Table 7 Experimental studies on sloshing in microgravity
From: Cryogenic propellant management in space: open challenges and perspectives
Reference | Investigation | Gravity Cond. | Fluids | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Launched on 12 February 2005 to study sloshing in a tank subjected to induced perturbations with a system of 12 nitrogen gas thrusters. | On-orbit GTO | Water | The mission operated for 8 days. Communication problems hampered the quality and quantity of data collected. Thanks to this mission COMFLO solver (University of Germany)129 was improved and validated. | |
SPHERES-Slosh (NASA) | Two free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) are attached to opposite ends of a metal frame holding a plastic tank with green-colored water. | ISS | Water | The data were used to refine critical computer models to better solve launch and spacecraft fuel slosh. A synchronization problem between the SPHERES and the camera acquiring the sloshing images results in a limited validation use of the data130. |
SPHERES thether-slosh (NASA)131 | Experimental test-bench to study automated strategies for steering passive cargo. It consists of two automated satellites (SPHERES) connected to two different tanks: a liquid-filled tank and a solid tank of same mass. | ISS | Water | The evaluation of how the fluid and solid tanks affected the closed-loop control of the tethered system can inform future development of control strategies. The results appear to indicate the correct application of control effort to reach closed-loop set points. |
Experimental test-bench to validate the Direct Numerical Simulation for two-phase flow with the real fluid’s behavior within a spherical tank under microgravity conditions. | ISS | Water | Excellent agreement between experimental results and simulation with DIVA® (Dynamics of Interface for Vaporization and Atomization). Control of sloshing was not a goal of this mission. |
