Laser Processed Condensing Heat Exchanger Technology Development
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The reliance on non-permanent coatings in Condensing Heat Exchanger (CHX) designs is a significant technical issue to be solved before long-duration spaceflight can occur. Therefore, high reliability CHXs have been identified by the Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC) as critical technologies needed to move beyond low earth orbit. The Functionalized Condensing Heat Exchanger project aims to solve these problems through the use of femtosecond laser processed surfaces, which have unique wetting properties and potentially anti-microbial growth properties. These surfaces were investigated to identify if they would be suitable candidates for a replacement CHX surface. Among the areas researched in this project include microbial growth testing, siloxane testing in which functionalized surfaces were exposed to an air stream of siloxanes, and condensation testing in which functionalized surfaces were condensed upon.
Description
Sarah Wright, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Sarah Wallace, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Tanner Hamilton, Wyle Laboratories, Inc., USA
Dennis Alexander, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
Craig Zuhlke, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
John Sanders, Edare, Inc., USA
ICES302: Physio-chemical Life Support- Air Revitalization Systems -Technology and Process Development
The 47th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in South Carolina, USA on 16 July 2017 through 20 July 2017.