ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BUBBLE PRESSURE TESTS ON FINE-MESH SCREEN

A laboratory-scale test program was conducted to investigate candidate mechanisms that could explain the unacceptably low bubble pressures that were obtained during the reaction control system (RCS) tank tests. It was concluded that liquid evaporation from the fine-mesh screens was the cause of the observed test results. Correlations of the data were developed for two mechanisms of liquid evaporation from the screens: evaporation caused by temperature gradients and evaporation caused by unsaturated pressurant gas. These correlations identify the environmental requirements for conducting successful RCS tank bubble pressure tests. © American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., 1979, All rights reserved.