The Micro-Gravity Sediment Trap: Passive Filtration for Spacecraft Pumped Fluid Loops

A considerable number of thermal and environmental control systems aboard satellites and manned spacecraft, such as the International Space Station, are reliant upon pumped fluid loops (PFLs) for heat and mass transfer. However, recent research has discovered a high failure rate (~17%) of western world spacecraft PFLs in microgravity environments. This has precipitated research into debris and sedimentation removal from PFL systems. Active removal of debris from PFL systems requires the use of sieve type and/or porous filtration components. Over time, these components can become clogged with debris, ultimately incurring considerable cost in terms of pressure drop, which can significantly increase the risk of failure. The micro-gravity sediment trap (MGST) is a novel, high efficiency passive filtration device designed to [ideally] replace active filter components. Unlike active filters, MGST does not have orifices or bypass lines and as a result, has significantly lower pressure drops compared to active systems, has minimal risk of clogging, and can target similar particle size ranges. In addition, MGST is designed to be scalable according to the specifications of the PFL, i.e. modifications for increased or decreased flow rate, working fluid selection, and overall system size. In this current work, a combination of experimental and multiphase modeling analyses are used to quantitatively describe the performance of MGST as a filtration device.