Optimization of thermocapillary-driven melting in trapezoidal and triangular geometry in microgravity

This manuscript summarizes the educational and scientific outcome of the Research-based learning activities performed in the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programmes in aerospace engineering at the Technical University of Madrid. The activities are related to the line of research in Phase Change Materials in microgravity developed at the Spanish User Support and Operations Centre. The principal scientific results obtained during these years are outlined, drawing particular attention to those related to the “Thermocapillary Effects in Phase Change Materials in Microgravity” experiment and the “Effect of Marangoni convection on heat transfer in Phase Change Materials” project. The outcomes of this research are discussed from an educational perspective. Since 2016, we observe an increased interest from students to participate in research activities, which has had direct positive impact on the production of scientific results

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“…Since 2016, we have conducted extensive numerical research [11]- [16]. Results mainly focus on rectangular geometries and noctadecane.…”

Section: … To the International Space Station: The Effect Of Marangon...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…-Depending on Γ and Ma: (i) heat transport can be enhanced up to a factor of 20 [11], (ii) oscillatory flow can appear [12] in a complex pattern selection scenario [15]. -The performance of the PCM device can be further improved using liquid bridge [14] or trapezoidal [16] geometries.…”

Section: … To the International Space Station: The Effect Of Marangon...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The “Effect of Marangoni convection on heat transfer in Phase Change Materials” experiment, from a student project to the International Space Station

Sánchez¹,

Ezquerro²,

Gligor³

et al. 2022

4th Symposium on Space Educational Activities

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“…Furthermore, the presence of a gas layer helps alleviate the problems associated with thermal expansion during melting/solidification. Besides exploiting convective flow, further enhancement can be achieved by using appropriate container geometries on ground [27,28] and in reduced gravity environments [29][30][31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Design of a Space Habitat Thermally Controlled Using Phase Change Materials

Kachalov

Sánchez

Martínez

et al. 2023

Thermo

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We explore the preliminary design of a space habitat thermally controlled using phase change materials (PCMs). The PCM is used to maintain a suitable, habitable temperature inside the habitat by isolating it from the external solar radiation. The system is studied numerically considering only diffusive heat transport (conduction), a scenario with practical application to microgravity or reduced gravity environments. The system dynamics are explored for a wide range of governing parameters, including the length of the PCM cell L, the thermo-optical properties—absorptivity α and emissivity ε—at the external boundary of the habitat wall exposed to solar radiation, the eclipse (illumination) fraction τe (τi) of the solar cycle, and the PCM used. We find that the thermo-optical properties at the external radiated boundary, characterized by the absorptivity–emissivity ratio (α/ε), play a key role in the system response and largely define the optimal design of the habitat. This optimum balances the heat absorbed and released by the PCM during repeated illumination and eclipse cycles.

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“…In space applications, however, the PCM device must also operate effectively in reduced-gravity or microgravity environments where buoyancy is ineffective. It is with such applications in mind that the thermocapillary force has been investigated as an alternative for driving convective flow [18][19][20]21,22,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. The thermocapillary (or thermal Marangoni) effect is one of the principle mechanisms behind a variety of important interfacial phenomena and occurs in the presence of a temperature gradient, which induces a surface tension gradient that draws fluid from (typically, warmer) areas of low surface tension to (typically, cooler) regions of higher surface tension.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-Dimensional Effects During Thermocapillary-Driven Melting of Pcms in Cuboidal Containers in Microgravity

Šeta,

Salgado Sanchez,

Dubert

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Optimization of thermocapillary-driven melting in trapezoidal and triangular geometry in microgravity

Cited by 24 publications

References 36 publications

The “Effect of Marangoni convection on heat transfer in Phase Change Materials” experiment, from a student project to the International Space Station

The “Effect of Marangoni convection on heat transfer in Phase Change Materials” experiment, from a student project to the International Space Station

Preliminary Design of a Space Habitat Thermally Controlled Using Phase Change Materials

Three-Dimensional Effects During Thermocapillary-Driven Melting of Pcms in Cuboidal Containers in Microgravity

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