Magazine Article

Water Tank With Capillary Air/Liquid Separation

TBMG-8492

09/01/2010

Abstract
Content

A bladderless water tank (see figure) has been developed that contains capillary devices that allow it to be filled and emptied, as needed, in microgravity. When filled with water, the tank shields human occupants of a spacecraft against cosmic radiation. A membrane that is permeable by air but is hydrophobic (neither wettable nor permeable by liquid water) covers one inside surface of the tank. Grooves between the surface and the membrane allow air to flow through vent holes in the surface as the tank is filled or drained. A margin of wettable surface surrounds the edges of the membrane, and all the other inside tank surfaces are also wettable. A fill/drain port is located in one corner of the tank and is covered with a hydrophilic membrane.

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Citation
"Water Tank With Capillary Air/Liquid Separation," Mobility Engineering, September 1, 2010.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Sep 1, 2010
Product Code
TBMG-8492
Content Type
Magazine Article
Language
English