Perform an experiment in a microgravity environment to explore the behavior of impinging droplets on different wicking surfaces.
Passive phase separation is an integral part of low-energy life support systems in microgravity. These systems remove liquids from the air without the direct use of moving mechanisms. In the Liquid Vector proposed system, as droplets collide with a grooved surface, the capillary forces cause the liquid to wick along the grooves. The liquid can then be absorbed at the edges of the grooved plates. Many experiments have been done evaluating the performance of different wicking geometries (Collicott, Ginter, and Morell 3). However, very little is known about the behavior of droplets during the impact on these geometries. It is necessary that the droplets stick to, rather than splash off, the plates in order for the capillary forces to move the liquid to the edges. It is reasonable to assume that the size and velocity of a droplet relative to the wicking geometries will affect its behavior as it collides with the plate. An accurate representation of the behavior of the droplets in microgravity cannot be obtained in 1g. Gravity affects the spreading of a liquid over a solid, which affects the behavior of the liquid in a liquid-solid interaction. Liquid Vector feels is important to conduct the proposed experiment in microgravity in order to achieve reliable and representative results.
