Mars water ice in-situ mechanical extraction device based on low-temperature brittle breaking and vacuum vortex separation

Abstract

The invention discloses a Mars water ice in-situ mechanical extraction device based on low-temperature brittle breaking and vacuum vortex separation, relates to the technical field of deep space exploration engineering equipment and planetary in-situ resource utilization, and aims to solve the problems of high energy consumption, quick cutter wear and insufficient long-term reliability in the prior art. The device comprises a crushing and separating assembly and a desublimation collecting assembly which are connected through a sealed material conveying channel, the crushing and separating assembly is provided with an ultrasonic resonance cutter head, a tangential gas nozzle sprays airflow into a conical vacuum vortex separating cavity to form a centrifugal flow field, and an Archimedes spiral flow guide ridge guides separated ice particles to be output; the desublimation collection assembly is provided with a multi-stage venturi depressurization cavity group, an annular condensation wall, a passive radiation heat dissipation plate and an ice body collection tank, the multi-stage venturi depressurization cavity group promotes ice particles to sublimate into water vapor, and the annular condensation wall and the passive radiation heat dissipation plate are thermally coupled to desublimate the water vapor into solid ice and collect the solid ice. The device is suitable for in-situ mining and purification operation of surface layers of extraterrestrial celestial bodies such as Mars and underground water ice.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] It involves the fields of deep space exploration engineering equipment and planetary in-situ resource utilization technology, specifically involving the in-situ extraction of Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation. Background Technology

[0002] Mars, as one of the most promising planets in the solar system, possesses abundant water resources in the form of ice beneath its surface and underground. This water ice is not only a crucial in-situ resource for future human endeavors on Mars, including establishing outposts, supplying resources, and providing propellant, but also a strategic material supporting long-term scientific exploration and manned missions. Therefore, how to efficiently and reliably extract water ice in the extreme low-temperature, low-pressure, and low-gravity environment of Mars has become an important research direction in the field of deep space exploration and planetary in-situ resource utilization (ISRU).

[0003] Existing technologies can be broadly categorized into two types: thermal methods and mechanical methods. The typical approach of thermal methods involves heating the target area to sublimate or melt the ice in the ice-bearing weathered layer, followed by gas condensation or liquid collection. For example, some studies have proposed using solar concentrators or electrically heated drills to heat underground ice-bearing soil. However, due to the extremely poor thermal conductivity of Martian soil, heat cannot be efficiently transferred to the deep target ice body, resulting in extremely high energy consumption per unit mass of water ice. Furthermore, the multiphase mixture of vapor, liquid, and solid generated during sublimation or melting is highly susceptible to blockage or refreezing in pipelines, filters, and other components, causing mechanical failures or even mission interruptions.

[0004] Mechanical methods directly break up the ice-bearing weathered layer through mechanical cutting and drilling, supplemented by screening or gravity settling for separation. For example, some solutions use rotary drills, buckets, or cutters to cut the Martian permafrost, followed by a vibrating screen to remove dust. However, in ultra-hard permafrost environments, the cutting tools wear out extremely quickly, resulting in high cutting resistance and requiring extremely high drive power and structural strength. The localized heat generated by friction can also cause the ice to partially melt and then rapidly refreeze, leading to a "drill jamming" phenomenon. In the separation process, gravity settling is almost ineffective under low gravity conditions, and the vibrating screen is easily clogged by fine Martian particles and highly electrostatic dust, making continuous operation impossible.

[0005] In addition, some hybrid technologies attempt to combine the advantages of heating and mechanical separation, such as simultaneously injecting hot gas during drilling to reduce cutting resistance and promote sublimation. However, these methods still have significant shortcomings in terms of energy consumption, system complexity, and failure rate, and are difficult to operate stably in unmanned, long-term, low-maintenance mission environments.

[0006] In summary, existing technologies suffer from drawbacks such as high energy consumption, rapid tool wear, susceptibility to clogging and jamming, poor separation efficiency under low gravity conditions, and insufficient long-term reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, such as high energy consumption, rapid tool wear, susceptibility to clogging and jamming, poor separation efficiency under low gravity conditions, and insufficient long-term reliability, the technical solution provided by this invention is as follows: A device for in-situ mechanical extraction of Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation includes: The crushing and separating assembly and the sublimation and collecting assembly are connected by a sealed material conveying channel; The crushing and separation assembly includes an ultrasonic resonant cutter head, a crushed material guide channel, a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber, a tangential gas nozzle, and an Archimedean spiral guide ridge. The ultrasonic resonant cutter head is used for low-temperature brittle crushing of ice-containing weathered layers. The tangential gas nozzle is used to inject gas flow into the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber to form a centrifugal flow field. The Archimedean spiral guide ridge is used to guide the separated ice particles out. The sublimation collection assembly includes a multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber assembly, an annular condensation wall, a passive radiative heat dissipation plate, and an ice collection tank; the multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber assembly is used to reduce pressure under high-speed airflow to promote the sublimation of ice particles into water vapor. The annular condensation wall is thermally coupled to the passive radiative heat dissipation plate to condense water vapor into solid ice and collect it in the ice collection tank.

[0008] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment is provided in which the ultrasonic resonant cutter disc consists of a rotatable disc body and multiple replaceable cutter teeth, and is mechanically coupled with a piezoelectric ceramic transducer to apply high-frequency vibration while rotating and cutting.

[0009] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment is provided in which the tangential gas nozzle is arranged tangentially to the sidewall of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber.

[0010] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment is provided in which a dust discharge pipe is provided at the bottom of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber for discharging the separated dust particles.

[0011] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment is provided in which the inner surface of the annular condensation wall is provided with a flow-guiding spiral groove to guide water vapor to flow on the low-temperature surface.

[0012] It also provides a Mars rover, including the aforementioned in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation.

[0013] An electronic control method for an in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation is also provided. The device, based on the aforementioned in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation, includes: Steps for controlling the ultrasonic resonant cutter disc to break up ice-containing weathered layers; The steps for controlling the separation of ice particles and dust in a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber; The steps for controlling a multi-stage Venturi depressurization chamber assembly to promote ice particle sublimation; The steps for controlling the sublimation of water vapor into solid ice on the annular condenser wall and collecting it.

[0014] A computer storage medium is also provided for storing a computer program, which, when read by the computer, executes the method.

[0015] A computer is also provided, including a processor and a storage medium, wherein the computer executes the method when the processor reads a computer program stored in the storage medium.

[0016] A computer program product is also provided, which, when executed, implements the method described.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the technical solution provided by the present invention are as follows: This solution utilizes an ultrasonic resonant cutterhead within the crushing and separation assembly. By combining rotary cutting with high-frequency vibration, it fully leverages the brittle characteristics of water ice in low-temperature environments, enabling the ice-bearing weathered layer to undergo brittle fracture with relatively low mechanical power. Compared to traditional methods relying solely on mechanical drilling, this approach significantly reduces tool wear and cutting resistance, avoids the risk of jamming caused by ice melting and refreezing due to frictional heat, and thus improves long-term operational stability and reliability.

[0018] This solution employs a vacuum vortex separation structure comprised of a conical cavity, tangential nozzles, and a spiral guide ridge within the crushing and separation assembly. It achieves screenless separation of ice particles and dust through pneumatic centrifugal force. Compared to existing separation methods that rely on screens or gravity, such as vibrating screens or gravity settling, this design eliminates the need for moving parts and screen openings, is unaffected by low-gravity environments or dust clogging, and can continuously and stably separate fine particles, ensuring high efficiency and low maintenance in the separation process.

[0019] This method introduces a multi-stage Venturi depressurization channel into the sublimation collection assembly, utilizing high-speed airflow to locally reduce pressure and promote rapid sublimation of ice particles. Combined with an annular condensation wall and a passive radiant heat sink, water vapor is condensed into high-purity solid water ice. Compared to existing purification methods that rely on active cooling or heating devices, this approach fully utilizes the low pressure and deep-space cryogenic environment of Mars to achieve spontaneous phase change, requiring no additional energy input and consuming extremely low energy. Simultaneously, it effectively removes residual particles, improving the purity of the collected ice.

[0020] This solution equips the condenser wall with a mechanical scraper and a replaceable collection container to achieve periodic removal and sealed storage of ice. Compared with existing structures that require manual cleaning or have a single ice storage chamber, this design supports continuous operation in unmanned environments, avoids the problem of reduced condensation efficiency due to ice accumulation, and improves operational flexibility and task continuity through the rapid replacement of the collection container.

[0021] It is suitable for in-situ extraction and purification of water ice on the surface and underground of extraterrestrial bodies such as Mars. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the in-situ mechanical extraction device for water ice on Mars. Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the in-situ extraction process of water ice from Mars.

[0023] Among them, 1 is a multi-stage cross-choll pressure reducing chamber group, 2 is an ultrasonic resonant cutter disc, 3 is a crushed material guiding channel, 4 is a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber, 5 is a tangential gas nozzle, 6 is an Archimedes spiral guide ridge, 7 is a dust discharge pipe, 8 is an ice collection tank, 9 is an annular condensation wall, 10 is a passive radiant heat dissipation plate, 11 is a guide spiral groove, and 12 is a motor drive device and a rotary scraper. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the advantages and benefits of the technical solution provided by the present invention clearer, the technical solution provided by the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, specifically: Implementation Method 1: This implementation method provides an in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation, comprising: The crushing and separating assembly and the sublimation and collecting assembly are connected by a sealed material conveying channel; The crushing and separation assembly includes an ultrasonic resonant cutter head, a crushed material guide channel, a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber, a tangential gas nozzle, and an Archimedean spiral guide ridge. The ultrasonic resonant cutter head is used for low-temperature brittle crushing of ice-containing weathered layers. The tangential gas nozzle is used to inject gas flow into the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber to form a centrifugal flow field. The Archimedean spiral guide ridge is used to guide the separated ice particles out. The sublimation collection assembly includes a multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber assembly, an annular condensation wall, a passive radiative heat dissipation plate, and an ice collection tank; the multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber assembly is used to reduce pressure under high-speed airflow to promote the sublimation of ice particles into water vapor. The annular condensation wall is thermally coupled to the passive radiative heat dissipation plate to condense water vapor into solid ice and collect it in the ice collection tank.

[0025] The ultrasonic resonant cutter head consists of a rotatable disc and multiple replaceable cutting teeth, and is mechanically coupled with a piezoelectric ceramic transducer to apply high-frequency vibration while rotating and cutting.

[0026] The tangential gas nozzle is arranged tangentially to the sidewall of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber.

[0027] The bottom of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber is equipped with a dust discharge pipe for discharging the separated dust particles.

[0028] The inner surface of the annular condensation wall is provided with a flow-guiding spiral groove to guide water vapor to flow on the low-temperature surface.

[0029] It also provides a Mars rover, including the aforementioned in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation.

[0030] An electronic control method for an in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation is also provided. The device, based on the aforementioned in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation, includes: Steps for controlling the ultrasonic resonant cutter disc to break up ice-containing weathered layers; The steps for controlling the separation of ice particles and dust in a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber; The steps for controlling a multi-stage Venturi depressurization chamber assembly to promote ice particle sublimation; The steps for controlling the sublimation of water vapor into solid ice on the annular condenser wall and collecting it.

[0031] Implementation Method Two: Combination Figure 1 and 2 This embodiment describes the technical solution provided in Embodiment 1 in further detail. Specifically: like Figure 1 As shown, a Martian water ice in-situ mechanical extraction device based on low-temperature brittle crushing and vacuum vortex separation includes a crushing and separation assembly and a sublimation collection assembly. The two are connected by a sealed material conveying channel to form a continuous and closed material handling process, which is suitable for long-term autonomous operation in the extremely low temperature, low pressure and low gravity environment of Mars.

[0032] The crushing and separation assembly includes an ultrasonic resonant cutter head 2, a crushed material guide channel 3, a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4, a tangential gas nozzle 5, an Archimedes spiral guide ridge 6, and a dust discharge pipe 7. The ultrasonic resonant cutter head 2 consists of a rotating disc made of high-strength cryogenic alloy and independently replaceable cutter teeth. The cutter teeth are made of wear-resistant hard alloy or ceramic materials to withstand the impact and wear of high-hardness particles in Martian permafrost. The cutter head is mechanically coupled to a piezoelectric ceramic transducer, which transmits high-frequency vibration energy to the cutter teeth through an amplitude transformer, generating high-frequency axial or composite vibrations. This causes the permafrost to rapidly fracture along microcracks at low temperatures, significantly reducing cutting resistance and power requirements, and preventing ice melting and refreezing caused by frictional heat.

[0033] The crushed material guiding channel 3 adopts a sealed structure, directly conveying the crushed ice-dust mixture to the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4. The inner wall of this separation chamber is machined with Archimedean spiral-shaped guide ridges 6, and tangential gas nozzles 5 are arranged on the lower or middle side walls, spraying pressurized Martian carbon dioxide gas to form a high-speed rotating flow field. During the separation process, denser dust particles are concentrated at the axis under centrifugal force and discharged along the dust discharge pipe 7, while less dense ice particles are captured by the Archimedean spiral-shaped guide ridges 6 and rise along the spiral path for discharge. The entire process is screenless and has no moving parts, avoiding dust clogging.

[0034] The sublimation collection assembly includes a multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber group 1, an annular condensing wall 9, a passive radiant heat sink 10, a flow-guiding spiral groove 11, a motor drive device and a rotary scraper 12, and an ice collection tank 8. The multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber group 1 consists of multiple series-connected contraction-expansion tube sections. When the airflow passes through the throat, the static pressure drops sharply, creating an environment far below the saturated vapor pressure of ice. This causes the ice particles to rapidly sublimate into water vapor, achieving the ultimate separation from solid impurities.

[0035] Water vapor flows along the surface of the annular condensation wall 9 via the guide spiral groove 11. The annular condensation wall 9 is made of a high thermal conductivity metal and is thermally coupled to a passive radiative heat dissipation plate 10. The heat dissipation plate faces deep space and is coated with a high infrared emissivity and low heat absorption rate coating, continuously radiating heat into deep space to achieve deep cryogenic refrigeration without additional energy consumption. The water vapor rapidly sublimates into a high-purity solid ice layer on the surface of the condensation wall. Once the ice layer reaches a set thickness, a motor-driven device and a rotating scraper 12 scrape the ice layer off, and the ice blocks fall into the ice collection tank 8 located at the bottom. The collection tank has a replaceable sealed structure, which facilitates automatic replacement by the Mars rover's robotic arm, enabling continuous operation.

[0036] like Figure 2 The diagram shows the process flow. The first step is low-temperature brittle fracture. The ultrasonic resonant cutter head applies high-frequency vibration while rotating and cutting. Utilizing the brittle properties of water ice in the low-temperature environment of Mars, the ice-containing weathered layer is rapidly fractured along micro-cracks, reducing energy consumption and tool wear, and avoiding melting and refreezing caused by frictional heat.

[0037] The second step is material guidance. The ice-dust mixture obtained from crushing is introduced into the separation unit through the crushed material guide channel under sealed conditions, ensuring that the material does not come into contact with the outside environment and avoiding pressure fluctuations in the vacuum system and external dust contamination.

[0038] The third step is vacuum vortex separation. The pressurized carbon dioxide gas injected tangentially forms a stable and high-speed rotating flow field in the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber. Dust particles, due to their high density, are thrown towards the center and sink, and are discharged through the slag discharge port. Ice particles are pushed against the outer wall and rise along the spiral guide ridge and are discharged, achieving efficient screenless separation.

[0039] The fourth step is multi-stage depressurization and sublimation. Ice particles enter a multi-stage Venturi depressurization chamber assembly, where the local pressure drops sharply under the action of high-speed airflow, falling below the saturated vapor pressure of ice at that temperature. This causes the ice particles to rapidly and spontaneously sublimate into water vapor, while simultaneously achieving complete separation of residual solid impurities.

[0040] The fifth step is annular condensation and sublimation. Water vapor flows along the guide spiral grooves and adheres to the surface of the annular condensation wall in a cryogenic state, rapidly condensing into high-purity solid water ice. It is periodically scraped off by a rotating scraper and enters a replaceable, sealed collection tank, achieving continuous and stable collection of pure ice.

[0041] Implementation Method 3: This implementation method further describes the technical solution provided above in detail through specific embodiments, specifically: A device for in-situ mechanical extraction of Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle crushing and vacuum vortex separation includes: a crushing and separation assembly and a deposition and collection assembly, which are connected by a material outlet. Both the crushing and separation assembly and the deposition and collection assembly are sealed cavities, forming a complete material processing flow path isolated from the outside world. The crushing and separation assembly is located at the front end of the device and includes an ultrasonic resonant cutter disc 2 and a vortex separation structure. The ultrasonic resonant cutter disc 2 is used to efficiently and with low damage crush the ice-containing weathered layer on or below the surface of Mars. The vortex separation structure is used to quickly and efficiently physically separate the mixture of ice particles and dust particles generated after crushing. The deposition collection assembly is located at the rear end of the device and includes a pressure reduction channel connected to the material outlet and an annular condensation wall 9, which is used to purify and collect the separated pure ice particles into high-purity solid water ice through physical phase change. The vortex separation structure includes an inverted cone-shaped cavity 4, one or more tangential gas nozzles 5 arranged tangentially to the sidewall of the cavity, and an Archimedean spiral guide ridge 6 disposed on the inner wall of the cavity, for forming a stable and powerful vortex flow field. The sublimation collection assembly also includes a large passive radiative heat dissipation plate 10 thermally coupled to the annular condensation wall 9. The outer surface of the passive radiative heat dissipation plate 10 is coated with a spectrally selective coating with high infrared emissivity and low solar absorption rate to continuously radiate heat into deep space, thereby providing a stable cryogenic environment for the annular condensation wall 9. The deposition collection assembly also includes a mechanical scraper device, which is a rotary scraper used to periodically remove the ice layer condensed on the annular condensation wall 9 to ensure the continuous and efficient condensation process.

[0042] It has the following significant and beneficial advantages: (1) Low power consumption and high reliability of crushing: Ultrasonic vibration is used to assist cutting and take advantage of the brittleness of water ice at low temperature to turn "hard drilling" into "smart crushing". This greatly reduces the mechanical power required for crushing and tool wear, and fundamentally avoids the risk of stuck drill due to melting and refreezing caused by frictional heat.

[0043] (2) Clog-free and high-efficiency separation: The pneumatic vortex separation technology is adopted, with no screen or moving parts, completely eliminating the possibility of mechanical screening clogging. Through the artificial strong centrifugal force field, the separation of fine particles can be achieved, far exceeding the effect of natural sedimentation under low gravity.

[0044] (3) Zero-power purification process: The purification process is entirely based on physical principles and proceeds spontaneously. It utilizes the low-pressure environment of Mars to drive sublimation and uses deep space radiation to achieve passive cooling and deposition. No active heating or cooling unit is required, thus maximizing energy utilization efficiency.

[0045] (4) High integration and automation: The four major functions of crushing, separation, purification and collection are integrated into a closed and automated device. The process is clear and the structure is compact, which reduces the sample loss and cross-contamination that may be caused by transferring materials between multiple devices. It is very suitable for long-term autonomous operation in an unmanned environment.

[0046] In a specific embodiment, like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, a series-connected automated material handling system for in-situ mechanical extraction of Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation is presented. This system can be integrated onto a Mars rover or a fixed lander. Its workflow includes: a front-end ultrasonic resonant cutter disc 2 for crushing and collection; a middle section where a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4, tangential gas nozzles 5, and Archimedes spiral guide ridges 6 perform physical separation; and a rear section where a multi-stage Venturi depressurization chamber group 1, an annular condensation wall 9, a passive radiant heat sink 10, a motor drive device, a rotating scraper 12, and an ice collection tank 8 complete the purification and collection process.

[0047] The entire system is centrally controlled and managed. The system collects the operating status in real time through temperature sensors, pressure sensors, material position sensors, etc., and controls the actions of actuators such as motor drive devices, air valves, and piezoelectric actuators. This enables the crushing and separation assembly and the sublimation and collection assembly to work together in a closed material handling flow path, forming a complete closed-loop control system.

[0048] Ultrasonic Resonant Cutter 2 The ultrasonic resonant cutter head 2, located at the front of the system, is the component that directly interacts with the Martian surface. It is connected to the main system via a robust support arm or frame. Its core is a rotating disc made of low-temperature resistant, high-strength titanium alloy. Multiple modular cutter teeth, made of cemented carbide or ceramic, are installed on the disc and can be independently replaced to adapt to high-intensity wear conditions. A high-power piezoelectric ceramic transducer is mechanically coupled inside or behind the cutter head. This transducer converts electrical energy into high-frequency mechanical vibration, which is amplified and transmitted to the entire cutter head via an amplitude transformer. During operation, the drive motor rotates the disc to provide cutting force, while the piezoelectric ceramic transducer outputs high-frequency (20–40 kHz), small-amplitude axial or composite vibrations. This achieves a synergistic effect of rotary cutting and high-frequency impact, utilizing the significant brittleness of water ice at low temperatures to generate stress concentration at the tips of microcracks, promoting crack propagation and causing brittle fracture of the permafrost layer with low energy consumption. Simultaneously, the high-frequency vibration has a self-cleaning effect, preventing fine dust from adhering to the cutter surface.

[0049] vortex separation structure The ice-dust mixture particles generated during crushing are collected by a guide shroud behind the ultrasonic resonant cutter disc 2 and conveyed to the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4 through a sealed crushing material guide channel 3. This separation unit has no moving parts, and its main structure includes: Conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4: The overall shape is an inverted cone, which is conducive to forming a stable and variable intensity vortex flow field and assists in the stratification of particles along the axial direction; Tangential gas nozzle 5: Located on the lower or middle side wall of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4, tangentially arranged to the chamber wall, and connected to a micro gas pump system. This system can use carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere as a working fluid, pressurized and injected at high speed through the tangential gas nozzle 5. Due to the large pressure difference between the inside and outside of the chamber, the gas expands adiabatically and accelerates to supersonic speed, thus forming a stable high-speed vortex within the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4. Centrifugal separation principle: The vortex airflow drives all particles to rotate. The denser dust particles are thrown towards the central area and sink under the action of centrifugal force. They are discharged through the dust discharge pipe 7 at the bottom of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4 and vacuum leakage is prevented by airlock or spiral discharge valve. Archimedes spiral guide ridge 6: Located on the inner wall of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4, ice particles with lower density are thrown to the outer wall and captured by the Archimedes spiral guide ridge 6. Under the action of the vortex rising airflow, they rise steadily along the spiral path and are finally discharged through the ice chip outlet channel at the top of the separation chamber.

[0050] Multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber group 1 Pure ice particles from the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4 enter the multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber group 1 via the debris guide channel 3. This pressure-reducing chamber group consists of multiple Venturi tubes connected in series, each including a contraction section and a dilatation section. According to Bernoulli's principle, when the airflow carrying ice particles passes through the narrowest throat, the flow velocity reaches its maximum and the static pressure drops to its minimum. The resulting extremely low local pressure is far below the saturated vapor pressure of ice at that temperature, thus prompting the ice particles to rapidly and spontaneously sublimate into water vapor, while simultaneously achieving the ultimate separation of water molecules from the entrained fine solid particles.

[0051] Passive Cooling and Sublimation Pure water vapor enters the annular condenser, the core component of which is the annular condensing wall 9. The annular condensing wall 9 is made of a high thermal conductivity material, such as oxygen-free copper or aluminum alloy, and its back side is tightly thermally coupled to a passive radiant heat sink 10 via multiple heat pipes or a high thermal conductivity support. The passive radiant heat sink 10 is positioned towards deep space and its surface is coated with a spectrally selective coating with high infrared emissivity and low solar absorptivity to efficiently radiate heat into the cosmic background, passively cooling the annular condensing wall 9 to extremely low temperatures (e.g., below -80°C). To improve condensation efficiency, the inner surface of the annular condensing wall 9 is machined with flow-guiding spiral grooves 11, utilizing the Coanda effect to allow water vapor to adhere to the low-temperature surface and flow, extending the contact time and increasing the heat exchange area, ensuring rapid and complete sublimation to form uniform and dense solid pure ice.

[0052] Collection and storage When the ice thickness sensor detects that the ice layer on the surface of the annular condensation wall 9 has reached a preset value, the mechanical scraper device is activated. This scraper is a rotating blade along the annular condensation wall 9, used to peel off the ice layer and scrape it off into the ice collection tank 8. The ice collection tank 8 is located at the bottom of the device and can be designed as a replaceable sealed container with an insulation layer and a sealing valve. When full, it can be removed by the rover's robotic arm and replaced with a new empty container to achieve continuous water ice collection operations.

[0053] Additional descriptions of optional implementations to enhance the adaptability and performance of the device may include the following optional improved designs: Adaptive Fragmentation The drive system of the ultrasonic resonant cutter head 2 can adopt a dual-frequency or multi-frequency resonant mode, such as superimposing 20kHz and 40kHz. The central controller judges the hardness and composition of the ice-containing weathered layer in real time based on the torque signal of the cutter head motor and the vibration feedback signal of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer, and automatically adjusts the optimal vibration frequency and power to adapt to different geological conditions and achieve efficient and stable low-temperature brittle crushing.

[0054] Pulse Vortex Separation The tangential gas nozzle 5 of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4 can be controlled by a high-speed solenoid valve, using pulsed injection instead of continuous injection. By optimizing the frequency and duty cycle of the pulsed injection, the consumption of carbon dioxide in the working fluid is significantly reduced while maintaining an effective centrifugal force field. A stronger turbulent flow field is also formed inside the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber 4, which helps to break up agglomerates of fine ice and dust particles, thereby further improving the separation accuracy.

[0055] Enhanced thermal management For operating conditions that may be exposed to sunlight or experience drastic diurnal temperature variations, microchannels containing phase change materials can be embedded within the annular condenser wall 9 to ensure its continuous low temperature. At night, under low-temperature conditions, the phase change material solidifies and stores cold energy; during the day, when heated, the phase change material melts and absorbs heat, acting as a thermal buffer to stabilize the temperature of the annular condenser wall 9 near its phase change point, thus ensuring the all-day working capability of the sublimation collection assembly.

[0056] The above description of several specific embodiments further details the technical solution provided by the present invention in order to highlight the advantages and benefits of the technical solution provided by the present invention. However, the above-described specific embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Any reasonable modifications and improvements to the present invention, combinations of embodiments, and equivalent substitutions based on the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for in-situ mechanical extraction of Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation, characterized in that, include: The crushing and separating assembly and the sublimation and collecting assembly are connected by a sealed material conveying channel; The crushing and separation assembly includes an ultrasonic resonant cutter head, a crushed material guide channel, a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber, a tangential gas nozzle, and an Archimedean spiral guide ridge. The ultrasonic resonant cutter head is used for low-temperature brittle crushing of ice-containing weathered layers. The tangential gas nozzle is used to inject gas flow into the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber to form a centrifugal flow field. The Archimedean spiral guide ridge is used to guide the separated ice particles out. The sublimation collection assembly includes a multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber group, an annular condensation wall, a passive radiative heat dissipation plate, and an ice collection tank. The multi-stage Venturi pressure-reducing chamber assembly is used to reduce pressure under high-speed airflow to promote the sublimation of ice particles into water vapor. The annular condensation wall is thermally coupled to the passive radiative heat dissipation plate to condense water vapor into solid ice and collect it in the ice collection tank.

2. The in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ultrasonic resonant cutter head consists of a rotatable disc and multiple replaceable cutting teeth, and is mechanically coupled with a piezoelectric ceramic transducer to apply high-frequency vibration while rotating and cutting.

3. The in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tangential gas nozzle is arranged tangentially to the sidewall of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber.

4. The in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the conical vacuum vortex separation chamber is equipped with a dust discharge pipe for discharging the separated dust particles.

5. The in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surface of the annular condensation wall is provided with a flow-guiding spiral groove to guide water vapor to flow on the low-temperature surface.

6. A Mars rover, characterized in that, This includes the in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation as described in claim 1.

7. An electronic control method for an in-situ mechanical extraction device for Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation, characterized in that, The device for in-situ mechanical extraction of Martian water ice based on low-temperature brittle fracture and vacuum vortex separation, as described in claim 1, includes: Steps for controlling the ultrasonic resonant cutter disc to break up ice-containing weathered layers; The steps for controlling the separation of ice particles and dust in a conical vacuum vortex separation chamber; The steps for controlling a multi-stage Venturi depressurization chamber assembly to promote ice particle sublimation; The steps for controlling the sublimation of water vapor into solid ice on the annular condenser wall and collecting it.

8. A computer storage medium for storing computer programs, characterized in that, When the computer program is read by the computer, the computer executes the method of claim 7.

9. A computer, comprising a processor and a storage medium, characterized in that, When the processor reads the computer program stored in the storage medium, the computer executes the method of claim 7.

10. A computer program product, as a computer program, is characterized by: When the computer program is executed, it implements the method of claim 7.

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