Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Volume Sensor for Flexible Fluid Reservoirs in Microgravity
Project Description
The Advanced Space Suit carries consumable cooling water maintained at ambient pressure within a soft-walled, flexible reservoir. To ensure uninterrupted thermal control it is critical to monitor the volume of water remaining, but no known sensor is suitable for this task. Existing measurement techniques are unacceptably sensitive to the motion and varying geometry of the reservoir in microgravity, or to electromagnetic interference within the suit environment. We have developed a simple, compact, low power sensor that accurately measures the volume of fluid in any soft-walled bladder. Our innovative sensing technique will provide an accurate measurement that is insensitive to gravity, the motion and geometry of the reservoir, the presence of air pockets, and electromagnetic interference. We will develop a fully integrated sensor system suitable for use on the Advanced Space Suit and perform functional validation and spaceflight qualification testing.
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Anticipated Benefits
The Feedwater Supply Assembly in the Advanced Space Suit is a soft-walled, flexible reservoir containing cooling water. The water is circulated through the thermal control loop and slowly consumed by evaporation at the Suit Water Membrane Evaporator, rejecting waste heat to control occupant temperature. To ensure uninterrupted thermal control and occupant survival, it is critical to monitor the remaining water volume. The sensor developed under this program will accurately monitor the remaining volume in this reservoir. This sensor will function equally well in any other flexible fluid reservoir on a space platform. This may include fuel, coolant, and cryogen storage bladders on various spacecraft, satellites, and stations.
This sensor technology will meet similar bladder volume monitoring needs in other microgravity applications such as commercial spacecraft and orbital stations, along with water and fuel storage bladders used in military and recreational applications. More »
This sensor technology will meet similar bladder volume monitoring needs in other microgravity applications such as commercial spacecraft and orbital stations, along with water and fuel storage bladders used in military and recreational applications. More »
Project Library
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creare, LLC | Lead Organization | Industry | Hanover, New Hampshire |
| Dartmouth College | Supporting Organization | Academia | Hanover, New Hampshire |
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Houston, Texas |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
New Hampshire
-
Texas
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