Friction-coefficient measurement in pneumatic transport as preparation for a space experiment
Abstract
The roles of gravity and of particle and pipe-wall characteristics in pneumatic transport of solids are evaluated experimentally (using a curved pipe to simulate zero-gravity conditions by balancing gravitational and centrifugal forces), and the design of a space experiment for the SPAS-01 payload on STS-7 is presented. The basic principles of pneumatic transport at high and low velocities are reviewed, published friction measurements are summarized in graphs, the experimental apparatus is described and illustrated, and the results are presented graphically. The space apparatus employs six closed 34-mm-diameter 3.6-m long test channels of steel, aluminum, rubber, and PES; flour particles and glass and Cr-Ni spheres are accelerated to speeds of 5-15 m/s, and the pressure drop, temperature, and absolute pressure are measured.
- Publication:
-
Spacelab Utilization: Materials Research and Technology in Space
- Pub Date:
- 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982sumr.rept..187M
- Keywords:
-
- Coefficient Of Friction;
- Materials Handling;
- Pneumatic Equipment;
- Space Transportation;
- Spaceborne Experiments;
- Particle Acceleration;
- Powder (Particles);
- Space Commercialization;
- Spheres;
- Test Facilities;
- Weightlessness Simulation;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer