ALSM
 


ALSM Air loop module

 The Air Loop Simulator Module (ALSM) is ground support equipment developed in the frame of the Fluid Science Lab (FSL) project. FSL is one of the scientific facilities for the European Columbus module on the International Space Station. The ALSM provides cooling air flow for the FSL core unit or the full FSL rack, simulating either the FSL rack 'Avionics Air Assembly' (AAA) or the Columbus module cooling air loop. The air flow rate, the air inlet and outlet temperatures and the air loop pressure drop have to be monitored. The air flow rate and the ALSM air outlet temperature have to be regulated.
(more pictures)
 
The main ALSM specifications are:
 
Parameter Value
Payload heat dissipation 0W..1600W
Max. air inlet temperature 45°C
Air outlet temperature 16°C..25°C
Air outlet temperature regulation ±1°C
Air flow rate 6SCMH..240SCMH
Air flow rate regulation ±6SCMH
Max. payload pressure drop 500Pa
 
Some of the difficulties encountered in this project are:
 
  • Air flow rate measurement accuracy (±1.5% Full Scale) has to be obtained over a factor 40 turn-down ratio.
  • Cooling power (up to 1600W) has to be obtained at different air flow rates.
  • Acoustical noise level generated at fan level has to be reduced to 85db to meet the module level requirements.
 
These problem areas have been addressed in an extensive breadboarding phase before the detailed design of the ALSM was started. This phase resulted in a several changes to the preliminary design (e.g. incorporating several Aluminium honeycomb flow straighteners, a high-performance heat exchanger, fan vibration dampers and a dedicated acoustical design of the air loop module enclosure).
 
The module was designed according to the European safety directives and CE-certified.
 
The ALSM was developed for the FSL Engineering Model (EM). A second ALSM (designated ALSM2) was ordered for the FSL Flight Model (FM). The air cooling power and environmental tolerances of the ALSM2 have been increased by incorporating a higher capacity chiller.
 
Related pages:
MMA project
RedShift reference projects
 

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