As it is not possible to directly use commercial liquid flow meters in spacecraft fluid loops, a study was carried out for the European Space Agency to adapt commercial flow meter assemblies for space applications.
The various activities (described in detail) eventually led to the selection of two commercial units, which were redesigned/adapted to be used in spacecraft single-phase (water) and two-phase (ammonia) thermal control loops.
These flow meter assemblies were tested according to an agreed test programme, that included performance and calibration tests in a test bench (developed during the study), vibration testing and EMC/EMI testing.
The results are discussed in order to assess to what extent the study objectives were met. Recommendations for future work are given also.