Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment

Facility Description

Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE) hardware is an integrated two-phase flow boiling and condensation facility on the ISSInternational Space Station. The FBCE has two sub-facilities that allow for the study of flow boiling and condensation heat transfer phenomena.

The FBCE will serve as a primary platform for obtaining two-phase flow boiling and condensation heat transfer data in microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment.. By comparing the microgravity data against data obtained in Earth’s gravity, it will be possible to ascertain the influence of body forces on two-phase transport phenomena in pursuit of mechanistic models as well as correlations, and to help determine the minimum flow criteria to ensure gravity-independent flow boiling and condensation. Key areas of impact include the Rankine cycle-based power systems and two-phase thermal control systems. Rankine cycle power systems are considered one of the most viable options for space application due to their high-power output per unit mass and volume. Similarly, two-phase thermal control systems can yield significant advancement in thermal performance for spaceflight applications compared with current single-phase thermal control loops.