KAGAKU KOGAKU RONBUNSHU, Vol.25, No.3, 443-451, 1999
Formation of Spirulina cultivated field under microgravity -The air-water interface profiles in a rotating vessel
From the viewpoint of oxygen supply and recovery in the closed environment such as a space station, the formation possibility of the Spirulina cultivated field under microgravity was experimentally investigated. A cylindrical vessel attached with a stainless shaft at the center of the vessel partially filled with water was rotated to form low centrifugal force (approximately, 10(-1) G at the wall side of the vessel) under microgravity created in the drop tower. When the ratio of the water/vessel volume was set at 81%, it was found that the air-water interface did not reach the bottom of the vessel, although water reached the top-cover. These experimental findings were contradicted with the air-water inter face profiles simulated by Leslie er al., which was considered to be suitable for oxygen supply and recovery system that an air phase was located in the center of the vessel and the air-water interface contacted with both the bottom and the top-cover of the vessel. When the stainless shaft and the bottom of the vessel were coated with teflon to increase hydrophobicity and the ratio of the water/vessel volume was set at 60%, it was found that the air-water interface contacted with the bottom and top-cover of the vessel. The water phase, then, rose along all side walls and wetted the entire wall in this case. Thus, using the low centrifugal force, we experimentally demonstrated to establish the suitable condition for oxygen supply and recovery system in the closed environment under microgravity.
Keywords:BUBBLE