SiOC Screens with Aligned and Adjustable Pore Structure for Screen Channel Liquid Acquisition Device

Abstract

The development of porous ceramic screens with high chemical stability, low density, and thermal conductivity can lead to promising screen channel liquid acquisition devices (SC-LADs) for propellant management under microgravity conditions in the future. Therefore, SiOC screens with aligned pores were fabricated via freeze-casting and applied as a SC-LAD. The pore window sizes and open porosity varied from 6 µm to 43 µm and 65 % or 79 %, depending on the freezing temperature or the solid loading, respectively. The pore window size distributions and bubble point tests indicate crack-free screens. On the one hand, SC-LADs with an open porosity of 79 % removed gas-free liquid up to a volumetric flow rate of 4 mL s−1. On the other hand, SC-LADs with an open porosity of 65 % were limited to 2 mL s−1 as the pressure drop across these screens was relatively higher. SC-LADs with the same open porosity but smaller pore window sizes showed a higher pressure drop across the screen and bubble ingestion at higher values of effective screen area when increasing the applied removal volumetric flow rate. The removed liquid from the SC-LADs was particle-free, thus representing a potential for applications in a harsh chemical environment or broad-range temperatures.