Performance evaluation and model of spacesuit cooling by hydrophobic hollow fiber-membrane based water evaporation through pores

M. Arif Khan, Glenn Lipscomb, Andrew Lin, Kevin C. Baldridge, Elspeth M. Petersen, John Steele, Morgan B. Abney, Dibakar Bhattacharyya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A comprehensive mathematical model is presented that accurately estimates and predicts failure modes through the computations of heat rejection, temperature drop and lumen side pressure drop of the hollow fiber (HF) membrane-based NASA Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator (SWME). The model is based on mass and energy balances in terms of the physical properties of water and membrane transport properties. The mass flux of water vapor through the pores is calculated based on Knudsen diffusion with a membrane structure parameter that accounts for effective mean pore diameter, porosity, thickness, and tortuosity. Lumen-side convective heat transfer coefficients are calculated from laminar flow boundary layer theory using the Nusselt correlation. Lumen side pressure drop is estimated using the Hagen-Poiseuille equation. The coupled ordinary differential equations for mass flow rate, water temperature and lumen side pressure are solved simultaneously with the equations for mass flux and convective heat transfer to determine overall heat rejection, water temperature and lumen side pressure drop. A sensitivity analysis is performed to quantify the effect of input variability on SWME response and identify critical failure modes. The analysis includes the potential effect of organic and/or inorganic contaminants and foulants, partial pore entry due to hydrophilization, and other unexpected operational failures such as bursting or fiber damage. The model can be applied to other hollow fiber membrane-based applications such as low temperature separation and concentration of valuable biomolecules from solution.

Original languageEnglish
Article number121497
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume673
DOIs
StatePublished - May 5 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The work is supported by the funding received from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center. Partial support for the membrane characterization aspects was provided by NIEHS (Award no. P42ES007380). We acknowledge the contribution of Dr. James R. Reeder with his helpful discussion during designing the modeling study and feedback on model results. We also thank Dr. Christopher Massina for helpful discussion on SWME characteristics and model.

Funding Information:
The work is supported by the funding received from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center . Partial support for the membrane characterization aspects was provided by NIEHS (Award no. P42ES007380). We acknowledge the contribution of Dr. James R. Reeder with his helpful discussion during designing the modeling study and feedback on model results. We also thank Dr. Christopher Massina for helpful discussion on SWME characteristics and model.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Materials Science (all)
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Filtration and Separation

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