Heat preservation device and method applied to iridium antenna in low-temperature environment
By designing a combination of solid wood insulation box and heating parts on the Iridium antenna, the problem of the Iridium antenna not working properly in extreme cold environments is solved, long-term and stable communication in extremely low temperature environments is achieved, and the reliability of the system is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411472789.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-18
AI Technical Summary
In extremely cold environments, the Iridium antenna cannot work properly. The existing insulation methods rely on reliable temperature sensors and control units, but these devices are prone to failure in extremely low temperature environments, resulting in inaccurate temperature control.
An insulation device is designed, including a solid wood insulation box, normally open heating parts and controlled heating parts. Through continuous heating and intelligent control, the working temperature of the Iridium antenna is maintained. The device does not rely on high-reliability temperature sensors and control units, and is simple in structure and easy to maintain.
In the extremely low temperature environment of Antarctic, ensuring the long-term normal operation of the Iridium antenna reduces the incidence of component failures, and improving the reliability and communication efficiency of the system.
Smart Images
Figure CN119472841A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of communication equipment, and relates to a heat preservation method for communication equipment in extremely cold areas, and in particular to a heat preservation device and method for an iridium antenna used in a low-temperature environment. Background Art
[0002] The long-term operating instruments and equipment at scientific research stations such as Dome A in Antarctica need to communicate with the domestic market, but the only communication available in the polar regions is Iridium. The Iridium antenna needs to be placed in an open outdoor area, while the lowest temperature of Dome A can reach -80℃. After actual testing, the Iridium antenna cannot work normally in an environment of -80℃, and needs to be insulated to maintain the working temperature of the Iridium antenna. Since Dome A in Antarctica can only be maintained by the Antarctic expedition team for about 20 days each year, and the equipment is in an unattended and unmaintained operating state for the rest of the time, it is necessary to design an insulation solution with a simple structure, few control components, simple control method, and strong reliability without affecting the communication efficiency of the Iridium antenna. The general insulation method is based on the temperature data read by the temperature sensor, and according to a certain control algorithm, the control unit is commanded to perform control actions such as heating or cooling, thereby completing the temperature control of the target device. Such a control method has high requirements on the authenticity of the sensor readings and the reliability of the control unit, host computer, and communication. However, according to the long-term operation experience in Antarctica, sensors are prone to failure, data may not be read or have a large offset, and are not trustworthy. The control unit may also be damaged, and the on-site communication and host computer may not be reliable. In addition, the long-term unmanned maintenance and unattended operation state makes it impossible to recover from the failure of sensors, control units, host computers, and communications in time. Therefore, the temperature control method of reading temperature data in real time and controlling heating and cooling in real time according to a certain strategy is prone to misjudgment and misoperation when actually used in Dome A, and cannot achieve the desired effect. Summary of the invention
[0003] In view of the problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a heat preservation device and method for an Iridium antenna used in a low-temperature environment, which can ensure that the Iridium antenna can work normally outdoors for a long time in the extremely low-temperature environment of Antarctica.
[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:
[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an insulation device for an Iridium antenna used in a low-temperature environment, comprising an insulation box, a normally-open heating element, a controlled heating unit and a power supply; the Iridium antenna is placed in the insulation box; the normally-open heating element is directly connected to the power supply to continuously heat the Iridium antenna so that the temperature in the insulation box reaches the operating temperature of the Iridium antenna; the controlled heating unit comprises a controlled heating element and a switch, the controlled heating element is connected to the power supply via the switch, and the switch is normally off; when the switch is closed, the controlled heating element heats; the power of the controlled heating element is greater than the power of the normally-open heating element.
[0006] Optionally, temperature sensors are installed in the incubator at various locations around the Iridium antenna; the opening and closing of the switch is controlled according to temperature data monitored by the temperature sensor.
[0007] Optionally, the gap between the thermal insulation box and the Iridium antenna is filled with thermal insulation material; the thermal insulation material is polyurethane material.
[0008] Optionally, a metal gasket is provided at the bottom of the insulation box, preferably a stainless steel gasket; the normally-on heating element and the control heating element are both composed of multiple heating films in parallel; the multiple heating films of the normally-on heating element and the control heating element are staggered on the gasket.
[0009] Optionally, the total power of the controlled heating element is 10W greater than the total power of the normally-on heating element.
[0010] Optionally, the insulation box is made of solid wood.
[0011] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for heat preservation of an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment, comprising the following steps:
[0012] S1. Find the ideal temperature difference N℃ so that the ambient temperature + N℃ can reach the operating temperature of the Iridium antenna;
[0013] S2. Use solid wood to make an insulation box for placing the Iridium antenna. The thickness of the solid wood is selected according to the working power of the Iridium antenna and the ideal temperature difference N°C obtained in S1.
[0014] S3, laying a metal gasket at the bottom of the incubator, the gasket area is larger than the bottom of the Iridium antenna, two groups of heating films are staggered on the gasket, each group of heating films is composed of multiple heating films in parallel, and the two groups of heating films are respectively a normally open heating element and a control heating element; the total power of the normally open heating element is M, and the total power of the control heating element is greater than M; the power M is obtained by testing through a low temperature test, so that when the heating film with a total power of M in the incubator is continuously heated and the Iridium antenna is continuously working, the constant temperature difference between the inside and outside of the incubator can reach the ideal temperature difference N°C;
[0015] S4. Install temperature sensors at various locations around the Iridium antenna in the incubator;
[0016] S5, the normally open heating element is directly connected to the power supply without a switch; the heating element is controlled to be connected to the power supply with a switch in between, and the switch is normally off; under normal circumstances, the switch does not work; under special circumstances, the switch is controlled, and the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna is obtained based on the data read from the temperature sensor; when the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna is higher than the high threshold value H, the switch is disconnected and the heating element is controlled not to heat; when the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna is lower than the low threshold value L, the switch is closed and the heating element is controlled to heat.
[0017] Optionally, in S2, the gap between the thermal insulation box and the Iridium antenna is filled with thermal insulation material, and the filling degree of the thermal insulation material is determined according to the working power of the Iridium antenna and the ideal temperature difference N°C obtained in S1; the thermal insulation material is polyurethane material.
[0018] Optionally, the total power of the controlled heating element is M+10W.
[0019] Optionally, the high threshold H is lower than the maximum operating temperature of the target heat preservation equipment, and the low threshold L is higher than the minimum operating temperature of the target heat preservation equipment.
[0020] After low-temperature testing, the power of the normally-on heating element was set at 30W. The Iridium antenna worked normally, and the normally-on heating element continued to work for heating. The 30W heating power can maintain a constant temperature difference of 60℃ between the insulation box with a 1cm thick solid wood structure and filled with polyurethane material and the external environment. In the Antarctic environment of -80℃ to -45℃, it can ensure an operating temperature of -20℃ to 25℃ in the insulation box, which is a suitable temperature for the Iridium antenna to work. This solution does not affect the communication efficiency of the Iridium antenna and has a simple structure. The normally-open heating element is directly connected to the power supply, has no switch, does not require control, and has strong reliability. The controlled heating element has both a control switch and refers to the data read by the temperature sensor in the incubator. It also has a control structure and is not as reliable as the normally-open heating element. Under normal circumstances, the switch is often off, and the control center does not control or operate. Under special circumstances, it can increase the control flexibility. For example, when it is necessary to heat the Iridium antenna to a suitable operating temperature as soon as possible at an extremely low temperature of -80°C, or when the heating film of the normally-open heating element partially or completely fails, it can serve as a redundancy for the normally-open heating element, and control whether the heating film of the control heating element is working according to the real-time temperature in the incubator to adjust the temperature in the incubator.
[0021] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:
[0022] The present invention provides a heat preservation structure of solid wood and polyurethane material, and based on the actual low temperature test results, a heating film of reasonable power is installed as a normally open heating element, ensuring that the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the heat preservation box is reasonable under the condition that the heating film of the power and the iridium antenna of the target heat preservation device continue to work, and the temperature in the heat preservation box can be within the ideal operating temperature range of the target heat preservation device under the extremely low temperature environment of Dome A. The method requires multiple low temperature tests to determine the reasonable solid wood structure thickness and the reasonable heating power M, but the actual normally open heating element does not need to be controlled during operation, does not need to rely on the data collected in real time by the temperature sensor, has no control unit, does not need to be controlled, does not rely on the host computer, greatly reduces components, reduces the failure rate, and has very high reliability. Even if all devices such as the host computer are powered off due to power shortage, once the battery has power (such as a solar cell), no external control is required, and heating is started immediately, so that the target heat preservation device reaches the ideal operating temperature, and the first time connection of the iridium communication is guaranteed. In addition, the control heating unit is used as redundancy in extreme cases and to enhance the flexibility in special cases. Even if the temperature sensor fails, or even the host computer fails, the control heating unit fails, and the normal use of the normally open heating element is not affected.
[0023] The present invention is simple and feasible, and ensures a suitable temperature in the insulation box. The whole method has high reliability, and takes into account the needs in special scenarios, and increases certain flexibility under the premise of ensuring reliability. The method makes full use of the heat emitted by the target insulation equipment itself, and when the heat itself is small, it supplements a certain heating power, adopts the insulation structure to maximize the use of all heat sources, and does not use the heat dissipation structure, which meets the energy-saving requirements of Antarctica. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a heat preservation device of an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The specific implementation of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a heat preservation method for an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment, comprising the following steps:
[0027] S1. Find the ideal temperature difference N℃ so that the ambient temperature + N℃ can reach the operating temperature of the Iridium antenna. For example, the outdoor temperature of Dome A in Antarctica is -80℃~-35℃. When the temperature difference is 60℃, the temperature inside the incubator can reach -20℃~25℃, which meets the operating temperature requirements of the Iridium antenna.
[0028] S2. Use solid wood to make the insulation box for placing the Iridium antenna. The thickness of the solid wood is selected according to the working power of the Iridium antenna and the ideal temperature difference N° obtained in S1. That is, if the working power of the Iridium antenna is high or the ideal temperature difference is low, the thickness of the solid wood is thinner, otherwise it is thicker. For example, the thickness of the solid wood can be 1 cm.
[0029] The gap between the Iridium antenna and the outer layer of the insulation box is filled with polyurethane material. The degree of filling of the polyurethane material is determined by comprehensively considering the working power of the target insulation equipment and the ideal temperature difference N℃. If the working power of the target insulation equipment is high enough, or the ideal temperature difference is low, polyurethane material may not even be needed. The working power of the Iridium antenna itself is very low, so it needs to be filled with polyurethane material.
[0030] S3. Lay a metal gasket at the bottom of the insulation box. The gasket area is larger than the bottom of the iridium antenna. Two groups of heating films are staggered on the gasket. Each group of heating films is composed of multiple heating films connected in parallel. The two groups of heating films are a normally open heating element and a controlled heating element respectively.
[0031] The total power of the normally open heating element is M, and the total power of the controlled heating element is M+10W.
[0032] The power M is obtained through low-temperature tests, so that the heating film with a total power M in the incubator is continuously heated and the Iridium antenna is continuously working, and the constant temperature difference inside and outside the incubator can reach the ideal temperature difference N°C.
[0033] S4. Install temperature sensors at various locations around the Iridium antenna in the incubator.
[0034] S5, normally open heating element is directly connected to the power supply without switch. Control the heating element to be connected to the power supply with a switch in between, and the switch is normally off.
[0035] Under normal circumstances, the control center does not control or operate; under special circumstances, the upper computer controls the switch and analyzes the data read from the temperature sensor to obtain the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna. When the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna is higher than the high threshold H, the switch is disconnected and the heating element is controlled not to heat. When the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna is lower than the low threshold L, the switch is closed and the heating element is controlled to heat. The high threshold H is lower than the maximum operating temperature of the target insulation equipment, and the low threshold L is higher than the minimum operating temperature of the target insulation equipment.
[0036] The thermal insulation structure described in the above method is as follows Figure 1As shown, the insulated box 1 is a 1 cm thick solid wooden box, which is divided into an upper part and a lower part, connected by a buckle. The upper part stores the Iridium antenna A, and the part between the insulated box 1 and the Iridium antenna is filled with polyurethane 2. The lower part is the bottom of the solid wooden box, leaving holes for wire entry and exit, and a layer of stainless steel gasket 3 is added on it, and the area of gasket 3 is larger than the bottom of the Iridium antenna A. Two groups of heating films are staggered on the gasket 3, which respectively form a normally open heating element 41 and a control heating element 42. The heating films of the normally open heating element 41 are directly connected to the power supply 5 after being connected in parallel, and the heating films of the control heating element 42 are connected to the power supply 5 through a switch 6 after being connected in parallel, and the switch 6 is controlled by the host computer. The gasket 3 and the middle of the bottom wooden board of the insulated box 1 are opened to allow the power line and signal line to enter and exit.
[0037] After the incubator 1 is installed, the heating film of the normally-open heating element 41 is directly connected to the power supply for continuous heating. The heating power of 30W can maintain a temperature difference of 60°C between the incubator and the external environment. In the Antarctic environment of -80°C to -35°C, the operating temperature of -20°C to 25°C in the incubator can be guaranteed, which is a temperature suitable for the operation of the Iridium antenna. The heating device has a simple structure, no switch, and the heating film is directly connected to the power supply 5, which does not require control and has strong reliability. The control heating element 42 is used as a redundancy of the normally-open heating element 41, and is connected to the power supply 5 through the switch 6. The control center outside the incubator 1 reads the real-time measured temperature data, analyzes and judges, controls the switch 6, opens or closes the switch 6 of the control heating element 42, and adjusts the temperature. The heating device can increase the control flexibility in special circumstances, such as when it is necessary to heat to a suitable operating temperature for the Iridium antenna as soon as possible at an extremely low temperature of -80°C, or when the heating film of the normally-open heating element 41 partially or completely fails. Since there is a switch 6, the data read by the temperature sensor in the incubator 1 must be referred to, and there is a control structure, the reliability of the control heating element 42 is not as good as the normally open heating element 41, and it is only used as a redundancy for the normally open heating element 41. Under normal circumstances, the switch 6 is in a normally off state and is not enabled. This insulation solution does not affect the communication efficiency of the Iridium antenna.
[0038] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the scientific and technical terms used herein have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art. In addition, the materials and operating steps used herein are the materials and conventional steps widely used in the corresponding fields.
[0039] It should be noted that the terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back", etc. cited in the invention are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. Changes or adjustments in their relative relationships should be regarded as the scope of implementation of the present invention without substantially changing the technical content.
[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments or replace some of the technical features therein by equivalents. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A heat preservation device for an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment, characterized in that: It includes an insulated box, a normally-open heating element, a control heating unit and a power supply; The Iridium antenna is placed in an incubator; The normally open heating element is directly connected to the power supply to continuously heat the Iridium antenna so that the temperature inside the incubator reaches the operating temperature of the Iridium antenna; The controlled heating unit includes a controlled heating element and a switch. The controlled heating element is connected to a power source via the switch, and the switch is normally off. When the switch is closed, the controlled heating element heats. The power of the controlled heating element is greater than the power of the normally open heating element.
2. The heat preservation device for an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The incubator is also equipped with temperature sensors located at various locations around the iridium antenna; the opening and closing of the switch is controlled according to the temperature data monitored by the temperature sensor.
3. The heat preservation device for an Iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gap between the thermal insulation box and the Iridium antenna is filled with thermal insulation material; The thermal insulation material is polyurethane.
4. The heat preservation device for an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: A layer of metal gasket is provided at the bottom of the thermal insulation box; Both the normally open heating element and the control heating element are composed of multiple heating films connected in parallel; The plurality of heating films of the normally-on heating element and the control heating element are staggeredly attached on the gasket.
5. The heat preservation device for an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The total power of the controlled heating element is 10W greater than the total power of the normally-on heating element.
6. The heat preservation device for an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the thermal insulation box is solid wood.
7. A method for heat preservation of an iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Find the ideal temperature difference N℃ so that the ambient temperature + N℃ can reach the operating temperature of the Iridium antenna; S2. Use solid wood to make an insulation box for placing the Iridium antenna. The thickness of the solid wood is selected according to the working power of the Iridium antenna and the ideal temperature difference N°C obtained in S1. S3, laying a metal gasket at the bottom of the incubator, the gasket area is larger than the bottom of the iridium antenna, and two groups of heating films are staggered on the gasket, each group of heating films is composed of multiple heating films connected in parallel, and the two groups of heating films are respectively a normally open heating element and a control heating element; The total power of the normally open heating element is M, and the total power of the controlled heating element is greater than M; The power M is obtained through low temperature test, so that the heating film with total power M in the incubator is continuously heated and the Iridium antenna is continuously working, and the constant temperature difference inside and outside the incubator can reach the ideal temperature difference N℃; S4. Install temperature sensors at various locations around the Iridium antenna in the incubator; S5, the normally open heating element is directly connected to the power supply without a switch; the control heating element is connected to the power supply with a switch in between, and the switch is normally off; Under normal circumstances, the switch does not operate; under special circumstances, the switch is controlled, and the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna is analyzed based on the data read from the temperature sensor; when the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna is higher than the high threshold H, the switch is disconnected and the heating element is controlled not to heat; when the real-time temperature data of the Iridium antenna is lower than the low threshold L, the switch is closed and the heating element is controlled to heat.
8. The heat preservation method of the iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to claim 7, characterized in that: In S2, the gap between the thermal insulation box and the Iridium antenna is filled with thermal insulation material, and the filling degree of the thermal insulation material is determined according to the working power of the Iridium antenna and the ideal temperature difference N°C obtained in S1; the thermal insulation material is polyurethane material.
9. The heat preservation method of the iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The total power of the controlled heating element is M+10W.
10. The heat preservation method of the iridium antenna used in a low temperature environment according to claim 6, characterized in that: The high threshold H is lower than the maximum operating temperature of the target heat preservation equipment, and the low threshold L is higher than the minimum operating temperature of the target heat preservation equipment.