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FLUID HANDLING AND MANAGEMENT EXPERI-MENT (FHAME).   T.M. Crabb, R.C. Morrow, and T.K. Klemp.  Orbital Technologies Corporation, 1212 Fourier Dr, Madison WI.

FHAME was developed to test and demonstrate liquid/gas phase control in fluid management subsystems such as the humidity control (HCS) and nutrient delivery (NDS) subsystems of the Biomass Production System (BPS).  Both these subsystems use close-looped pressure control that maintains negative pressures to oppose the natural capillary forces across a porous interface. The FHAME hardware was developed as a simplified apparatus to observe fluid flow in BPS subsystems, test water loading and priming characteristics of the HCS and NDS, and evaluate the effects of rooting media particle size and composition on NDS operation.  The ability to test fluid subsystems in microgravity independently of other components will allow these subsystems to be optimized for function and reliability. The FHAME hardware is 123 cm x 41 cm x 55 cm high.  Its weight is estimated to be less than 11 kg.  The unit is configured to fly in one standard crew transfer bag (CTB).  The estimated power requirement is less than 30 watts.  FHAME components include a computer with hard drive and floppy drive, a reservoir, pumps, a degasser module, LCD cameras, a data display, pressure sensors and soil moisture sensors. Most of these components and subsystems are identical to those used in the BPS flight unit.  The gas/liquid separation components (including bubble detectors) and soil moisture sensors represent new components. Test modules (i.e. humidity control and nutrient delivery modules) are sent as separate stowage items and plugged into the test platform on the FHAME unit. The FHAME unit will be useful for on-orbit testing of different NDS technologies and optimization of NDS configurations. Initial test protocols have been defined to demonstrate key subsystem and component operations for future NASA ISS payloads, such as the plant research unit (PRU).  These protocols cover evaluation of liquid/gas separation functionality; evaluation of autopriming for the NDS and HCS; demonstration of automatic prime maintenance; evaluation of rooting matrix particulate size on loading and distribution of water; and evaluation of seed wetting and germination on-orbit.