PSI-107 · SPICE

“The objective of SPICE is to better understand the complex process of combustion by observing flames in a microgravity environment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and analogous ground experiments.” [PSI JSON: objective]

“The experimental setup in the microgravity science glovebox consisted of an apparatus with a flow duct with integrated nozzles, cameras, and fuel delivery systems.” [PSI JSON: approach]

Overview

Objective [text]

The objective of SPICE is to better understand the complex process of combustion by observing flames in a microgravity environment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and analogous ground experiments. Specific objectives were: (1) Identify the laminar smoke-point properties of non-buoyant jet diffusion flames under various co-flow conditions in microgravity. (2) Determine the effects of burner diameter and co-flow velocity on the luminous flame lengths and smoke points. (3) Quantify the sooting propensity of different fuels, such as ethylene, propane, and propylene mixtures. (4) Validate the correlation between luminous flame shape and residence time under microgravity conditions. (5) Investigate the impact of air and fuel flow rate variations on smoke point phenomena in space.

Source

data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: objective · PSI investigation

Approach [text]

The experimental setup in the microgravity science glovebox consisted of an apparatus with a flow duct with integrated nozzles, cameras, and fuel delivery systems. Fuels tested included methane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and propylene mixtures. Each flame was ignited in a controlled co-flow air environment, with burner diameters of 0.41 mm, 0.76 mm, and 1.6 mm and co-flow velocities ranging from 5.4 cm/s to 65 cm/s. Fuel flow rates were adjusted to identify the smoke point, marked by the flame's transition to emitting soot. Data such as flame lengths were recorded using still and video cameras. Measurements included flame height, radiative heat losses, and co-flow air velocity distributions. In total 526 flames were studied.

Source

data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: approach · PSI investigation

Hypothesis [text]

The research hypothesizes that by minimizing gravity-driven transport phenomena scientists can study the laminar smoke-point properties of non-buoyant jet diffusion flames. Flame properties are expected to differ significantly from those observed under normal gravity.

Source

data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: hypothesis · PSI investigation

Research impacts [text]

(1) Will improve our understanding of soot formation mechanisms and help design safer spacecraft environments. (2) Will contribute to refining our computational models for predicting flame behaviors under non-buoyant conditions. (3) Will enhance our knowledge of soot generation (4) Could possibly provide insights to better fuel formulations and combustion processes.

Source

data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: researchImpacts · PSI investigation

Hardware [text]

Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG)

Source

data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: experimentHardware · PSI investigation

Flight program [text]

International Space Station (ISS)

Source

data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: flightProgram · PSI investigation

Start date [not in PSI]

Not stated in PSI

Source

data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: investigationStartDate · PSI investigation

End date [not in PSI]

Not stated in PSI

Source

data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: investigationEndDate · PSI investigation

Tests

151 tests with extracted table records (SAME-R aging sub-runs grouped by parent ID) · 913 extracted values (source: data/conditions/PSI-107.csv).

Variation is observed in extracted values; it does not establish the experimental design.

Variable	Observed	Distinct values / tests	Range
flow_velocity [data/conditions/PSI-107.csv]	varied	60 / 143	0.66 cm/s – 85.28 cm/s
fuel [data/conditions/PSI-107.csv]	distinct values as recorded	7 / 151	50 % Propylene, 75 % Propylene, 75% Propylene, Ethylene, Methane, Propane, Propylene

Loading test data…

Additional outcome cells, where available, are displayed as written. Source: data/derived/outcomes_extra.csv.

Instruments mentioned in the approach

Measurements included flame height, radiative heat losses, and co-flow air velocity distributions. [data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: approach] PSI investigation

Experimental table columns

GMT date [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation
GMT ignition [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation
GMT Flame Off [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation
Fuel [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation
Nozzle (mm) [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation
Fuel Rate (sccm) [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation
Fuel Rate (mg/s) [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation
HC Fuel Rate (mg/s) [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation
Air Rate (cm/s) [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/Experimental table/PSI-107_Experimental table_Spice.csv · PSI investigation

Data

Download extracted data

Publications

Laminar Smoke Points in Coflow Measured Aboard the International Space Station 10.2514/6.2010-1105 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
Scaling of Gas-Jet Flame Lengths in Elevated Gravity 10.1007/978-1-4020-8682-3_22 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
The Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), a Resource for Gravity-Dependent Phenomena Research on the International Space Station (ISS) [data/manifest/publications.csv]
The Microgravity Science Glovebox as a Platform for Exploration Research on the International Space Station 10.2514/6.2006-941 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
A Combined Experimental and Computational Study of Soot Formation in Normal and Microgravity Conditions 10.1080/00102202.2022.2041621 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
Shapes of nonbuoyant round hydrocarbon-fueled laminar-jet diffusion flames in still air 10.1016/j.combustflame.2004.12.009 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
Shapes of nonbuoyant round luminous hydrocarbon/air laminar jet diffusion flames 10.1016/S0010-2180(98)00100-X [data/manifest/publications.csv]
Smoke Points of Microgravity and Normal Gravity Coflow Diffusion [data/manifest/publications.csv]
Laminar smoke points of coflowing flames in microgravity 10.1016/j.firesaf.2011.08.002 [data/manifest/publications.csv]

Data reuse

Not stated in PSI [not in PSI] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-107/_investigation/PSI-107.json: related_glds · PSI investigation

Other PSI records that list this investigation

PSI-26 [text] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-26/_investigation/PSI-26.json: related_glds
PSI-60 [text] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-60/_investigation/PSI-60.json: related_glds
PSI-106 [text] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-106/_investigation/PSI-106.json: related_glds

These are links recorded in PSI; their presence alone does not describe the reuse relationship.

PSI page

PSI page data/manifest/web_check_2026-11-14.csv: line 1 URL pattern

In PYRION

Explore tests · · PSI DOI: 10.60555/9kbh-e962