Organic waste in-situ utilization device for space environment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of space station waste treatment, in particular to an organic waste in-situ utilization device for a space environment, which comprises a pyrolysis box, the lower part of the pyrolysis box is provided with a feeding port, one side of the pyrolysis box is provided with a feeding assembly, and the top of the pyrolysis box is provided with an air inlet assembly; an extrusion net is arranged in the pyrolysis box, a plurality of sleeves and a plurality of springs are arranged on the inner bottom wall of the pyrolysis box, the springs are located in the sleeves, and the ends, away from the inner bottom wall of the pyrolysis box, of the springs are fixedly connected with the bottom of the extrusion net; a treatment assembly is arranged on one side of the pyrolysis box, and a plurality of collection assemblies are arranged below the treatment assembly. A space vacuum environment is utilized by the thermal insulation layer to form a vacuum thermal insulation zone, so that stable pyrolysis reaction is ensured, and the organic waste conversion efficiency is improved; the fixation of the organic wastes is realized by using a spring, an extrusion net and thermal deformation metal; gas-liquid separation of pyrolysis gas is realized through the sponge and the condensation pipe; gas collection is achieved through the one-way valve and the gas storage tank; and liquid collection is realized through the water pump and the collection box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of space station waste treatment, and in particular to an organic waste in-situ utilization device for a space environment. Background Art

[0002] As human space technology continues to mature, more and more satellites, space stations and other spacecraft have entered space, bringing great convenience to our lives. But at the same time, the problem of space debris has gradually surfaced. In recent decades, how to remove space debris and minimize the threat posed by space debris has become a major concern of the international community.

[0003] Compared with the incineration, landfill and biological treatment technologies of waste, pyrolysis of organic waste has been increasingly valued in recent years as a technology with obvious advantages in carbon storage, volume reduction, reduction and resource utilization. The pyrolysis process utilizes the thermal instability of organic matter, heats the waste organic matter in an oxygen-free or oxygen-deficient environment, uses heat energy to break its chemical bonds, changes the original molecular structure, and transforms it into hydrocarbons of different phases.

[0004] Existing in-situ utilization devices for organic waste in space environments use microbial conversion, but this method has a long conversion cycle and a low conversion rate for in-situ utilization.

[0005] In summary, how to improve the in-situ utilization conversion rate of organic waste in a space environment has become a difficult problem that needs to be solved urgently in this field. Therefore, it is necessary to propose an in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment. Summary of the invention

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention discloses an in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment, which utilizes the vacuum environment of space through an insulating layer to form a vacuum insulation belt, thereby ensuring that the pyrolysis reaction proceeds stably and improving the conversion efficiency of organic waste; fixes the organic waste by using springs, extrusion nets and thermally deformed metals; separates the gas and liquid of the pyrolysis gas through sponges and condensers; collects the gas through a one-way valve and a gas storage box; and collects the liquid through a water pump and a collection box.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0008] An in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment comprises a pyrolysis box, a delivery port is provided at the lower portion of the pyrolysis box, a delivery assembly for delivering organic waste into the pyrolysis box is provided on one side of the pyrolysis box, an air inlet is provided at the top of the pyrolysis box, an air inlet assembly for inputting hot air into the pyrolysis box is provided on the top of the pyrolysis box; an extrusion net is provided in the pyrolysis box, a plurality of sleeves and a plurality of springs are fixedly connected to the bottom wall of the pyrolysis box, the springs are all located inside the sleeves, and one end of the spring away from the bottom wall of the pyrolysis box is fixedly connected to the bottom of the extrusion net; an air outlet is provided on the side wall of the pyrolysis box, a processing assembly for processing pyrolysis products is provided on one side of the pyrolysis box, and a plurality of collection assemblies for collecting pyrolysis products are provided below the processing assembly.

[0009] The technical principles of the above scheme are as follows:

[0010] The organic waste is fed into the pyrolysis box through the inlet, and the air inlet component inputs hot air into the pyrolysis box to pyrolyze the organic waste; after the organic waste enters the pyrolysis box, the extrusion net is lifted up, and the extrusion net limits the position of the organic waste. During the pyrolysis process, the mass and volume of the organic waste decrease, and the extrusion net continues to limit the position of the organic waste under the action of the spring contraction force. The sleeve limits the position of the extrusion net to ensure that the horizontal height of the extrusion net is higher than the inlet. The pyrolysis gas generated during the pyrolysis process will enter the processing component. After the processing component has processed the pyrolysis gas, the collection component will collect the pyrolysis products.

[0011] Furthermore, the feeding component includes a feeding pipe, one end of which is connected to the interior of the pyrolysis box through a feeding inlet, and the end of the feeding pipe away from the pyrolysis box is connected to a waste chamber; a conveyor belt is fixedly connected to the inside of the feeding pipe, a plurality of baffles are fixedly connected to the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt is electrically connected to a controller, which is used to control the operation of the conveyor belt.

[0012] Beneficial effects: Through the precise control of the conveyor belt by the controller, the continuous and stable transmission of organic waste can be achieved. This design ensures that the organic waste can be continuously and uninterruptedly fed into the pyrolysis box, improving the efficiency of organic waste treatment. At the same time, since the organic waste is in a weightless state in space, the design of the baffle enables the organic waste to be driven by the baffle and then accurately enter the pyrolysis box.

[0013] Furthermore, the air inlet assembly includes an air inlet box, the inner wall of which is fixedly connected to a partition, the partition divides the interior of the air inlet box into an air storage chamber and a heating chamber, the air storage chamber is filled with inert gas, the bottom wall of the heating chamber is fixedly connected to a hot air blower, the air storage chamber is connected to the hot air blower, the hot air blower is electrically connected to a controller, and the controller is used to control the operation of the hot air blower.

[0014] Beneficial effects: Using inert gas as the heating medium greatly improves the overall safety of the device. Since the gas storage chamber is connected to the heating chamber, the inert gas is pre-stored in the gas storage chamber and then heated by a hot air blower, thereby achieving efficient heating of the inert gas. This design enables the temperature of the inert gas to be precisely controlled.

[0015] Furthermore, the processing assembly includes a processing box, which is connected to the inside of the pyrolysis box through an air outlet; a number of barrier components for blocking moisture are equidistantly arranged inside the processing box in the length direction, a pipeline is connected to the side of the processing box away from the air outlet, and a one-way valve and a gas storage box are connected in sequence to the end of the pipeline away from the processing box; a number of electric slide rails are fixedly connected to the top wall and the bottom wall of the processing box at equal distances in the length direction, and water outlet nets are slidably fitted between adjacent electric slide rails in the vertical direction, and the electric slide rails are electrically connected to the controller, which is used to control the operation of the electric slide rails. Beneficial effect: The barrier components equidistantly arranged inside the processing box can effectively block and absorb the moisture generated by the pyrolysis of organic waste, and the pyrolysis gas will enter the gas storage box through the one-way valve for storage.

[0016] Furthermore, the barrier component includes a sponge fixedly connected to the inner wall of the processing box, and a condensation tube is fixedly connected inside the sponge.

[0017] Beneficial effects: The cooling medium flowing inside the condenser tube can effectively absorb and take away the heat released by the liquid or gas in the treatment box, so that the high-temperature and high-pressure gas or steam can be quickly condensed into liquid, thereby reducing the temperature and pressure in the treatment box. At the same time, because the sponge has strong water absorption, the condensed liquid will be absorbed by the sponge, realizing the initial collection of the liquid.

[0018] Furthermore, the shape of the condenser tubes is S-shaped.

[0019] Beneficial effects: The S-shaped design makes the condenser tube have a higher space utilization rate at the same length, and increases the contact area between the liquid and the cooling medium. This helps to more fully exchange heat with the cooling medium and improve condensation efficiency. The S-shaped elbow can guide the condensate to form a thin film flow in the tube and improve the heat transfer efficiency. At the same time, the elbow design also helps to reduce the accumulation of condensate in the tube, reduce blockage, and keep the condenser tube unobstructed.

[0020] Furthermore, the collection component includes a collection box connected to the processing box, the inner wall of the collection box is fixedly connected with a water pump and a water quality filter, the water pumps are connected to the inside of the processing box, and the water pumps are electrically connected to the controller, and the controller is used to control the operation of the water pumps.

[0021] Beneficial effects: The water pump generates suction to collect the water droplets that lose weight in the air, and the water filter can filter the liquid entering the collection box, effectively removing impurities and pollutants such as suspended matter, particulate matter, and microorganisms. This helps to improve the cleanliness of the collected liquid and provide a higher quality water source for subsequent treatment or reuse.

[0022] Furthermore, filters are fixedly connected to the air inlet and the air outlet.

[0023] Beneficial effects: The design of the filter allows the organic waste to be confined in the pyrolysis box in a weightless environment, reducing the possibility of organic waste entering the treatment box and contaminating the pyrolysis products. At the same time, due to the reduction of organic waste loss, the utilization rate of organic waste is improved during the pyrolysis operation.

[0024] Furthermore, the inner side walls of the mesh holes of the extruded mesh are fixedly connected with heat-deformed metal.

[0025] Beneficial effect: During the reaction of organic waste, the controller controls the hot air blower to heat the inert gas introduced into the pyrolysis box. The heat-deformed metal will deform after being heated, and the degree of deformation increases with the increase of temperature, making the mesh aperture of the extrusion net smaller. Since the volume of organic waste will decrease during the pyrolysis process, the reduction of the mesh aperture increases the ability to limit organic waste.

[0026] Furthermore, connecting frames are fixedly connected between the pyrolysis box and the air inlet box, between the pyrolysis box and the treatment box, and between the treatment box and the gas storage box; and the surfaces of the pyrolysis box, the air inlet box, the treatment box, the gas storage box, the collection box and the pipeline are fixedly connected with insulation layers.

[0027] Beneficial effect: Compared with direct welding, the use of a connecting frame can make the overall exposure area of ​​the device in the vacuum environment larger, so that the device loses less heat during operation, thereby improving energy utilization and reducing energy consumption.

[0028] The above scheme has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] 1. This solution improves the conversion efficiency of organic waste by pyrolyzing the organic waste inside the pyrolysis box; fixes the organic waste by using springs and extrusion nets; separates the gas and liquid of the pyrolysis gas by a processing component; and collects the pyrolysis products by a collecting component.

[0030] 2. This solution realizes the in-situ treatment of organic waste in the space environment, reducing the need to transport the waste back to Earth or to other treatment facilities, thereby greatly reducing transportation costs and potential risks.

[0031] 3. In this solution, the combination of extrusion net and spring designed inside the device can effectively maintain the uniform distribution and good contact of the waste during the pyrolysis process, thereby improving the pyrolysis efficiency. At the same time, the design of the air inlet assembly ensures the uniform distribution of hot air in the pyrolysis box, further promoting the pyrolysis reaction.

[0032] 4. In this scheme, the device uses a spring and sleeve structure to support the extrusion net, ensuring the stability and reliability of the device in a microgravity environment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 It is an axonometric schematic diagram of an embodiment of an in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 It is a side cross-sectional schematic diagram of an embodiment of the in-situ utilization device of organic waste for space environment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 3 It is a front cross-sectional schematic diagram of a conveyor belt in an embodiment of the device for in-situ utilization of organic waste in a space environment of the present invention.

[0036] List of reference numerals:

[0037] 1. Pyrolysis box; 2. Extrusion net; 3. Sleeve; 4. Spring; 5. Feed pipe; 6. Conveyor belt; 7. Baffle; 8. Air inlet box; 9. Partition; 10. Hot air blower; 11. Processing box; 12. Pipeline; 13. Check valve; 14. Air storage box; 15. Electric slide rail; 16. Sponge; 17. Condenser; 18. Collection box; 19. Water filter; 20. Thermally deformed metal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The present invention is further explained below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the following specific embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that the words "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper" and "lower" used in the following description refer to directions in the accompanying drawings, and the words "inner" and "outer" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively.

[0039] Embodiment 1:

[0040] As attached Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown: an organic waste in-situ utilization device for a space environment comprises a pyrolysis box 1, a feeding port is opened at the lower part of the pyrolysis box 1, and a feeding component for feeding organic waste into the pyrolysis box 1 is arranged on one side of the pyrolysis box 1.

[0041] The feeding assembly includes a feeding pipe 5, one end of which is connected to the interior of the pyrolysis box 1 through a feeding inlet, and the end of the feeding pipe 5 away from the pyrolysis box 1 is connected to a waste chamber; a conveyor belt 6 is fixedly connected with bolts in the feeding pipe 5, a plurality of baffles 7 are welded on the conveyor belt 6, and the conveyor belt 6 is electrically connected to a controller, which is used to control the operation of the conveyor belt 6.

[0042] An air inlet is provided at the top of the pyrolysis box 1 , and an air inlet assembly for inputting hot air into the pyrolysis box 1 is provided at the top of the pyrolysis box 1 .

[0043] The air inlet assembly includes an air inlet box 8, the inner wall of which is welded with a partition 9, which divides the interior of the air inlet box 8 into an air storage chamber and a heating chamber. The air storage chamber is filled with inert gas, and a hot air blower 10 is fixedly connected to the bottom wall of the heating chamber by bolts. The air storage chamber is connected to the hot air blower 10, and the hot air blower 10 is electrically connected to a controller, which is used to control the operation of the hot air blower 10.

[0044] An extrusion net 2 is provided in the pyrolysis box 1, and a plurality of sleeves 3 and a plurality of springs 4 are welded to the inner bottom wall of the pyrolysis box 1. The springs 4 are all located inside the sleeves 3, and the ends of the springs 4 away from the inner bottom wall of the pyrolysis box 1 are welded to the bottom of the extrusion net 2; an air outlet is provided on the side wall of the pyrolysis box 1, and a processing component for processing the pyrolysis product is provided on one side of the pyrolysis box 1, and a plurality of collecting components for collecting the pyrolysis product are provided below the processing component.

[0045] The processing assembly includes a processing box 11, which is connected to the inside of the pyrolysis box 1 through an air outlet; a number of barrier assemblies for blocking moisture are equidistantly arranged inside the processing box 11 in the length direction.

[0046] The collecting assembly includes a collecting box 18 connected to the processing box 11. The inner wall of the collecting box 18 is bolted with a water pump and a water filter 19. The water pumps are connected to the inside of the processing box 11 and are electrically connected to a controller. The controller is used to control the operation of the water pumps.

[0047] A pipe 12 is connected to the side of the processing box 11 away from the air outlet, and a one-way valve 13 and an air storage box 14 are connected in sequence to the end of the pipe 12 away from the processing box 11; a plurality of electric slide rails 15 are fixedly connected with bolts at equal intervals on the top wall and the bottom wall of the processing box 11 in the length direction, and water outlet nets are slidably fitted between adjacent electric slide rails 15 in the vertical direction, and the electric slide rails 15 are electrically connected to a controller, which is used to control the operation of the electric slide rails 15.

[0048] The barrier assembly includes a sponge 16 bonded to the inner wall of the processing box 11, and a condenser tube 17 is embedded and installed inside the sponge 16. The shape of the condenser tube 17 is S-shaped.

[0049] Connecting frames are welded between the pyrolysis box 1 and the air inlet box 8, between the pyrolysis box 1 and the processing box 11, and between the processing box 11 and the air storage box 14; the surfaces of the pyrolysis box 1, the air inlet box 8, the processing box 11, the air storage box 14, the collecting box 18 and the pipeline 12 are all bonded with a heat insulation layer.

[0050] The specific implementation process is as follows: the operator enters the waste chamber, places the organic waste in the moving path of the baffle 7, and starts the entire device through the controller. After the conveyor belt 6 is started, it drives the baffle 7 to move, and then brings the organic waste in the moving path of the baffle 7 into the pyrolysis box 1 through the feeding pipe 5, and lifts the squeezing net 2. At this time, the squeezing net 2 will squeeze and fix the organic waste under the contraction force of the spring 4.

[0051] The hot air blower 10 is started, and the inert gas is heated and then transported to the pyrolysis box 1 to pyrolyze the organic waste. In this embodiment, nitrogen is selected as the inert gas. After the inert gas pyrolyzes the organic waste, pyrolysis gas is generated, and enters the treatment box 11 through the air outlet. When the pyrolysis gas passes through the sponge 16, the moisture obtained by the pyrolysis gas from the organic waste is absorbed, and at the same time, the condenser 17 cools the sponge 16 and the pyrolysis gas. The pyrolysis gas enters the gas storage chamber through the pipeline 12 and the one-way valve 13, realizing the storage of the pyrolysis gas.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, the electric slide 15 is started, driving the water outlet net to reciprocate in the electric slide 15, squeezing out the water inside the sponge 16. At this time, the water pump is started, sucking water in the air into the collection box 18, and filtered by the water filter 19 to complete the water collection.

[0053] like Figure 2 As shown, since the volume and mass of organic waste will decrease during the pyrolysis process, as the volume of organic waste decreases, the lifting force of organic waste on the squeezing net 2 will also decrease, and then the squeezing net 2 will move downward under the action of the contraction force of the spring 4 to achieve further squeezing of the organic waste.

[0054] The design of sleeve 3 provides a limit for extrusion net 2, so that the horizontal height of extrusion net 2 is always higher than the delivery inlet, reducing the possibility that organic waste enters the top of extrusion net 2 due to the horizontal height of extrusion net 2 being lower than the delivery inlet and the extrusion net 2 cannot fix it.

[0055] Since the entire device is in a space environment, the design of the connecting frame can increase the exposed area of ​​the device in a vacuum environment, thereby reducing heat loss during operation and improving energy utilization; the insulation layer utilizes the vacuum environment of space to form a vacuum insulation belt, ensuring the stable progress of the pyrolysis reaction.

[0056] Embodiment 2:

[0057] As attached Figure 2 As shown, the difference from Example 1 is that filters are welded at both the air inlet and the air outlet.

[0058] The specific implementation process is as follows: After the organic waste is pyrolyzed for a period of time, the volume and mass of the organic waste are reduced. At this time, since the entire device is located in space, the organic waste is in a weightless state. When the hot air blower 10 delivers the heated inert gas to the pyrolysis box 1, the movement amplitude of the organic waste in the pyrolysis box 1 will increase, and it may move toward the air inlet and outlet. The design of the filter can limit the movement of the organic waste in the pyrolysis box 1, thereby reducing the possibility of the organic waste entering the treatment box 11 and contaminating the pyrolysis products. At the same time, since the movement of the organic waste is limited to the pyrolysis box 1, the utilization efficiency of the organic waste is also improved.

[0059] Embodiment 3:

[0060] As attached Figure 2 As shown, the difference from Example 2 is that the inner side walls of the mesh holes of the extruded mesh 2 are welded with hot deformed metal 20.

[0061] The specific implementation process is as follows: when the device is running, since the organic waste needs to be pyrolyzed, the controller will control the hot air blower 10 to increase the temperature of the inert gas according to the pyrolysis time to ensure the smooth progress of the pyrolysis. When the temperature of the inert gas increases, the heat of the thermally deformed metal 20 increases, and the deformation amount generated increases. At this time, the mesh of the extrusion net 2 will shrink under the deformation of the thermally deformed metal 20, and the degree of shrinkage is proportional to the deformation amount of the thermally deformed metal 20.

[0062] The technical means disclosed in the scheme of the present invention are not limited to the technical means disclosed in the above-mentioned implementation mode, but also include technical schemes composed of any combination of the above technical features.

Claims

1. An in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment, characterized in that: The invention comprises a pyrolysis box (1), wherein a delivery inlet is provided at the lower part of the pyrolysis box (1), a delivery assembly for delivering organic waste into the pyrolysis box (1) is provided on one side of the pyrolysis box (1), an air inlet is provided at the top of the pyrolysis box (1), and an air inlet assembly for delivering hot air into the pyrolysis box (1) is provided on the top of the pyrolysis box (1); an extrusion net (2) is provided in the pyrolysis box (1), a plurality of sleeves (3) and a plurality of springs (4) are fixedly connected to the inner bottom wall of the pyrolysis box (1), the springs (4) are all located inside the sleeves (3), and one end of the springs (4) away from the inner bottom wall of the pyrolysis box (1) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the extrusion net (2); an air outlet is provided on the side wall of the pyrolysis box (1), a processing assembly for processing pyrolysis products is provided on one side of the pyrolysis box (1), and a plurality of collection assemblies for collecting pyrolysis products are provided below the processing assembly.

2. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding assembly comprises a feeding pipe (5), one end of the feeding pipe (5) being connected to the interior of the pyrolysis box (1) through a feeding inlet, and one end of the feeding pipe (5) away from the pyrolysis box (1) being connected to a waste chamber; a conveyor belt (6) is fixedly connected to the inside of the feeding pipe (5), a plurality of baffles (7) are fixedly connected to the conveyor belt (6), and the conveyor belt (6) is electrically connected to a controller, which is used to control the operation of the conveyor belt (6).

3. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air inlet assembly comprises an air inlet box (8), the inner wall of the air inlet box (8) is fixedly connected to a partition plate (9), the partition plate (9) divides the interior of the air inlet box (8) into an air storage chamber and a heating chamber, the air storage chamber is filled with an inert gas, the bottom wall of the heating chamber is fixedly connected to a hot air blower (10), the air storage chamber is in communication with the hot air blower (10), the hot air blower (10) is electrically connected to a controller, and the controller is used to control the operation of the hot air blower (10).

4. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The processing assembly comprises a processing box (11), wherein the processing box (11) is connected to the inside of the pyrolysis box (1) via an air outlet; a plurality of barrier components for blocking moisture are equidistantly arranged in the length direction of the processing box (11); a side of the processing box (11) away from the air outlet is connected to a pipe (12); an end of the pipe (12) away from the processing box (11) is connected to a one-way valve (13) and an air storage box (14) in sequence; a plurality of electric slide rails (15) are fixedly connected to the top wall and the bottom wall of the processing box (11) at equal distances in the length direction; water outlet nets are slidably fitted between adjacent electric slide rails (15) in the vertical direction; the electric slide rails (15) are electrically connected to a controller; and the controller is used to control the operation of the electric slide rails (15).

5. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in space environment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The barrier component comprises a sponge (16) fixedly connected to the inner wall of the processing box (11), and a condensation pipe (17) is fixedly connected inside the sponge (16).

6. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The shape of the condenser tube (17) is S-shaped.

7. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The collection assembly comprises a collection box (18) connected to the processing box (11); a water pump and a water filter (19) are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the collection box (18); the water pumps are connected to the inside of the processing box (11); the water pumps are electrically connected to a controller; and the controller is used to control the operation of the water pumps.

8. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in space environment according to claim 7, characterized in that: Filters are fixedly connected to the air inlet and the air outlet.

9. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in a space environment according to claim 8, characterized in that: The inner side walls of the mesh holes of the extruded mesh (2) are all fixedly connected with heat-deformed metal (20).

10. The in-situ utilization device for organic waste in space environment according to claim 9, characterized in that: A connecting frame is fixedly connected between the pyrolysis box (1) and the air inlet box (8), between the pyrolysis box (1) and the processing box (11), and between the processing box (11) and the air storage box (14); and a heat insulation layer is fixedly connected to the surfaces of the pyrolysis box (1), the air inlet box (8), the processing box (11), the air storage box (14), the collection box (18), and the pipeline (12).

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