Pneumatic conveying of materials at partial gravityThe feasibility of pneumatic transfer for the movement of regolith at a lunar base is evaluated. Operation of pneumatic conveying systems at partial (lunar and Mars) gravity on NASA's KC-135 aircraft allowed the determination of some key parameters necessary for the design of an operable system. Both horizontal and vertical transfer is studied. In the vertical experiment, the choking velocity for 150-micron glass spheres was determined to be 1/2 to 1/3 the velocity required at 1 g. Pressure drops were reduced by roughly the same amount. Determination of the saltation velocity in the horizontal run was problematic, but qualitatively similar results were obtained. Comparison of the partial g results to 1-g behavior and theoretical analysis is made.
Document ID
19920056101
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sullivan, Thomas A. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Koenig, Elissa (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Knudsen, Christian W. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Gibson, Michael A. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)