Fluid Handling and Maintenance Equipment

FHAME is an integrated test apparatus that facilitates a variety of fluid and gas/liquid flow and interface experiments.  It was designed to support empirical research and testing of the liquid/gas phase in fluid handling subsystems. It is capable of metering fluids in and out of test volumes while also monitoring gas bubble volumes and eliminating gas content when and where needed. It gathers and stores a broad range of data --from numerical values of pressure or volume to video information. Protocols and test sequences may be modified easily in text form.
 

Size ........................................................................................................................................... single cargo transfer bag (stowable)

Video .................................................................................................................................................................. color and infrared

Measures:    - fluid pressures from –0.6 to 5 psi

                  - total reservoir volume  1.5 liters

                  - current fluid flow rate up to 100mL/min

                  - soil moisture level (from 40% to 100% saturation) 
 

• Collect data on nutrient delivery systems for plants.

• Observe fluid flows in various root volume configurations.

• Evaluate effects of various particulate sizes on nutrient delivery systems.

• Provide low-cost, fast turn-around of fluid-based experiments.

• Fill available Shuttle slots as a standby payload for a wide variety of payloads.

• Test specific designs in microgravity.