Propellant Transfer Utilizing Cyclonic Separation in a Microgravity Environment

1. Propellant Transfer Utilizing Cyclonic Separation in a Microgravity Environment

2. Members • Arber Shametaj Electrical Engineering • Carlos Diaz Mechanical Engineering • Andrew Tse Mechanical Engineering • Ka Fung Chin Electrical Engineering • Peter Gomes Electrical Engineering

3. Introduction • Microgravity research program • Flight on NASA C-9 “Weightless Wonder” • Collaboration with NASA Engineers • Experiment • Result of experiment • Future plans • Conclusion

4. Program Details • Allows participants to conduct Microgravity research • Teaches participants fundamentals of Engineering in a reduced gravity environment • Educates participants in the inner workings of NASA • Internship, Co-op and Job opportunities • Microgravity participants take precedence over other candidates

5. “Weightless Wonder” Platform • 2 Flights • 60 parabolas total • 20 to 30 seconds of microgravity • NASA C-9 aircraft Courtesy of NASA

6. “Weightless Wonder” Platform • This flight maneuver has been used for over 40 years

7. Microgravity Experience

9. Experiment • 3D Tank • Observe Cyclone rotating about longitudinal & latitudinal axis • Achieved by injecting water tangent to the wall & 45 ̊ angle • Drained in 2g. • 2D Tank • Observe Cyclone rotating about longitudinal axis • Achieved by injecting water tangent to the wall & parallel to floor. • Drained in 2g.

10. Experiment • Transfer System • 3D Cyclone used to separate water and gas • Secondary pump used to extract fluid from walls of tank Transfer Outlet

11. Results • 3D cyclone successfully separates gas and liquid. At different gas to liquid ratios, cyclone able to separate the gas and liquid • 2D cyclone successfully separates gas and liquid. At different gas to liquid ratios, cyclone able to separate the gas and liquid • Some liquid was successfully transferred throughout the system. Avoiding transferring gas bubbles unsuccessful

12. Thank you