The management of fluids in space is complicated by the absence of relevant buoyancy forces. This raises significant technical issues for two-phase flow applications. Different approaches have been proposed and tested to induce phase separation in low gravity; however, further efforts are still required to develop efficient, reliable, and safe devices. The employment of diamagnetic buoyancy is proposed as a complement or substitution of current methods and as a way to induce the early detachment of gas bubbles from their nucleation surfaces. The governing magnetohydrodynamic equations describing two-phase flows in low gravity are presented with a focus on bubble dynamics. Numerical simulations are employed to demonstrate the reachability of current magnets under different configurations, compare diamagnetic and Lorentz forces on alkaline electrolytes, and suggest scaling up procedures. The results support the employment of new-generation centimeter-scale neodymium magnets for electrolysis, boiling, and phase separation technologies in space, which would benefit from reduced complexity, mass, and power requirements.
Diamagnetically Enhanced Electrolysis and Phase Separation in Low Gravity
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets ; 59 , 1 ; 59-72
2021-07-23
14 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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