Laundry In Space TeamDept of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, TAMUKStudents: Victoria Bailey, Gary Garcia, Michael Orona

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Larry D Peel, P.E.

The Laundry in Space Team (LIST) was formed through the funding of theTexas Space Grant Consortium as a continuation of TAMUK’s SpaceEngineering Institute Gravity Independent Laundry System (GILS). The overall objective of this team is to continue and complete the design and optimization started by the GILS team. The project objective is to design a process to safely and efficiently wash, disinfect, and dry lightly soiled clothing a micro-gravitational environment. The need for this project comes from a financial pitfall left because of the cost of launching new clothinginto orbit instead of simply washing lightly soiled garments. The costof each pound launched is upwards of $10,000 and over months, or evenyears, the savings on space and money would greatly benefit the spaceprogram.

Acknowledgements

Previous Work

Alpha Configuration:• Composite Grade Vacuum Bagging• Input/ Output Flow

Generation Conclusion

1 Vacuum Bag System Design (Alpha) Plausible (29 in Hg)

2 High Quality Parts Needed with High Vacuum

3 Drying Will be more Difficult Process

4 Cycled Hot Air Circulation Improves Drying Efficiency (170 °F)

5 Mesh Layers Improve Drying Efficiency

6 Cycled External Bladder Pressure Improves Drying Efficiency (20-30 psi)

Lessons learned through previous generations: the team was able to improve the overall design through reworking some of the components based on testing done over the life of the project

This chart represents a medium cotton T-shirt saturated in 400g of water and projects the combination of various components based on testing done with generations 1-6.

The design objective is to create a process to safely and efficiently wash, disinfect, and dry lightly soiled clothing in a micro-gravitational environment through cycled heat, pressure, and vacuum application. The quantified project requirements include:•100% water reclamation from clothing•Less than 0.34 kWhr energy consumption per load•Less than 150 lbs. in weight•Safe and easy to operate•Cost effective•Capable of drying of natural fiber clothing materials. Semester objectives include interfacing all components, conducting baseline safety tests, full system testing, and process optimization

Gravity Independent Laundry System(GILS)

The figures above depict the prototype layout of the GILS with the inflatable bladder attached to the upper half, and the tubing network embedded in the lower half. The prototype’s approximate dimensions are 3 feet long, 2 feet wide and 3 inches thick. The system has a garment capacity of 3 gallons, able to fit 5 medium size 100% cotton T-Shirts. The perimeter between the two halves will be sealed airtight via gasket. Garments will be placed uniformly in the garment cavity before closing the system. The system will then proceed to wash, rinse, and dry the garments. The overall process consists of phases of pretreatment, washing, rinsing, and drying as shown on bottom. The pretreatment phase consists of the saturation of the garments with the cleaning solvent, with the solvent delivered through the tubing network. During the washing phase, an air compressor will inflate and deflate the bladder, providing agitation to the system. After sufficient washing, the cleaning solution will be vacuumed out of the garment cavity and clean water will be drawn into the system to rinse the garments. All liquid will be evacuated from the garment cavity using vacuum and pressure from the inflated bladder. Heated air will then be cycled periodically until the garments are dried thoroughly.

Open View

The diagram above depicts the tubing network layout and component integration. All liquid and air is transferred via vacuum. The heat source allows for heated air circulation. The desiccator allows for the extraction of liquids via vacuum without damaging the vacuum. In the future the desiccator may be replaced by a water reclamation system which can clean and recycle the used “gray” water from the prototype.

Test Data ObtainedBladder Inflation Compressor takes 11 s to inflate bladder from 0 to 18 psi

Bladder Deflation Vacuum pump takes 30 s to deflate bladder from 20 to 0 psi

Garment Cavity Vacuum Application

Vacuum pump takes 60 s to pull a vacuum of 28.5 in-hg

Liquid Transfer into Garment Cavity

Achieved flow rate of 5.4 gal/min liquid transfer into cavity

Liquid Transfer out of Garment Cavity

Achieved flow rate of 1.1 gal/min liquid transfer out of cavity

•Test Data (M)

Current Test Data

Evelyne Orndoff (N.A.S.A. Mentor)Texas Space Grant ConsortiumEnrique Molina (FEA Support)Carlos Hinojosa (Machinist)Space Engineering Institute

Mass Data & Estimated Energy UsageG.I.L.S. Mass Breakdown

Component Mass (kg) Weight (lbs) Quantity Total Mass (kg) Total Weight (lbs)male part* 16.78 37.00 1.00 16.78 37.00female part* 18.60 41.00 1.00 18.60 41.00tubing* 0.50 1.10 1.00 0.50 1.10bladder* 1.04 2.29 1.00 1.04 2.29frame* 2.23 4.92 2.00 4.46 9.83clamp* 0.53 1.17 12.00 6.36 14.02vacuum 15.15 33.40 1.00 15.15 33.40Air compressor 22.68 50.00 1.00 22.68 50.00heater system* 1.22 2.69 1.00 1.22 2.69soap chamber* 0.55 1.21 1.00 0.55 1.21water receptacle 4.78 10.54 1.00 4.78 10.54desiccator 1.60 3.53 1.00 1.60 3.53vacuum hose* 1.47 3.24 1.00 1.47 3.249 U.S. Gallons Water 34.05 75.08 1.00 34.05 75.08

Total Components Mass/Weight 129.24 284.94*G.I.L.S. Total Mass/Weight 50.98 112.39

The components marked by an “*” are G.I.L.S. components. Those components without an “*” are supplemental components required to conduct G.I.L.S. testing. The dry weight of the G.I.L.S. is 112.39 lbs.

Comparison of LG WM-3431HW Washer/Dryer Combinations and GILS

Model LG Washer/Dryer GILS

Total mass 147 lbs 112.4 lbs

Total Volume 10.82 ft.3 3.5 ft.3

Garment Load Capacity 2.44 ft.3 .40 ft.3

Total Run Time 90 min 30 min

Energy Usage/Mass 0.012 kWh/lb 0.0026 kWh/lb

Energy Usage/Capacity 0.7377 kWh/ft.3 0.725 kWh/ft.3

Energy Usage/Run Time 0.02 kWh/min 0.0098 kWh/min

Conclusion• Component Interfacing Issues Addressed• Composite Structure can safely hold 20 psi

Future Work• Combined Drying Methods Testing• Diminishing Return Identification• Process Optimization• Energy Consumption Calculation• Design Flaw Identification/Re-Design

Final Configuration and Fabrication

GILS Progress

Prototype Cavity 100%

Bladder Seal 100%

Bladder Fittings 100%

Tube Network 100%

Containment Frame 95%

Component Readiness 80%

Fully Operational 85%

The figures above depict a finite element analysis of the composite male and female parts to evaluate the loadings of the bladder on the composite members at 30 psi. The FEA allowed the team to simulate the loadings of the bladder and clamps on the composite parts. This simulation aided team in determining a minimum composite part wall thickness and part sealing measures.

Abstract/Background Final Design

Objectives

Conclusions/Future Work