Microgravity phase separation for the Rankine cycle

abstract

• Phase separation in reduced gravity continues to be an obstacle for the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations' power programs. Phase separation would be necessary for the use of a Rankine power conversion cycle in microgravity. The vortex phase separator invented by Texas A&M University may be implemented in a microgravity Rankine cycle for successful phase separation. With the known characteristics of the separator/inventory control system, the Texas A&M University vortex phase separator can be operated successfully for a wide variety of uses in microgravity. The separator operating principle and envelope, test performance data, and inventory monitoring system are described.

authors

• Kurwitz, Richard

published proceedings

• NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

author list (cited authors)

• Ghrist, M., Ellis, M., Bean, D., Kurwitz, C., & Best, F.

complete list of authors

• Ghrist, Melissa||Ellis, Mike||Bean, David||Kurwitz, Cable||Best, Frederick

publisher

• Taylor & Francis  Publisher

published in

• Nuclear Technology  Journal

keywords

• Microgravity
• Phase Separation
• Rankine Cycle

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.13182/NT06-A3791

start page

• 282

end page

• 288

volume

• 156

issue

• 3