Electro-Magnetic Levitator - A working horse for materials science experiment on ISS

Paper number

IAC-11,A2,5,1,x12002

Author

Mr. Ulrich Kuebler, Astrium Space Transportation, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. A. Seidel, Astrium GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. W. Soellner, Astrium GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Ch. Stenzel, Astrium GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. W. Dreier, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. B. Glaubitz, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Daniela Voss, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Christoph Puetz, Astrium Space Transportation, Germany

Year

2011

Abstract

For measuring thermo-physical data at elevated temperatures and studying the
crystallisation dynamics of under-cooled melts crucible-free experiments
using levitation techniques offer unique opportunities. Applying
electromagnetic levitation under micro-gravity conditions the under-cooled
regime of electrically conductive materials becomes accessible for an
extended time which allows unique investigations of nucleation phenomena as
well as the measurement of a range of thermo-physical properties both above
the melting temperature and in the under-cooled regime with an accuracy which
can not be achieved on ground.
Hence, based on a long and successful evolution of electromagnetic levitation
facilities for microgravity applications (parabolic flights, sounding rocket
missions and Spacelab missions) the Electromagnetic Levitator EML is
presently being developed by Astrium Space Transportation under contracts to
ESA and DLR.
The design of the payload allows flexible experiment scenarios under
ultra-high vacuum or ultra clean noble gas atmosphere individually targeted
towards specific experimental needs and samples including live video control
of the running experiments and automatic or interactive process control.
Various stimuli can be applied to the samples for dedicated experiment
objectives: Short heater pulses to induce surface shape oscillations, a
trigger needle to induce heterogeneous nucleation, or application of a forced
gas flow can be used to increase the cooling rate of the sample.
Dedicated diagnostics elements are available to measure the physical
properties of the sample: Sample temperature is measured by a pyrometer; two
video units in orthogonal views provide both high spatial and temporal
resolution. Additional capabilities are under discussion which would allow to
measure the electrical conductivity of the sample from electrical data of the
rf coil system, and to determine the residual oxygen content of the process
atmosphere.

Abstract document

IAC-11,A2,5,1,x12002.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-11,A2,5,1,x12002.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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