DEvice for the study of Critical LIquids and Crystallization - Alice Like Insert (DECLIC-ALI)
Research Area: Complex Fluids
Expedition(s): 23-ongoing
Principal Investigator(s): ● Daniel Beysens, PhD, French Atomic Energy Commission
(CEA), Grenoble, France
● Yves Garrabos, PhD, Institut de Chimie de la Matière
Condensée de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Device for the study of Critical Liquids and
Crystallization – Alice Like Insert (DECLIC-ALI) studies
liquids at the verge of boiling. The flow of heat during
boiling events is different in microgravity than it is on
Earth. Understanding how heat flows in fluids at the
verge of boiling will help scientists develop cooling
systems for use in microgravity.
EARTH BENEFITS
The use of near-critical fluids allows important
parameters (eg, compressibility of supercritical fluids,
density of gas and liquid phases, surface tension) to be
easily varied in a scaled way by using small changes in
temperature. The readily variable properties of near-
critical fluids makes them appealing candidates for
studying numerous interesting phenomena valid for all
fluids, which will ultimately lead to the development of
improved solvents for chemistry and the environment.
SPACE BENEFITS
The DECLIC facility provides power, communications, command/control, data storage, and
multiple, flexible optical capabilities in support of each experiment. The knowledge gained will
assist in the understanding of the behavior of cryogenic (of or relating to very low
temperatures) rocket propellants for the study of dynamics regarding near-ambient
temperature critical fluids. DECLIC is designed for telescience from the ground and will offer
scientists the capability to remotely control experiment conditions aboard the ISS provided by
DECLIC lockers.
RESULTS
DECLIC-ALI data collection is ongoing.
This investigation is ongoing and additional results are pending publication.
Image shows the state of water in
microgravity at the determined
supercritical temperature within 0.099
degree Celsius accuracy. Centre
National d’Etudes Spatiales, Toulouse,
France image.