PAPELL

Pump Application using Pulsed Electromagnets for Liquid reLocation

PAPELL is a technology demonstrator that carries forward one of Steve Papell’s inventions in a new experiment. Steve Papell was a NASA scientist who, in 1963, conceived the idea of pumping rocket fuel using electromagnetic fields. To achieve this, he developed a ferrofluidic fuel that he intended to direct into the rocket combustion chamber with the aid of a strong magnetic field. A ferrofluid is a liquid with magnetic properties, which becomes magnetised and flows towards the source of the magnetic field when subjected to a sufficiently strong force. We are revisiting this concept to demonstrate a general pumping mechanism that operates without mechanical components. With this innovative idea, we entered the Overfly competition organised by the German Aerospace Centre, successfully being selected as one of three teams to conduct our experiment aboard the International Space Station. Further details about the Overfly competition can be found below.

Our experiments

The experiment container measures 10 x 10 x 15 cm and is internally divided into two distinct sections. The first section features a grid of electromagnets to demonstrate the controlled movement of ferrofluids in microgravity, and it also investigates whether individual ferrofluid droplets can be split and later rejoined using magnetic fields. The second section comprises a transparent tubing system, complete with a three-way valve, which explores the transportation of non-magnetic substances. In this experiment, solid objects are moved through the tubing system by the motion of ferrofluid droplets, with variously coloured spheres being sorted by colour at the three-way valve.

Überflieger

The ‘Überflieger’ competition organised by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) offers students from all over Germany the opportunity to conduct their own experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). The experiment will then be installed and supervised by ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst. Of all the applications, the eight best proposals were selected by DLR experts and delegations from the student teams were invited to a selection workshop at the DLR Space Administration in Bonn. Here they presented their experiment ideas and answered technical questions from the expert jury. A total of three experiments were selected for realisation on the ISS. After completion, testing and handover, the students will also be able to experience the launch of their experiment live on site in 2018.

The members of the University of Stuttgart’s student small satellite group ‘KSat e.V.’ applied to DLR with two experiment ideas, STELLA and PAPELL. The PAPELL experiment was finally accepted and is now being developed.

“Geile Scheiße!”

Alexander Gerst

Astronaut, European Space Agency

Timeline

December 2016

Brainstorming

The initial considerations and idea generation for the project begin, aiming to develop fundamental concepts and approaches.

March 2017

Planning Phase

The planning phase begins, during which detailed project requirements are defined and the framework for execution is established.

May 2017

Selection Workshop

In a two-day workshop, key decisions regarding components and approaches are made, forming the basis for further development.

November 2017

Phase II Safety Review

A detailed safety review is conducted to analyze the results of previous tests and gather feedback for the next phase.

June 2018

Rocket Launch to ISS

With a Falcon 9 rocket, PAPELL heads toward the International Space Station.

June 2018

Start of Experiments

The experiments begin in the free movement area, followed by tests in a dedicated pipe system for further analysis.

More about this topic

Ferrofluids

Ferrofluids are fascinating materials composed of tiny magnetic particles suspended in a liquid. These particles are often made of iron or iron oxides and typically have a size of just a few nanometers. The unique property of ferrofluids lies in their ability to respond to magnetic fields. When an external magnetic field is applied, the magnetic particles align, creating impressive visual effects that can range from waves to sharp structures.

The discovery of ferrofluids dates back to the 1960s when they were originally developed for use in space applications. The idea was to stabilize the fluids in gyroscopes used in satellites. Since then, the range of applications has significantly expanded. Today, ferrofluids are used in engineering, medicine, and art.

In engineering, ferrofluids are often used in seals and loudspeakers to control vibrations and reduce noise levels. In medicine, they could be used in targeted drug delivery by concentrating at specific locations in the body in response to magnetic fields. This could potentially facilitate the treatment of tumors by transporting medications directly to the diseased cells.

We are looking for you!

Has PAPELL sparked your interest? We are always looking for new members!

Whether you’re just starting your first semester or you’re already a space exploration expert, and no matter what you’re studying: We have an exciting position for everyone in our team. All of our projects are organized into subsystems, each responsible for different areas. If you already know what you’re interested in, feel free to contact us!

Participation in PAPELL is no longer possible due to the end of the project, but there are always subsequent projects that you can join.

Contact us!

PAPELL subsystems

Project lead

Our all-rounders who keep the project together. Here, deadlines are monitored, communication is managed, and team events are organized. Experienced club members create the framework for a successful project.

Science

The development, testing, and construction of the experiments are the responsibilities of the science team. We must always communicate with the other subsystems to define requirements and stay within the technically feasible limits.

Mechanics

If PAPELL were to fall apart during launch, much work would have been in vain. To prevent this, the Mechanics team designs the structure of our experiment to meet various requirements, such as strength, tightness, and ease of assembly.

Electronics

Here, the electronic design of the individual experiments and the overall system is carried out. On custom-designed circuit boards, everything from power supply and experiment control to data communication and storage is implemented.

Software

Both on our main computer and on our experiment boards, software runs to ensure the operation and communication of the experiments. The team must address the unique challenges of an ISS mission – if the software doesn’t work, the project doesn’t work.