Condensation Module for Heat Transfer

Facility Description

The FBCE Condensation Test Module 1 is also referred to as the Condensation Module – Heat Transfer, or CM-HT. CM-HT investigates condensation phenomena 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.. It includes temperature and pressure sensors and a water-cooled test section to further understanding of fundamental condensation heat transfer in microgravity. It contains a polycarbonate test section outfitted with 61 thermocouples and four pressure transduces. The test section for the CM-HT is comprised of two polycarbonate pieces held in compression by metallic clamp plates, with a circular cross section polycarbonate flow channel contained by two O-ring seals machined inside the polycarbonate. A brazed stainless-steel tube is located inside the circular flow channel, creating an annular space between the outer tube wall and the inner polycarbonate wall. Test fluid is flowed inside the stainless-steel tube while ITCS cooling water is flowed in the opposite direction through the annular space outside of the condensation tube. The test section for CM-HT is outfitted with 61 thermocouples to measure temperature in both the cooling water and test fluid streams. Four thermocouple probes measure the test fluid and water stream temperatures at the inlet and outlet. An additional 24 thermocouple probes measure the water stream temperature along the test section length. And 33 thermocouples are installed on the brazed tube exterior wall in 11 locations along its length, with three thermocouples spaced radially at each location. Also included in the CM-HT are two pressure transducers to measure test fluid absolute pressure and two pressure transducers to measure water absolute pressure. The CM-HT enclosure consists of eight aluminum panels that encompass all the CM-HT hardware.