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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Lunar Explorer Instrument for Space Biology Applications (LEIA) Pre-Flight Tests: Mechanical Considerations​

The BioSensor payload on the upcoming LEIA platform aboard the CLPS (CP-22) lander will carry yeast to the Moon's south pole to study the effects of lunar radiation and gravity. From Earth, BioSensor will transport desiccated yeast within 16 fluidic cards, each containing 16 fluidic wells of 100 microliters volume. At the start of the experiment, these microbes will be autonomously rehydrated on the Moon, and optical absorbance measurements at three wavelengths will be performed across all 256 wells. Absorbance measurements in fluidic wells are susceptible to noise and artifacts due to bubble formation during well rehydration and microbial growth. BioSensor, as a biofluidics system, faces significant data anomalies caused by payload vibrations, particularly from the operation of the co-located PROSPECT’s ProSEED drill, to assess lunar resources by penetrating the subsurface. To evaluate the impact of drill vibrations, fully assembled and filled fluidic cards were subjected to sine sweep signals in the x, y, z planes, ranging from 5 - 2560 Hz at g-loads of 0.25 and 0.5, with on-board accelerometer for localized vibration measurement. Wells with various fill conditions, including partial fills with different bubble sizes and completely filled wells, were tested. Results indicated that small bubbles adhered to well walls at high frequencies but were dislodged at low frequencies, causing data anomalies. Medium and large bubbles exhibited higher interference with optical data due to lower surface tension and variable bubble surface flexion. Overall, it was found that irrespective of the fill type, low-frequency vibrations were most detrimental to optical readings. Understanding the drill schedule and correlating it with BioSensor timestamps will help identify periods when BioSensor data is unreliable, a crucial step for accurately interpreting the microbial response data and ensuring the validity of the BioSensor's scientific measurements on the lunar surface.

Chinmayee Govinda Raj↗
DOE OSTI2023

An efficient instance segmentation approach for studying fission gas bubbles in irradiated metallic nuclear fuel

Abstract Gaseous fission products from nuclear fission reactions tend to form fission gas bubbles of various shapes and sizes inside nuclear fuel. The behavior of fission gas bubbles dictates nuclear fuel performances, such as fission gas release, grain growth, swelling, and fuel cladding mechanical interaction. Although mechanical understanding of the overall evolution behavior of fission gas bubbles is well known, lacking the quantitative data and high-level correlation between burnup/temperature and microstructure evolution blocks the development of predictive models and reduces the possibility of accelerating the qualification for new fuel forms. Historical characterization of fission gas bubbles in irradiated nuclear fuel relied on a simple threshold method working on low-resolution optical microscopy images. Advanced characterization of fission gas bubbles using scanning electron microscopic images reveals unprecedented details and extensive morphological data, which strains the effectiveness of conventional methods. This paper proposes a hybrid framework, based on digital image processing and deep learning models, to efficiently detect and classify fission gas bubbles from scanning electron microscopic images. The developed bubble annotation tool used a multitask deep learning network that integrates U-Net and ResNet to accomplish instance-level bubble segmentation. With limited annotated data, the model achieves a recall ratio of more than 90%, a leap forward compared to the threshold method. The model has the capability to identify fission gas bubbles with and without lanthanides to better understand the movement of lanthanide fission products and fuel cladding chemical interaction. Lastly, the deep learning model is versatile and applicable to the micro-structure segmentation of similar materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

In-situ re-crystallization of heavily-irradiated Gd 2 Ti 2 O 7

Gadolinium titanate (Gd 2 Ti 2 O 7 , or GTO) and other lanthanide pyrochlores are interesting candidates for actinide waste disposal and fast ion conduction because the relevant material properties are intimately dependent on local cation structure. Therefore, a deep understanding of the kinetics associated with cation ordering and disordering is required if such material properties are to be tuned for specific device designs. To this end, single crystals of GTO were irradiated with 190 keV helium ions to a total fluence of 1 × 10 17 ions/cm 2 , amorphizing the sample surface to a depth of ~1 μm and resulting in significant He bubble accumulation. FIB lamellae lifted out from the irradiated sections were examined during heat treatment in the (scanning) transmission electron microscope. Two distinct stages of the re-crystallization of the amorphized material were observed. The material near the end of the ions’ range transformed first and with the same orientation as the pristine material. This was due to the close proximity of the pristine material and the presence of small defect fluorite seeds, but the propagation of this growth front was frustrated by the large pores (formerly bubbles) in the He accumulation layer. This was followed by heterogeneous nucleation of new crystallites at random orientations at the top of the He accumulation layer, which is attributed to the high surface area associated with the many small He bubbles in that region. Finally, it is inferred that the kinetics of grain growth in this material are significantly faster than the kinetics of grain nucleation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1998

Oscillatory/Chaotic Thermocapillary Flow Induced by Radiant Heating

There is a continuing need to understand the fluid physics occurring under low gravity conditions in processes such as crystal growth, materials processing, and the movement of bubbles or droplets. The fluid flow in such situations is often caused by a gradient in interfacial tension. If a temperature gradient is created due to a heat source, the resulting flow is called thermocapillary flow, a special case of Marangoni Convection. In this study, an experimental investigation was conducted using silicone oil in cylindrical containers with a laser heat source at the free surface. It was desired to determine the conditions under which steady, axisymmetrical thermocapillary flow becomes unstable and oscillatory three-dimensional flow states develop. The critical Marangoni number for each observed oscillatory state was measured as a function of the container aspect ratio and the dynamic Bond number, a measure of buoyant force versus ii thermocapillary force. Various oscillatory modes were observed during three- dimensional convection, and chaotic flow was reached in one test condition. The critical Marangoni numbers are compared with those measured in previous studies, and the power spectra and phase trajectories of the instantaneous surface temperature distributions are used to characterize the routes of transitions to the chaotic flow state. Results show that only superharmonic modes appear in the routes to chaos while infinite number of subharmonic modes occur in flow transitions for pure Rayleigh convection.

DeWitt, Kenneth J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Passive and Active Stabilization of Liquid Bridges in Low Gravity

Tests are planned in the low gravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS) of new methods for the suppression of the capillary instability of liquid bridges. Our suppression methods are unusual in that they are not limited to liquid bridges having very special properties and may impact a variety of low-gravity and earth-based technologies. There are two main approaches to be investigated: (1) Passive Acoustic Stabilization (PAS); and (2) Active Electrostatic Stabilization (AES). In PAS, the suppression of the mode growth is accomplished by placing the bridge in an acoustic field having the appropriate properties such that the acoustic radiation pressure automatically pulls outward on the thinnest portion of the bridge. In AES, the bridge deformation is sensed optically and counteracted by actively adjusting the electrostatic Maxwell stresses via two ring electrodes concentric with the slightly conducting bridge to offset the growth of the unstable mode. While the present work emphasizes cylindrical bridges, the methods need not be restricted to that case. The methods to be explored are relevant to the suppression of capillary instabilities in floating zone crystal growth, breakup of liquid jets and columns, bubbles, and annular films as well as the management of coolants or propellants in low-gravity.

Marston, Philip L.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Transition from Pool to Flow Boiling: The Effect of Reduced Gravity

Applications of boiling heat transfer in space can be found in the areas of thermal management, fluid handling and control, power systems, on-orbit storage and supply systems for cryogenic propellants and life support fluids, and for cooling of electronic packages for power systems associated with various instrumentation and control systems. Recent interest in exploration of Mars and other planets, and the concepts of in-situ resource utiliLation on Mars highlights the need to understand the effect of gravity on boiling heat transfer at gravity levels varying from 1>= g/g(sub e) >=10(exp -6). The objective of the proposed work was to develop a mechanistic understanding of nucleate boiling and critical heat flux under low and micro-gravity conditions when the velocity of the imposed flow is small. For pool boiling, the effect of reduced gravity is to stretch both the length scale as well as the time scale for the boiling process. At high flow velocities, the inertia of the liquid determines the time and the length scales and as such the gravitational acceleration plays little role. However, at low velocities and at low gravity levels both liquid inertia and buoyancy are of equal importance. At present, we have little understanding of the interacting roles of gravity and liquid inertia on the nucleate boiling process. Little data that has been reported in the literature does not have much practical value in that it can not serve as a basis for design of heat exchange components to be used in space. Both experimental and complete numerical simulations of the low velocity, low-gravity nucleate boiling process were carried out. A building block type of approach was used in that first the growth and detachment process of a single bubble and flow and heat transfer associated with the sliding motion of the bubble over the heater surface after detachment was studied. Liquid subcooling and flow velocity were varied parametrically. The experiments were conducted at 1 g(sub e), while varying the orientation of surface with respect to the gravity vector. In the laboratory experiments, holographic interferometry was used to obtain data on velocity and temperature fields associated with a bubble prior to, and after detachment and during sliding motion. A test rig for conducting experiments in the KC-135 was developed, but experiments could not be conducted due to the unavailability of the aircraft prior to completion of the project. Numerical simulations modeling the micro and macro regions of the bubble were carried out in three dimensions. The results of the experiments were used to validate analytical/numerical models.

Dhir, Vijay K.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Bulk Moisture and Salinity Sensor

Measurement and feedback control of nutrient solutions in plant root zones is critical to the development of healthy plants in both terrestrial and reduced-gravity environments. In addition to the water content, the amount of fertilizer in the nutrient solution is important to plant health. This typically requires a separate set of sensors to accomplish. A combination bulk moisture and salinity sensor has been designed, built, and tested with different nutrient solutions in several substrates. The substrates include glass beads, a clay-like substrate, and a nutrient-enriched substrate with the presence of plant roots. By measuring two key parameters, the sensor is able to monitor both the volumetric water content and salinity of the nutrient solution in bulk media. Many commercially available moisture sensors are point sensors, making localized measurements over a small volume at the point of insertion. Consequently, they are more prone to suffer from interferences with air bubbles, contact area of media, and root growth. This makes it difficult to get an accurate representation of true moisture content and distribution in the bulk media. Additionally, a network of point sensors is required, increasing the cabling, data acquisition, and calibration requirements. measure the dielectric properties of a material in the annular space of the vessel. Because the pore water in the media often has high salinity, a method to measure the media moisture content and salinity simultaneously was devised. Characterization of the frequency response for capacitance and conductance across the electrodes was completed for 2-mm glass bead media, 1- to 2-mm Turface (a clay like media), and 1- to 2-mm fertilized Turface with the presence of root mass. These measurements were then used to find empirical relationships among capacitance (C), the dissipation factor (D), the volumetric water content, and the pore water salinity.

Nurge, Mark↗
DOE OSTI2020

Phase-field simulations of intergranular fission gas bubble behavior in U 3 Si 2 nuclear fuel

U 3 Si 2 is a potential accident-tolerant fuel that shows promise due to its high thermal conductivity and higher uranium density relative to UO 2 . However, its swelling and fission gas release behavior in light water reactor (LWR) conditions is relatively unknown. To provide mechanistic insight and determine parameters for engineering-scale fuel performance modeling of pellet-form U 3 Si 2 , phase-field simulations of the growth, interconnection, and venting of intergranular fission gas bubbles were performed. The fractional coverage of the grain boundary and the fraction of bubble area that is vented were calculated as a function of time. From the simulation data, the fractional grain boundary coverage at saturation, an important parameter needed in engineering-scale modeling of swelling and fission gas release, was determined. Multiple simulations were run to determine the uncertainty in the calculated value. Finally, the effect of model assumptions and input parameters that are not well known was evaluated. Simulation results are compared to related theoretical and computational work. Based on the simulation results, a value of 0.60 for the fractional grain boundary coverage at saturation is recommended for U 3 Si 2 fuel.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase family in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum reveals that mitochondrial ptACSL3 is involved in the synthesis of storage lipids

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (LACS) play diverse and fundamentally important roles in lipid metabolism. While their functions have been well established in bacteria, yeast and plants, the mechanisms by which LACS isozymes regulate lipid metabolism in unicellular oil-producing microalgae, including the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum , remain largely unknown. In P. tricornutum , a family of five genes ( ptACSL1 – ptACSL5 ) encodes LACS activities. For this work, we generated single lacs knockout/knockdown mutants using multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9 method, and determined their substrate specificities towards different fatty acids (FAs) and subcellular localisations. ptACSL3 is localised in the mitochondria and its disruption led to compromised growth and reduced triacylglycerol (TAG) content when cells were bubbled with air. The ptACSL3 mutants showed altered FA profiles in two galactoglycerolipids and phosphatidylcholine (PC) with significantly reduced distribution of 16:0 and 16:1. ptACSL5 is localised in the peroxisome and its knockdown resulted in reduced growth rate and altered molecular species of PC and TAG, indicating a role in controlling the composition of acyl-CoAs for lipid synthesis. Our work demonstrates the potential of generating gene knockout mutants with the mutation of large fragment deletion using multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9 and provides insight into the functions of LACS isozymes in lipid metabolism in the oleaginous microalgae.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1995

Noncoeval star formation, starbursts, and the growth of supershells in Ob associations

There is strong evidence that the epoch of massive-star formation in OB associations is spread over intervals of 10-20 Myr as a result of subclustering, continuous or sequential star formation, or delayed collapse of the most massive stars. The growth of supershells is strongly influenced by this star formation history and by mass deposition to the hot bubble interior ('radiative poisoning'). Even in cases of coeval or continuous star formation, the rising energy input from massive stars, as they evlolve off the main sequence, may be observed as a 'starburst' with peak energy deposition 3-10 times that of the late-time rate due to supernovae and an excess of Wolf-Rayet stars (WR/O ratio approximately equal 0.1). The peak in energy deposition results in faster shell growth and velocity evolution than in constant-luminosity models. At finite bubble ages, this mechanism can alter the covering factor of superbubbles in the disk by factors of 2-3 and can accelerate the dynamical effects of galactic 'superwinds.' In contrast, if sufficient matter is entrained in the hot bubble, radiative poisoning will stall its growth.

Shull, J. Michael↗
NASA NTRS1998

Numerical Simulations of Unsteady Low-Reynolds-Number Flows Over the APEX Airfoil

Laminar and transitional separation bubbles are an important feature of low-Reynolds-number flows over airfoils. The separation bubbles are unsteady and have a significant impact on the aerodynamic properties of the airfoils. In this paper unsteady low-Reynolds-number separated flows over the APEX airfoil are calculated using a Navier-Stokes solver. The numerical results show the presence of unsteady separation bubbles in the flowfield. An analysis of the numerical results shows that flowfield disturbances are amplified significantly in the separation bubble, leading to periodic vortex shedding. A linear stability analysis of the separated boundary layer is performed and the results show that the dominant wavenumber and frequency in the numerical simulations agree with the most unstable wavenumber and frequency from the linear stability analysis. The numerical results also show the growth and interaction of disturbance waves in the separation bubble. For transonic flows over the APEX airfoil, the calculations show that the presence of shocks causes significant changes in the separation location and consequently, the overall flowfield.

Tatineni, Mahidhar↗
DOE OSTI2020

Disordering of helium gas bubble superlattices in molybdenum under ion irradiation and thermal annealing

Self-organization of gas bubbles causes the formation of an ordered array of nanoscale gas bubbles (a gas bubble superlattice), a highly efficient mechanism for gas storage under irradiation. Here, the stability of helium (He) gas bubble superlattices in molybdenum (Mo) under krypton (Kr) ion irradiation and thermal annealing has been investigated. The He gas bubble superlattices gradually become disordered under Kr ion irradiation at 300° C, and the order-disorder transformation process completes at 2.5 dpa. Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) reveal that the order-disorder transformation of He gas bubble superlattices is associated with a slight increase in the average bubble size. Phase-field modeling indicates that the inhomogeneous growth and coarsening of bubbles/voids cause the disordering of imperfect superlattices under irradiation and implies that highly ordered superlattices could potentially exhibit much stronger resistance to irradiation damage. Under thermal annealing, the He gas bubble superlattices in Mo become unstable and disordered at 1000° C with the bubble size increasing from ~1.1 to ~1.6 nm. The finding in this research provides insights into the disordering mechanisms of defect superlattices as well as guidance for designing stable defect superlattices in harsh environments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Analysis of single-mode Richtmyer–Meshkov instability using high-order incompressible vorticity-streamfunction and shock-capturing simulations

In this study, two- and three-dimensional simulation results obtained using a new high-order incompressible, variable-density vorticity–streamfunction (VS) method and data from previous ninth-order weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) shock-capturing simulations are used to investigate the nonlinear dynamics of single-mode Richtmyer–Meshkov instability using a model of a Mach 1.3 air(acetone)/SF6 shock tube experiment. A comparison of the density fields from both simulations with the experimental images demonstrates very good agreement in the large-scale structure with both methods but differences in the small-scale structure. The WENO method captures the small-scale disordered structure observed in the experiment, while the VS method partially captures such structure and yields a strong rotating core. The perturbation amplitude growth from the simulations generally agrees well with the experiment. The simulation bubble and spike amplitudes agree well at early times. At later times, the WENO bubble amplitude is smaller than the VS amplitude and vice versa for the spike amplitude. The predictions of nonlinear single-mode instability growth models are shown to agree with the simulation amplitudes at early-to-intermediate times but underpredict the amplitudes at later times in the nonlinear regime. Visualizations of the mass fraction and enstrophy isosurfaces, velocity and vorticity fields, and baroclinic vorticity production and vortex stretching terms from the three-dimensional simulations indicate that, with the exception of the small-scale structure within the rollups, the VS and WENO results are in good agreement.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2016

Passive Water Assurance Delivery System

This report provides an analysis and evaluation of proposed design improvements to the internal water delivery system of NASA’s passive vegetable growing system. The VEGGIE system is designed to provide fresh vegetables and psychological benefits for astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Preliminary testing conducted by NASA for the VEGGIE system revealed flaws in the water delivery system. In these tests, the interface between the plants and the water reservoir failed to provide passive water delivery through the system both in microgravity experiments and experiments conducted on Earth. Our team’s goal was to fix this interface such that water can be passively delivered from the water reservoir to the plant rooting pillows to grow vegetative crops from seed to harvest. The system requirements outlined by NASA include: minimal total mass, on-demand passive water delivery, same dimensions as existing fixtures, minimal pressure on system to prevent leaking, zero mold growth, minimal swelling or clogging for non-flammable capillary materials, pressure stabilization between the water reservoir and plant pillow bags, even dispersal of water during initial priming, minimal bubble obstruction of capillary interface, maximum gas availability to plant roots, growth in a mixed artificial media (50:50 Arcillite:Fafard #2), and to avoid overwatering and drought conditions for plants. The major proposed design improvements are to use a single-interface capillary cord design to directly connect the water reservoir to the plant-rooting pillows, and to alter the water reservoir to model a propellant management device (PMD) in order to ensure consistent and long term watering for the VEGGIE system. The plant rooting pillow required minimal changes outside of replacing the capillary mat on the bottom of the pillow with O-ring insertion points the single-interface capillary system. - Research was conducted to determine which materials are able to uptake water through capillary action to grow Outredgeous Lettuce plants from seed to harvest. The primary requirements to be met by the team's design and evaluation of the capillary interface were: continuous passive watering for 90 days using non-flammable capillary materials and a peak water delivery rate of 30 mL/hr./0.15 m 2 . The results of the team's experimentation showed that the capillary material Nomex displayed the highest capillary water delivery potential with a maximum flow rate of 3.6 mL/hr. The Nomex capillary systems were the only capillary material to consistently grow Outredgeous Lettuce plants from seed to harvest, and displayed the highest average flow rate for multiple experiment sets. The Nomex material was previously incorporated into the VEGGIE system using a matted version of the capillary material, though the team recommends using a cord configuration in the single-interface capillary system for greater system stability. Nomex has proven to be a promising material, as it has passed both health and fire standards for use aboard the International Space Station. PMDs are made of materials that utilize surface tension and adhesive forces to overcome adverse accelerations to improve stability and ensure fluid delivery. PMDs are typically used in fuel tanks to ensure fuel delivery. The team recommends using a sponge PMD in order to mitigate bubble obstruction, decrease system weight, and ensure reliable water delivery to the capillary interface. The PMD water reservoir requires a rigid water reservoir and a vent tube for pressure stabilization. Since PMD’s cannot be tested in 1-G (Earth conditions), further theoretical modeling and testing is required for the proposed water reservoir design. The intent of this proposed system is to passively water plants in microgravity, though the technology is not limited to microgravity applications. The testing at The Ohio State University has proven that the design is highly effective on Earth, demonstrating that it could serve as a simple water delivery system in home and office applications. This would make vegetative crops more accessible in all indoor applications, thereby improving indoor air quality and occupant comfort. Additionally, this technology has great potential to be utilized in greenhouse plant production, cutting back on more sophisticated watering system energy and time requirements.

Alexandria Jensen↗
DOE OSTI2020

A novel, magnetically driven convergent Richtmyer–Meshkov platform

Here, we introduce a novel experimental platform for the study of the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability in a cylindrically converging geometry using a magnetically driven cylindrical piston. Magnetically driven solid liner implosions are used to launch a shock into a liquid deuterium working fluid and, ultimately, into an on-axis rod with a pre-imposed perturbation. The shock front trajectory is tracked through the working fluid and up to the point of impacting the rod through the use of on axis photonic Doppler velocimetry. This configuration allows for precise characterization of the shock state as it impacts the perturbed rod interface. Monochromatic x-ray radiography is used to measure the post-shock interface evolution and rod density profile. The ALEGRA MHD model is used to simulate the dynamics of the experiment in one dimension. We show that late in time the perturbation growth becomes non-linear as evidenced by the observation of high-order harmonics, up to n = 5. Two dimensional simulations performed using a combination of the GORGON MHD code and the xRAGE radiation hydrodynamics code suggest that the late time non-linear growth is modified by convergence effects as the bubbles and spikes experience differences in the pressure of the background flow.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mesoscale modeling to inform Bison models of accident tolerant fuel concepts

U 3 Si 2 and doped UO 2 have been under investigation in recent years as potential accident-tolerant fuel concepts. In this report, lower-length scale studies of these fuel concepts carried out during Fiscal Year 2020 are detailed. U 3 Si 2 is a potential accident-tolerant fuel that shows promise due to its high thermal conductivity and higher uranium density relative to UO 2 . However, its swelling and fission gas release behavior in light water reactor (LWR) conditions is relatively unknown. To provide mechanistic insight and determine parameters for engineering-scale fuel performance modeling of pellet-form U 3 Si 2 , phase-field simulations of the growth, interconnection, and venting of intergranular fission gas bubbles were performed. The fractional coverage of the grain boundary and the fraction of bubble area that is vented were calculated as a function of time. From the simulation data, the fractional grain boundary coverage at saturation, an important parameter needed in engineering-scale modeling of swelling and fission gas release, was determined. Multiple simulations were run to determine the uncertainty in the calculated value. The effect of model assumptions and input parameters that are not well known was evaluated. Simulation results are compared to related theoretical and computational work. Based on the simulation results, a value of 0.60 for the fractional grain boundary coverage at saturation is recommended for U 3 Si 2 fuel.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1989

Controlled-Turbulence Bioreactors

Two versions of bioreactor vessel provide steady supplies of oxygen and nutrients with little turbulence. Suspends cells in environment needed for sustenance and growth, while inflicting less damage from agitation and bubbling than do propeller-stirred reactors. Gentle environments in new reactors well suited to delicate mammalian cells. One reactor kept human kidney cells alive for as long as 11 days. Cells grow on carrier beads suspended in liquid culture medium that fills cylindrical housing. Rotating vanes - inside vessel but outside filter - gently circulates nutrient medium. Vessel stationary; magnetic clutch drives filter cylinder and vanes. Another reactor creates even less turbulence. Oxygen-permeable tubing wrapped around rod extending along central axis. Small external pump feeds oxygen to tubing through rotary coupling, and oxygen diffuses into liquid medium.

Wolf, David A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Stereo Imaging Velocimetry

Stereo imaging velocimetry (SIV) will permit the collection of quantitative, three-dimensional flow data from any optically transparent fluid that can be seeded with tracer particles. This includes such diverse experiments as the study of multiphase flow, bubble nucleation and migration, pool combustion, and crystal growth. This technique will be useful to the microgravity science community as our investigations of fluid behavior in reduced-gravity environments enhance our knowledge of heat transfer, surface tension, concentration-gradient-driven anomalies, and residual effects from g-jitter. In its proposed configuration, the NASA Lewis Research Center's Stereo Imaging Velocimeter will consist of at least two charged coupled device (CCD) cameras, oriented at some relative angle with respect to each other. The cameras will observe a fluid experiment that has been seeded with tracer particles that are neutrally buoyant to permit accurate flow tracking. Except for the tracer particles, this measurement technique will be nonintrusive. Velocity accuracies will be on the order of 1 to 5 percent of full field. Each camera will make a two-dimensional record of the motion of the seed particles in the observation volume. Three-dimensional data will be obtained by computationally combining the two-dimensional information.

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