Nonlinear Variable-Diffusivity Moisture Transport in Zero Gravity Porous Media Space Applications

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

7-12-2009

Abstract

The mass transport in porous media for space applications is complicated by the absence of the stabilizing gravitational potential. Generally, the spatially-resolved moisture diffusivity in porous media is a function of the local saturation. Formal solutions of very few specific variable-diffusivity parabolic flows are known. We are using the finite difference numerical methods to solve the nonlinear wetting and de-wetting diffusion dynamics in microgravity conditions. Two different functional relationships between the saturation and the moisture-diffusivity were considered. The half-saturation action-radius and the zone-of-influence of the porous suction tubes on the cold-plate porous material are especially adversely affected by the exponentially changing, saturation-dependent, diffusivity. Clogging and biofouling dramatically decrease dynamic response and performance of the porous media flow.

Department

Aviation

Print ISSN

0148-7191

Online ISSN

2688-3627

Conference Name

39th SAE International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES 2009)

Conference Place

Savannah, GA

DOI

10.4271/2009-01-2584

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