PBRE-WRS

Objectives:

Investigate role and effects of gravity on hydrodynamics of gas-liquid flow through porous media. Develop/validate scaling laws and design tools for future packed bed reactors in zero-g and partial-g environments, including start up and transient operations. Identify strategies to recover single-phase beds from undesired trapped gas bubbles.

Experimental Approach:

• Control variables: gas and liquid flow rates.
• Diagnostics: Temperatures, pressures, video images.

Relevance/Impact:

Directly aligns with high priorities from the NRC Decadal survey on Biological and Physical Sciences (1) and the NRC 2000 report on Microgravity Research in Support of Technologies for the Human Exploration and Development of Space and Planetary Bodies (2):

• AP-2: Provide study of a critical multiphase flow component for life support systems.
• TSES-6: Provide a fundamental study in porous media under microgravity conditions.

Two-phase components are critical to life support and  thermal control systems.

Project Development Approach:

• PBRE-WR2 Series, return PBRE flight hardware, clean, modify and relaunch.
• Redesign Cradle and operate: 8 Test Section inserts:
• PBRE-WR-BF: Brine Filter
• PBRE-WR-UF: Urine Filter
• PBRE-WR-PF: Purge Filter
• PBRE-WR-Check Valve
• PBRE-WR-Orifice 1 through 4
• Work with PI Team at MSFC and PBRE team to develop PBRE-WR Series Science Requirements Document (SRD)

PBRE-WRS – Test Module – Redesign Status

Removed Test Column 5 Pressure Transducers’s & 5 Amplifiers Camera/Lens/Mirror #1 Light Bar Set #1

Added Inlet Manifold Outlet Manifold Outlet Bracket Replaced Connector Mount

Accomplishments/Progress

‒The PBRE-WRS Engineering Requirements Document (ERD) was reviewed by the Science Team (PI, Co-I and PS) comments were provided.  Comments were incorporated.

Major Upcoming Events

‒None

Publications

‒International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) publication planned upon completion of flight experiment

‒PBRE 1-2 data analysis publication (in discussion)

Issues/Concerns

‒Potential Optics Updates, discuss with PI

• • Assess possibility to have camera position and light bars adjustable:

‒Per SOW: “Provisions will be made to adjust the camera and light bar positions for each test section. Associated brackets will be fabricated and installed as needed.”

• • Assess current camera’s capability to be adjusted for different focal lengths.

Contact Information:

• PI: Jill Williamson (MSFC)
• Co-I: Colton Caviglia (MSFC)
• Project Manager: Jennifer Wetzel (GRC)
• Project Scientist: Tyler Hatch (GRC)
• Current Grant Period of Performance: N/A
• Scheduled or Actual operations dates: December 2023
• Last task book update: N/A
• Final report due: December 2024