments investigating laminar gaseous non-premixed flames. In other words, the flow is smooth and without vortices, the fuel is a gas (and not a liquid or solid), and the fuel and oxygen are not mixed in the burner (but are instead on opposite sides … Read the rest ⇢
In the United States, nearly 70% of our electrical energy is generated through the combustion of fossil fuels. For example, in 2012, electricity was generated in the U.S. by burning the following fuels, where the percentages indicate the fraction of the total U.S. electrical generation: coal (37%), natural gas (30%), biomass (1.4%), and petroleum (1%). … Read the rest ⇢
Prepared by Dennis P. Stocker, NASA Glenn Research Center 216-433-2166, dennis.p.stocker@nasa.gov Peer-reviewed publications resulting from the ACME project are listed on subsequent pages by investigation. The Principal Investigators (PIs), Co-Investigators (Co-Is), and lead Russian collaborators are identified below, where those marked with an asterisk are former investigators. The period of ISS operations is also shown, … Read the rest ⇢
A collection of downloads/documents related the ACME.
ACME related Links.
The ACME experiments will be conducted with a single modular set of hardware in the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) on the International Space Station (ISS), where the CIR is depicted below. The three main elements of the ACME-unique hardware are the chamber insert (shown below), a high-definition color camera, and an avionics package (for data … Read the rest ⇢
Project Manager: Lauren Brown, NASA Glenn Research Center, 216-433-8429, lauren.brown@nasa.gov
Project Scientist: Dennis Stocker, NASA Glenn Research Center, 216-433-2166, Dennis.P.Stocker@nasa.gov
Deputy Project Scientist: Prof. Fumiaki Takahashi, Case Western Reserve University, 216-368-6838, fumiaki.takahashi-1@nasa.gov
Engineering Team: ZIN Technologies, Inc.
