THE VALUE OF THE FOAM PROJECT IN TERMS OF NASA S EXPLORATION MISSION LIES WITH ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT. WATER RECOVERY AND RECYCLING ARE ABSOLUTELY CENTRAL TO ALS AND REQUIRE FINE CONTROL OF MULTIPHASE FLOWS AND SEPARATIONS. THE VERY HEART OF THE FOAM PROJECT IS TO BRING NEW TECHNOLOGY AND UNDERSTANDING TO THESE PROBLEMS. THE VALUE OF THE FOAM PROJECT IN TERMS OF EARTH BENEFITS LIES WITH A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT. FIRSTLY THERE PRESENCE IN NATURAL WATERS SIGNALS THE PRESENCE OF SURFACE-ACTIVE IMPURITIES AND A NEED FOR CLEAN-UP. SECONDLY THEY ARE USEFUL THEMSELVES IN THE CLEANUP PROCESS SINCE MANY IMPURITIES CAN BE REMOVED BY INJECTING GAS AND SKIMMING OFF THE RESULTING FOAM.

Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania, The

Investigators