Passive Liquid Collector With Spiral Separator for Microgravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In microgravity and zero gravity environments, fluids distribute unevenly in reservoirs, making it challenging to separate and collect the liquid phase from a mixture of liquid and vapor, which can lead to inefficient operation or damage in two-phase chiller systems and other applications.
Innovation Solution
A passive liquid collecting device with a reservoir, rigid structures, and porous capillary media, including a vapor-liquid separator with a spiral conduit and radial channels, facilitates efficient liquid collection and separation by utilizing centrifugal momentum and capillary forces to guide liquid to a collection point without external power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If capillary material is used to separate liquid from vapor in microgravity environments, then liquid collection efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for porous structures and rigid support frameworks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous capillary materials (such as sintered metal, porous polymer, or fibrous materials) as the core liquid collection mechanism. These materials utilize capillary forces to draw liquid from the vapor-liquid mixture without requiring external power sources. The porous structure provides high surface area and numerous capillary channels that efficiently collect liquid droplets while allowing vapor to pass through, thereby achieving effective separation in microgravity environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator is divided into distinct functional zones: a vapor-liquid separator section with porous capillary material for initial separation, and a liquid collection section with rigid structures. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the porous material handles vapor-liquid separation while the rigid structures manage liquid channeling and collection, reducing overall system complexity through functional decomposition.
2Reliability
If rigid structures with porous capillary media are added to the reservoir, then liquid separation and collection capability is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous capillary material is pre-formed and prepared as a separate component before being integrated into the accumulator assembly. This preliminary preparation allows the porous material to be manufactured using specialized techniques (such as sintering or foam processing) independently, ensuring consistent pore structure and capillary properties. The pre-formed component can then be easily installed into the rigid structure, simplifying the overall manufacturing process and quality control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines rigid structural materials (such as aluminum or stainless steel) with porous capillary materials (such as sintered metal or porous polymer) to create a composite liquid collection system. The rigid material provides structural support and defines the accumulator geometry, while the porous material provides the capillary action for liquid collection. This composite approach allows each material to be optimized for its specific function and manufactured using appropriate processes, then assembled together.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the accumulator draws liquid-vapor mixture instead of pure liquid, then system operation continues, but pump cavitation occurs and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous capillary material acts as an intermediary between the vapor-liquid mixture in the reservoir and the liquid outlet. It selectively absorbs and transports liquid through its capillary channels while allowing vapor to bypass the liquid collection path. This intermediary mechanism ensures that only liquid reaches the pump, preventing cavitation and maintaining reliable pump operation, while the system can continue operating continuously without interruption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures that the majority of refrigerant exiting the reservoir is in liquid form, preventing vapor from reaching the pump and maintaining system efficiency, even under transient conditions, and can be applied in various environments, including microgravity.
Implementation Method 1
A passive liquid collecting device includes a reservoir including a reservoir exit line and at least one rigid structure disposed within the reservoir configured to collect a liquid and direct the liquid to the reservoir exit line. A first porous capillary media is supported by the at least one rigid structure
Implementation Method 2
A vapor-liquid separator in contact with at least one of the at least one rigid structure and the first porous capillary media. The vapor-liquid separator includes a guide member extending along a guide member axis having a guide inlet and a guide outlet connected by a spiral conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A passive liquid collecting device includes a reservoir including a reservoir exit line and at least one rigid structure disposed within the reservoir configured to collect a liquid and direct the liquid to the reservoir exit line. A first porous capillary media is supported by the at least one rigid structure and a vapor-liquid separator in contact with at least one of the at least one rigid structure and the first porous capillary media. The vapor-liquid separator includes a guide member extending along a guide member axis having a guide inlet and a guide outlet connected by a spiral conduit. A second porous capillary media is located radially outward from the spiral conduit on an exterior surface of the guide member. A thermal control loop is also disclosed.