MELFI - The First Freezer for Science in Space Station

Cheganças, Jean

doi:10.4271/2001-01-2221

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The ER types of space station refrigerator include the Minus-Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) [5,6] and ISS Crew Refrigerator Freezer Rack (RFR) [7]. There are a number of separate units with Dewar structures in MFLFI, which covers the cooling temperature zones of −80 • C, −35 • C, AND 2 • C. The MELFI is divided into four large storage zones, each of which is subdivided into four smaller drawers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frost-Preventing Design for Space Station Refrigerator

Guo,

Dou,

Zou

et al. 2023

Energies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Different preservation temperatures for sample storage in space stations and corresponding refrigerator devices have been designed. In the below-freezing environment, frost will occur on the inner wall surface and the sealing place of the refrigerator device, which may have an impact on the operating performance and sealing performance of the refrigerator device. This paper analyzes the impact of frost on refrigerator storage devices, and designs and verifies a scheme of air cooling with a hollow seal method to reduce the impact of frost. The designed refrigerator was tested for air cooling, sealing, and long-term performance. The tests show that the air-cooling structure designed in this paper can effectively reduce the frost on the sample surface. A cumulative helium mass spectrometry leak detection method is applied to verify that the hollow seal structure designed has a better sealing property, which can prevent the diffusion of water vapor and frosting at the sealing position. The design with air cooling and hollow sealing has less frost and more stable performance for long-term operation. The results demonstrate this refrigerator would have the capability of operating on-orbit. The frost-preventing method for space station refrigerator designed in this paper has significance for the design of similar cryogenic equipment in microgravity environments.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frost-Preventing Design for Space Station Refrigerator

Guo,

Dou,

Zou

et al. 2023

Energies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Two Units of the minus Eighty Freezer MELFI ready ...

Cheganças

Parolis²

2005

56th International Astronautical Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, the International Academy of Astronaut

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

MELFI, the Minus Eighty degrees Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS is the first of the freezers provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) as Laboratory Support Equipment for the International Space Station (ISS). Three freezers will ensure the continuous cold chain for transporting biological samples between the Ground Laboratories and the ISS.The first MELFI Flight Unit was delivered to NASA in 2002 and is scheduled for next Space Shuttle flight in 2006 to be installed in the International Space Station.The second MELFI Flight Unit was delivered at NASA-KSC in 2004 for JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency.While the technology for this kind of freezer was qualified with the first unit, the production phase of the two following units and the operations using the first unit have brought some know-how for the long term life of the system. The cooling engines for the different units confirmed how challenging the technology was.The second unit had to follow a complementary verification campaign for the requirements specific to the JEM, the Japanese Module in ISS. The specificities of the JEM module, compared to the USLAB were analyzed and adaptations were found to keep all MELFI Units compatible of both ISS modules. Some improvement on the thermal control was first necessary to extend the working domain of the MELFI, and then an extended test campaign has confirmed the compatibility with both JEM and USLAB.Because the freezers are the only payloads flying active inside the MPLM (Logistics Module), MELFI units followed the verification of the MPLM interfaces for an active flight, including software interfaces, electrical power quality and water cooling loop. The results have confirmed the acceptable margins between both sides for the ascent and descent phases.Repeated test sessions using both the NASA PRCU (Payload Rack Check Unit) and the PTCS (Payload Test and Checkout System) have confirmed that both units are ready for flight. This paper presents the different steps of MELFI development leading to the availability of the MELFI units ready for use inside MPLM and inside the ISS, including the JEM..

show abstract

MELFI Thermal Verification Before the First Flight

Cheganças¹,

Gall²

2002

SAE Technical Paper Series

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

MELFI - The First Freezer for Science in Space Station

Cited by 7 publications

References 3 publications

Frost-Preventing Design for Space Station Refrigerator

Frost-Preventing Design for Space Station Refrigerator

Two Units of the minus Eighty Freezer MELFI ready ...

MELFI Thermal Verification Before the First Flight

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About