Fluid Science Laboratroy (ESA / D. Ducros)

The Fluid Science Laboratory is an European (ESA's) science payload designed for use in Columbus built by Alenia Aeronautica Spazio. It is a multi-user facility for conducting fluid physics research in microgravity conditions. It can be operated in fully- or in semi-automatic mode and can be controlled on-board by the ISS astronauts, or from the ground in the so-called telescience mode. Image File history File links Fluid Science Laboratory (ESA / D. Ducros) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... In cargo transport, payload is the valuable contents of the vehicle. ... Columbus (NASA image) Columbus is a science laboratory designed to be a part of the International Space Station. ... Alenia Aeronautica is an aerospace engineering corporation in Italy, a subisidary of Finmeccanica. ... A subset of the phases of matter, fluids include liquids, gases, plasmas and, to some extent, plastic solids. ... Astronauts on the International Space Station display an example of weightlessness Weightlessness is the experience (by people and objects) during freefall, of having no weight. ... ISS Statistics Crew: 2 As of June 17, 2005 Perigee: 347. ...

The major objective of performing fluid science experiments in space is to study dynamic phenomena in the absence of gravitational forces. Under microgravity such forces are almost entirely eliminated thereby significantly reducing gravity-driven convection, sedimentation and stratification and fluid static pressure, allowing the study of fluid dynamic effects normally masked by gravity. These effects include diffusion-controlled heat and mass transfer. Convection is the transfer of heat by the motion of or within a fluid. ... Sediment is any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water or other liquid. ... Stratification is the building up of layers of deposits, and can have several variations of meaning: Social stratification, is the dividing of a society into levels based on wealth or power. ... Fluid statics is the science of fluids at rest. ... This article or section should be merged with Fluid mechanics Fluid dynamics is the study of fluids (liquids and gases) in motion, and the effect of the fluid motion on fluid boundaries, such as solid containers or other fluids. ... Mass transfer is the phrase commonly used in engineering for physical processes which involve molecular and convective transport of atoms and molecules within physical systems. ...

The absence of gravity-driven convection eliminates the negative effects of density gradients (inhomogeneous mass distribution) that arise in processes involving heat treatment, phase transitions, diffusive transport or chemical reaction. Convection in terrestrial processes is a strong perturbing factor, the effects of which are seldom predictable with great accuracy and which dominate heat and mass transfer in fluids.

The ability to accurately control such processes remains limited, and their full understanding requires further fundamental research by conducting well-defined model experiments for developing and testing related theories under microgravity. This should facilitate the optimisation of manufacturing processes here on Earth and improve the quality of high value products, such as semiconductors. A semiconductor is a material with an electrical conductance that is intermediate to those of an insulator and a conductor. ...

The Fluid Science Laboratory fully occupies an International Standard Payload Rack. The Facility Core Element consists of the Optical Diagnostics Module and Central Experiment Module into which the Experiment Containers are sequentially inserted and operated. The Optical Diagnostics Module houses the equipment for visual and interferometric observation, their related control electronics and the attachment points and interfaces for Front Mounted Cameras. The Central Experiment Module is divided into two parts:

• The first part contains the suspension structure for the Experiment Containers, including all the functional interfaces and optical equipment, and is designed to be pulled out from the rack to allow insertion and removal of the Experiment Container.
• The second part contains all the diagnostic and llumination equipment and its control electronics to command and monitor the electromechanical and opto-mechanical components. The Facility Core Element is complemented by the functional sub-systems for power distribution, environmental conditioning and data processing and management.

Experiments must be integrated in an FSL Experiment Container (EC). With a typical mass of 25-30 (max. 40) kg, and standard dimensions of 400x270x280 mm³, the EC provides ample space to accommodate the fluid cell assembly, including any necessary process stimuli and dedicated electronics.

For observation of experiments the Fluid Science Laboratory includes:

• Two-axis visual observation with electronic imaging and photographic back-up via Front Mounted Cameras which provide high speed imaging together with high resolution and colour recording;
• Background, sheet and volume illumination with white light and monochromatic (laser) light sources;
• Particle image velocimetry, including liquid crystal tracers for simultaneous velocimetry and thermometry;
• Thermographic (infrared) mapping of free liquid surfaces;
• Interferometric observation in two axes by convertible interferometers with active alignment:
  • Holographic interferometer;
  • Wollaston/shearing interferometer;
  • Schlieren mode combined with shearing mode;
  • Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometer.

Flight Support Equipment such as spare parts, special tools and consumables (e.g. cleaning agents), Front Mounted Cameras and Optical Reference Targets for experiment and diagnostic calibration will also be available on-board to support customer experiments. Schlieren photography is a visual process that is used to photograph the flow of air (or other compressible fluids) around objects. ... Speckle interferometry is an image processing technique used in astronomy that can dramatically increase the resolution of ground-based telescopes. ...

A number of upgrades, partly resulting from new technological developments, are presently under investigation. A decision for their implementation will be taken in the near future. Most notable among these is the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Subsystem (MVIS) developed by the Canadian Space Agency. Scientists may choose to activate MVIS to isolate (via magnetic levitation) the experiment and optical diagnostics from space station g-jitter perturbations. Magnetic levitation is the process by which an object is suspended above another object with no other support but magnetic fields. ...

FSL is operated according to ESA's decentralised payload operation concept. The FRC (Facility Responsible Centre) for FSL is MARS, located in Naples, Italy. Mars, with polar ice caps visible. ... Location within Italy Naples (Italian Napoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek Νέα Πόλις - Néa Pólis - meaning New City) is the largest city in southern Italy and capital of Campania Region. ...

ESA's page about FSL