Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Design and performance of an experiment for the investigation of open capillary channel flows

Sounding rocket experiment TEXUS-41

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experiments in Fluids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper we report on the set-up and the performance of an experiment for the investigation of flow-rate limitations in open capillary channels under low-gravity conditions (microgravity). The channels consist of two parallel plates bounded by free liquid surfaces along the open sides. In the case of steady flow the capillary pressure of the free surface balances the differential pressure between the liquid and the surrounding constant-pressure gas phase. A maximum flow rate is achieved when the adjusted volumetric flow rate exceeds a certain limit leading to a collapse of the free surfaces. The flow is convective (inertia) dominated, since the viscous forces are negligibly small compared to the convective forces. In order to investigate this type of flow an experiment aboard the sounding rocket TEXUS-41 was performed. The aim of the investigation was to achieve the profiles of the free liquid surfaces and to determine the maximum flow rate of the steady flow. For this purpose a new approach to the critical flow condition by enlarging the channel length was applied. The paper is focussed on the technical details of the experiment and gives a review of the set-up, the preparation of the flight procedures and the performance. Additionally the typical appearance of the flow indicated by the surface profiles is presented as a basis for a separate continuative discussion of the experimental results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brakke KA (1992) The surface evolver. Exp Math 1:141–165

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Dreyer ME, Delgado A, Rath HJ (1994) Capillary rise of liquid between parallel plates under microgravity. J Colloid Interf Sci 163:158–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmore DG (1994) Satellite thermal control handbook. The Aerospace Corporation Press, El Segundo

    Google Scholar 

  • Haake D (2004) Modellierung und Auslegung eines TEXUS-Experiments zur Untersuchung der Begrenzung des Volumenstromes in offenen Kapillarkanaelen unter Mikrogravitation. Master’s thesis, Fachbereich Produktionstechnik, Universitaet Bremen, Bremen

  • Hirt CW (1999) Direct computation of dynamic contact angles and contact lines. In: Proceedings of the 3rd European coating symposium ECS99, pp 85–90

  • Jaekle DE (1991) Propellant management device conceptual design and analysis: Vanes. In: 27th AIAA/SAE/ASME/ASEE joint propulsion conference, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Washington, no. 91-2172 in AIAA Papers

  • Masica WJ (1967) Experimental investigation of liquid surface motion in response to lateral acceleration during weightlessness. Tech. Rep. NASA TN D-4066

  • Rollins JR, Grove RK, Jaekle DE, Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. Inc. (1985) Twenty-three years of surface tension propellant management system design, development, manufacture, test and operation. In: 21st AIAA/SAE/ASME/ASEE joint propulsion conference, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Washington, no. 85-1199 in AIAA Papers

  • Rosendahl U, Ohlhoff A, Dreyer ME, Rath HJ (2002) Investigation of forced liquid flows in open capillary channels. Microgravity Sci Technol XIII/4:53–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosendahl U, Ohlhoff A, Dreyer ME (2004) Choked flows in open capillary channels: theory, experiment and computations. J Fluid Mech 518:187–214

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasan R (2003) Estimating zero-g flow rates in open channels having capillary pumped vanes. Int J Numer Methods Fluids 41:389–417

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The funding of the sounding rocket flight and the research project by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the German Aerospace Center (DLR) under grant numbers 50WM0421 and 50WM0535 is gratefully acknowledged. The experiment hardware has been build by EADS ST in Bremen and the authors thank D. Grothe and J.-P. Kunst for their support. We further wish to thank D. Haake and J. Klatte for the performance of the numerical calculations and P. Prengel for valuable technical comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sounding rocket experiment TEXUS-41 Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), University of Bremen, Am Fallturm, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Uwe Rosendahl & Michael E. Dreyer

Authors
  1. Uwe Rosendahl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael E. Dreyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Uwe Rosendahl.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rosendahl, U., Dreyer, M.E. Design and performance of an experiment for the investigation of open capillary channel flows. Exp Fluids 42, 683–696 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-007-0274-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-007-0274-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation