Microgravity Phase Separation for the Rankine Cycle

Phase separation in reduced gravity continues to be an obstacle for the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations' power programs. Phase separation would be necessary for the use of a Rankine power conversion cycle in microgravity. The vortex phase separator invented by Texas A&M University may be implemented in a microgravity Rankine cycle for successful phase separation. With the known characteristics of the separator/inventory control system, the Texas A&M University vortex phase separator can be operated successfully for a wide variety of uses in microgravity. The separator operating principle and envelope, test performance data, and inventory monitoring system are described.