Analysis of Air Ventilation and Crew Comfort for the International Space Station Cupola

The objectives of this investigation are to verify the ventilation and temperature characteristics of the Cupola and to ensure the adequacy of crew comfort and safety when the Robotic Workstation (RWS) is present. Requirements indicate that an effective air velocity in the Cupola cabin must be maintained within the range of 15 to 40 feet per minute. Based on the results obtained in this study, the performance of the Cupola ventilation system while the RWS is not operating is close to meeting the requirement. However, when the Robotic Workstation is in operation, most of the air velocity in the Cupola is too high due to the elevated flowrate caused by the RWS fans. A low velocity region is present near the crewmember as a result of the vortex created by the RWS flow. In addition to examining the ventilation of the Cupola, crew comfort and safety is evaluated by examining the air temperature and the airflow around the crewman. A design change is evaluated where a deflector is used to redirect the warm, high velocity air from the RWS to exit directly through the hatch. Results show that the altered airflow pattern hinders the formation of a vortex and reduces cabin temperature, all of which lead to an increase in crew comfort and safety.