Artificial gravity in heat and mass exchange apparatus for the life support system of manned space missions

Abstract

Different water recovery systems for deep space flight are analyzed; the existing systems and their shortcomings are briefly shown. The construction of a centrifugal mass transfer apparatus is presented, it could work in weightlessness conditions. The experimental data for the centrifugal apparatus in the mode of separation of the gas and liquid mixture are presented. The pressure was about 8 meters of water column for proposed construction. The formula for calculating the pressure for a scoop pump is given, which takes into account the rotation frequency, volume flow rate, the geometric dimensions and location of the scoop. Principle schemes for using a new centrifugal mass exchange device for water recovery systems and for capturing atmospheric moisture condensate are proposed. The features of the proposed schemes are analyzed and their potential advantages are determined. The main tasks for future experimental studies of the heat and mass transfer centrifugal apparatus are defined.