Location

Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel

Start Date

30-4-1998 1:00 PM

Description

This experiment demonstrates the fluid property of hydrophilic attraction and hydrophobic repulsion and their relation to surface tension. This study gives an approximation of the amount of control that can be exerted passively over a mass system of fluid. By using cylinders of various sizes and shapes that are coated with various substances, in various patterns, containers along with baffles, a demonstration of the force of attraction between fluid and coating can be observed.
The properties studied in this experiment are of great use to the aerospace industry. The control of fluids in a microgravity environment is of major concern to any space project. In the case of a rocket or similar launch vehicle, the fuel of the spacecraft can make up to 70 percent of the weight. If this fluid were to start oscillating, the results would be catastrophic. If the fluid drifted away from the side of the fuel tank that the fuel need to be drawn from while in orbit, the spacecraft would have no way of using the fuel.
Life support systems can also benefit from this technology. Water must be stored aboard just like fuel. In fact, the storage of water might be considered even more crucial because it is carried throughout the entire flight, where fuel is usually spent in the initial stages of the flight. Water and other life supporting fluids are a direct necessity for astronauts and cosmonauts and must be readily available.
By studying the relationship between fluid, coatings of containers, and the shape of the container, NASA, the aerospace industry, and science in general will learn to control fluids passively, not actively, conserving energy weight, and increasing efficiency.

Comments

Space Benefits For Future Generations

Session Chairman: Phil Rose, Instructional Services Division, School Board of Brevard County

Session Organizer: Cindy Coddington

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Apr 30th, 1:00 PM

Paper Session III-D - The Effects of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Coatings and Container Shape on Fluids and Containers in a Microgravity Environment

Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel

This experiment demonstrates the fluid property of hydrophilic attraction and hydrophobic repulsion and their relation to surface tension. This study gives an approximation of the amount of control that can be exerted passively over a mass system of fluid. By using cylinders of various sizes and shapes that are coated with various substances, in various patterns, containers along with baffles, a demonstration of the force of attraction between fluid and coating can be observed.
The properties studied in this experiment are of great use to the aerospace industry. The control of fluids in a microgravity environment is of major concern to any space project. In the case of a rocket or similar launch vehicle, the fuel of the spacecraft can make up to 70 percent of the weight. If this fluid were to start oscillating, the results would be catastrophic. If the fluid drifted away from the side of the fuel tank that the fuel need to be drawn from while in orbit, the spacecraft would have no way of using the fuel.
Life support systems can also benefit from this technology. Water must be stored aboard just like fuel. In fact, the storage of water might be considered even more crucial because it is carried throughout the entire flight, where fuel is usually spent in the initial stages of the flight. Water and other life supporting fluids are a direct necessity for astronauts and cosmonauts and must be readily available.
By studying the relationship between fluid, coatings of containers, and the shape of the container, NASA, the aerospace industry, and science in general will learn to control fluids passively, not actively, conserving energy weight, and increasing efficiency.

 

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