Heat produced by systems onboard a spacecraft must be dissipated. To construct an efficient cooling system, the process of condensation in microgravity must be fully understood. This investigation included the design and construction of a closed system in stabilizing and destabilizing gravitational fields. An optical system for imaging a condensing fluid, such as methanol and n-pentane, and instrumentation to measure thermal conditions were developed. Heat flux was calculated from data recorded, but proved inaccurate. The optical system performed as expected.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Parks, Joshua Elliott
• Johnson, Christine B.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 01D202M

Advisor

• Hermanson, James C.

Year

• 2001

Sponsor

• Nasa, Lewis Center

Date created

• 2001-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright