Fluid separation and condensate control systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phase separation in low and microgravity environments is challenging due to the lack of gravity-induced directionality, making it difficult to effectively separate liquid water from gas in environmental control systems, such as those used in spacecraft, where resource replenishment is limited and humidity control is critical.
Innovation Solution
The phase separator system includes a condenser that converts humid air into a two-phase fluid, a directing conduit that narrows to direct the fluid through a separator, and a condensate director with collector elements that guide liquid droplets towards the separator, ensuring efficient separation and recovery of liquid water, even in microgravity conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional gravity-based separation methods are used, then liquid water separates effectively from gas in normal gravity environments, but separation efficiency deteriorates significantly in low and microgravity conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces gravity-based mechanical separation with surface tension-based separation mechanisms. The condensate director uses hydrophilic surfaces and capillary forces to direct liquid water away from the gas flow path, eliminating dependence on gravity-induced directionality while maintaining effective phase separation in both normal and microgravity environments
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the separation mechanism from gravity-dependent to surface tension-dependent by modifying surface properties. The condensate director incorporates hydrophilic surfaces that exploit capillary pressure and surface tension effects to control liquid water behavior, allowing the system to adapt to varying gravity conditions by relying on fundamental fluid properties rather than gravitational forces
2Reliability
If the condensate director with collector elements is added to enhance liquid water capture, then separation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The condensate director is segmented into multiple collector elements arranged in an array, where each element independently captures and directs liquid water. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high capture efficiency through distributed collection surfaces while keeping each individual element simple in structure, facilitating manufacturing and maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The collector elements serve multiple functions: they provide nucleation surfaces for condensation, capture liquid water through surface tension, direct condensate flow toward collection points, and maintain structural integrity in microgravity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity
3Reliability
If the directing conduit narrows to improve fluid directionality, then separation performance improves, but pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The directing conduit employs curved transitions and smooth contours rather than sharp angles or abrupt narrowings. This curvature approach maintains fluid directionality by guiding flow smoothly around bends and through transitions, minimizing turbulence and pressure losses while still achieving the necessary flow control for effective separation
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 configuration enhances the separation efficiency of liquid water from gas, allowing for effective humidity control and resource recovery in low and microgravity environments, improving the reliability and efficiency of environmental control systems.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser configured to receive humid air from a source space, the condenser configured to convert the humid air into a two-phase fluid having a gaseous portion and a liquid portion
Implementation Method 2
Controlling parameters that impact water droplet behavior (e.g., surface tension, droplet size, etc.) are critical to effective phase control
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Phase separator systems may include a condenser (202, 402, 602) configured to convert humid air into a two-phase fluid having a gaseous portion and a liquid portion. A directing conduit is arranged downstream from the condenser (202, 402, 602) and configured to direct the two-phase fluid through a narrowing path defined by the directing conduit. A separator is arranged downstream from the directing conduit and configured to interact with the two-phase fluid to capture the liquid portion and permit the gaseous portion to bypass the separator and flow downstream therefrom as a reduced moisture content airflow. A condensate director is arranged between the condenser (202, 402, 602) and the separator and includes a plurality of collector elements arranged to capture liquid droplets and direct said liquid droplets along the plurality of collector elements. Each collector element has a free distal end at a downstream end thereof and arranged to direct the liquid droplets toward the separator.