Effective, low power, gas-liquid separation systems are imperative for the operation of cost-effective two-phase flow systems in space. The limitations on the volumes and weights to be carried for…

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded a $358,974.95 cooperative agreement to Dynaflow, Inc. to develop an effective, low power, gas-liquid separation system for space applications. The contract is focused on the design and investigation of passive centrifugal force-based phase separation devices that require no moving mechanical parts and low power. This builds on previous research by NASA's John H. Glenn Research Center on the Cascade Cyclonic Separation Device, which is efficient at mid-range void fractions but less so at lower void fractions. There is no set-aside designation for this contract. Dynaflow, Inc. specializes in fluid dynamics and material science research and development, and has provided related technologies and services to NASA and the Departments of Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force under previous prime contracts and grants.

Effective, low power, gas-liquid separation systems are imperative for the operation of cost-effective two-phase flow systems in space. The limitations on the volumes and weights to be carried for space experiments make IT imperative to have the capability to separate gases from liquids in order to recycle and reuse both. One effective way to do so is to use centrifugal force. Many phase separators devices have been designed and investigated using this force and passive separators requiring no moving mechanical parts and low power have been investigated intensively owing to their simplicity and dependability. Mcquillen ET AL. [1-3] at NASA glenn research center has developed the cascade cyclonic separation device (CSD-c). This free vortex separator (FVS) is very efficient for mid-range void fraction (from 40 to 80% of gas) with an efficiency approaching 100%. However, IT is not as efficient for lower void fraction.