Delta Faucet Company has announced its partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), in collaboration with the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory, to study the formation of water droplets, water flow and pressure in microgravity. The experiment will leverage Delta Faucet Company’s proprietary H2OKinetic Technology to shed light on water flow in microgravity and how to deliver an enhanced shower experience for consumers.
Delta Faucet created H2OKinetic Technology to sculpt shower water into a unique pattern by manipulating the size of water droplets, providing three times the coverage of a standard showerhead. However, in space, the impact of gravity on water droplet formation and size has the potential to transform the technology into something never seen before.
With the help of the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory and CASIS officials, astronauts and investigators from dlhBOWLES Engineering, Delta Faucet plans to launch the microgravity investigation from the Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia as early as November. Once the testing is complete, the same study will be conducted on Earth to compare results.
KBB spoke to Paul Patton, senior manager of front end innovation and regulatory at Delta Faucet, to find out more about the goals of the experiment and the partnership.
KBB: What are the goals in this experiment?
Patton: Simply put, the goal is to evaluate the formation of droplets, water flow and pressure utilizing our current H2Okinetic Technology versus an industry standard use of jet nozzles. The experiment will help develop data to evaluate how best to control the actual output of water droplets, creating a better-performing shower device that delivers both water and energy conservation, in addition to providing a better consumer experience.
KBB: How will this experiment be conducted?
Patton: We developed a device that will test each variation of water spray, capturing the data with a high-speed camera. Droplet size, shape and speed measurements will be recorded and then compared to a duplicate test here on Earth for comparison.
KBB: How might this technology help with sustainability?
Patton: Water scarcity is becoming more and more common, and with the continued reduction of flow rates for showering devices, the consumer experiences are not as ideal. As a result, consumers are not as willing to save water in the shower. The investigation will allow us to better understand H2Okinetic Technology’s limitations and identify ways to improve the technology to make the shower experience more enjoyable. This will ultimately lead to the use of less water and reduce the water footprint of a home. It’s our belief that consumers would be willing to conserve water if they are getting a great shower experience.
KBB: Will this technology have anything to do with future space travel/habitation?
Patton: It could very well. Water conservation is a hot topic in space, and space travel and habitation will be faced with even more water restrictions. H20kinetic Technology could be the solution for better water management.
