Dissertation
Some fluid mechanics problems for space exploration
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000003131
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/124707
Abstract
Future space missions will depend on the ability to store fluids, transport fluids and process fluids. Fluids are used in many spacecraft systems, such as storage tanks, heating, and cooling, or to build/restore spacecraft structures. As space missions get longer, researchers want to conserve energy while utilizing these fluids in order to make longer space missions possible.
Liquid oscillations are common for a spacecraft, either during trajectory correction maneuvers or navigating the spacecraft during entry, descent, and landing. These oscillations affect the stability of the spacecraft. Even small disturbances in a spacecraft might cause the fluids to move or shift their position. Liquids in question are liquid hydrogen (LH2), liquid oxygen (LOX), and other liquids needed for life support, such as water. Capillary forces can be exploited to control these fluids. We develop and calibrate the numerical model to investigate the liquid oscillations for push experiments conducted in International Space Station.
Effective cryogenics storage management is the necessity for long duration space exploration. Liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX), fuel/oxidizer combination yields the highest specific impulse, or efficiency, and is the choice for NASA space exploration. Heat leaks into the fuel tank leading to evaporation of liquid hydrogen (LH2) and self-pressurization of tank. Zero Boil-Off Tank (ZBOT) can be realized using catalyzation of parahydrogen-orthohydrogen conversion. Current work describes about the computational fluid dynamics modeling for catalyzation of parahydrogen-orthohydrogen conversion.
Space debris is a growing problem which risk the current mission and future space exploration. Brazing with molten alloy is one of the possible solutions to repair the damaged spacecraft. To braze molten alloy effectively, it’s important to study the brazing of molten alloys on terrestrial conditions. Experiments are done to study kinetics of molten alloy on wetting/non-wetting surface. An unusual behavior of molten alloy is observed during these experiments. We explain the anomalous behavior through numerical modeling.
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Details
- Title
- Some fluid mechanics problems for space exploration
- Creators
- Santhosh Kumar Muniyal Krishna
- Contributors
- Sinisa Dj Mesarovic (Advisor)Prashanta Dutta (Committee Member)David Thiessen (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical and Materials Engineering, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 141
- Identifiers
- 99900651899901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation