← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 5)
The ElectroHydroDynamic (EHD) experiment seeks to develop fundamental understanding and physical models characterizing the interaction of electric and flow fields in the presence of liquid/vapor phase change and absence of gravity. This effort specifically addresses electrically driven liquid film boiling and the use of the dielectrophoretic (DEP) force to extract vapor bubbles from the heated surface. The experiment will provide validated fundamental understanding of the electrically driven liquid film flow in the microgravity environment and a phenomenological foundation for the development of electric field based two-phase thermal management systems. The investigators will demonstrate that EHD conduction pumping can sustain liquid film boiling in the microgravity environment. Furthermore the investigation will quantify enhancement of heat transfer due to the independent and combined effects of application of electrophoretic and DEP forces in both gravity and microgravity environments.
The EHD experiment will characterize the effects of gravity on the interaction of electric and flow fields in the presence of phase change, specifically pertaining to: (1) The effects of microgravity on the EHD generated two-phase flow. (2) The effects of microgravity on EHD driven liquid film flow boiling and di-electro-phoretically extracting bubbles from the heating surface. In space it is hard to keep electronics cool. Most of the electronic hardware found in modern satellites and space vehicles generate considerable heat. Advanced thermal management technique are necessary to enable future spacecraft and scientific missions. The electrohydrodynamic (EHD) experiment will demonstrate and provide fundamental design data and models for novel electrically based thermal management systems. Electrically based devices are feasible approaches to remove high heat flux and high temperature heat in future electronics subsystems with improved size, weight and power consumption (SWaP) metrics in spacecraft applications.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.