A method and system for continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants by controlling the phase change of xenon gas.

Abstract

This invention discloses a method and system for continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants by controlling the phase change of xenon gas, relating to the field of xenon gas refueling control technology. The method includes the following steps: connecting a full xenon gas cylinder to the equipment to be refueled and performing pressure equalization on the equipment; introducing the remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder into a xenon liquefier, liquefying the remaining xenon gas into liquid xenon in the xenon liquefier; injecting the liquid xenon into a liquid xenon collection bottle, stopping collection when the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches a preset liquid level, and opening the connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier for collection; activating the bottom heater of the first liquid xenon collection bottle to vaporize the liquid xenon, and using a pressure sensor to detect the internal pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle and the equipment to be refueled; performing temperature-controlled refueling on the equipment to be refueled; stopping refueling when the equipment reaches the rated refueling volume and verifying the refueling volume; and recovering the unqualified xenon gas in the refueled equipment to a recovery gas cylinder using a stopper pump when the detected xenon gas is substandard.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of xenon refueling control technology, and in particular to a method and system for controlling the phase change of xenon gas to achieve continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, satellite electric propulsion systems mainly include Hall effect electric propulsion systems and ion electric propulsion systems, commonly used in geostationary orbit satellite platforms to perform tasks such as north-south position maintenance, attitude control, orbit control, and geosynchronous orbit transfer. Hall effect electric propulsion systems and ion electric propulsion systems using xenon as the working propellant require xenon refueling before satellite launch. Electric propulsion systems using xenon as the working propellant require xenon refueling with a purity higher than 99.995%, and water and oxygen content not exceeding 2 ppm, placing extremely high demands on impurity control. Currently, xenon refueling is mainly achieved through three methods: pressure-filling refueling, compressor mechanical compression refueling, and thermal pressurization refueling. Pressure-filling refueling refers to the process of filling xenon from the storage tank into the onboard gas cylinder under the action of a pressure difference; refueling cannot continue once the pressure in the storage tank and the onboard gas cylinder are equal. Compressor mechanical compression refueling uses a compressor to pressurize the xenon, causing it to continuously flow into the onboard electric propulsion system, but this method has issues with purity and temperature control. The hot-pressurized xenon refueling method effectively solves problems such as foreign matter control and temperature control, increases refueling flow rate, and improves reliability and reduces operating time by increasing the number of core components, making it an important technology for achieving large-capacity, high-purity xenon refueling. Based on the above, the following problems still exist in the method of controlling xenon phase change to achieve electric propellant refueling:

[0003] 1. The amount of xenon added in each cycle is small, the filling speed is slow, and the filling density is low, making it impossible to achieve continuous xenon filling.

[0004] 2. The mass flow rate and temperature of xenon gas cannot be controlled during filling.

[0005] 3. It is not possible to effectively control the water and oxygen content in the xenon gas inside the system, and the presence of impurities can easily lead to damage to the filling system. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the problems mentioned above, this invention provides a method and system for controlling the phase change of xenon gas to achieve continuous electric propellant loading, thereby solving the aforementioned problems.

[0007] A method for controlling the phase change of xenon gas to achieve continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants includes the following steps:

[0008] A full xenon cylinder is connected to the device to be filled, and the pressure is equalized between the xenon cylinder and the device to be filled through the first connecting valve.

[0009] The remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder is introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit, and the remaining xenon gas is liquefied into liquid xenon in the xenon liquefaction unit using a liquid nitrogen Dewar canister.

[0010] The liquid xenon is injected into the liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches the preset liquid level, the second connecting valve from the xenon liquefier to the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier is opened for collection.

[0011] Turn on the bottom heater of the first liquid xenon collection bottle to vaporize the liquid xenon, and use a pressure sensor to detect the internal pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled;

[0012] When the pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle is detected to be higher than the pressure data of the device to be filled, the fourth connecting valve between the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled is opened to perform temperature-controlled filling of the device to be filled.

[0013] When the equipment to be refilled reaches the rated refilling volume, refilling is stopped, the equipment to be refilled is pressure equalized, and the refilling volume is checked to confirm that the equipment to be refilled has been refilled.

[0014] When the xenon gas in the already filled equipment is found to be substandard, the substandard xenon gas is recovered into the recovery gas cylinder by the injector pump.

[0015] Preferably, before connecting the full xenon cylinder to the filling device and performing a pressure equalization operation between the xenon cylinder and the filling device via the first connecting valve to achieve pressure equilibrium, the method further includes:

[0016] A helium leak detector is used to perform single-point helium leak detection at preset points in the refueling system to obtain a first leakage rate. Argon gas is then injected into the refueling system to perform pressure-holding leak detection to obtain a second leakage rate.

[0017] When both the first leakage rate and the second leakage rate are lower than the first preset threshold, it is determined that the leakage rate meets the standard.

[0018] The filling system is evacuated using a plunger pump, and the filling system is replaced with a preset gas. The water molecule content of the filling system is detected using a trace water analyzer, and the oxygen molecule content of the filling system is detected using a trace oxygen analyzer. When the water molecule content is lower than a second preset threshold and the oxygen molecule content is lower than a third preset threshold, the replacement is confirmed to be qualified.

[0019] Xenon gas is injected into the filling system to clean it.

[0020] Preferably, the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister is used to provide cold source nitrogen for the xenon liquefaction unit. The cold source nitrogen has two nitrogen paths: the first nitrogen path is directly introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit through the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister, and the second nitrogen path is sent out through the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister to a heater for heating before being introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit.

[0021] Preferably, the temperature of the xenon liquefier is controlled by mixing two streams of nitrogen and adjusting the pressure of the mixture. The steps are as follows:

[0022] Temperature measurements were taken of the nitrogen gas in the first nitrogen path and the second nitrogen path.

[0023] Based on a preset target temperature, the mixing ratio is determined by a preset algorithm using nitrogen temperature data in the first nitrogen path and the second nitrogen path, and the mixture is introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit according to the mixing ratio.

[0024] A temperature sensor is installed at the heat exchanger inlet of the xenon liquefier to monitor the temperature data of the cold source nitrogen mixture in real time and feed the temperature data back to the control system.

[0025] The target temperature range is set according to the xenon phase transition curve, and the control system adjusts the nitrogen pressure introduced into the xenon liquefier based on the target temperature range.

[0026] When the temperature of the mixed nitrogen gas deviates from the set value, the protection mode is automatically triggered and an error message is issued.

[0027] Preferably, when the liquid xenon is injected into the liquid xenon collection bottle, after the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches a preset liquid level, the second connecting valve between the xenon liquefier and the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier is opened for collection. The first liquid xenon collection bottle is used to accumulate liquid xenon, and stops accumulating liquid xenon after reaching a preset threshold, while evaporating liquid xenon is added. The second liquid xenon collection bottle is used to perform the liquid xenon accumulation operation when the first liquid xenon collection bottle is evaporating liquid xenon and adding liquid xenon. After reaching a rated value, the second liquid xenon collection bottle stops accumulating liquid xenon, while evaporating liquid xenon is added. The first liquid xenon collection bottle and the second liquid xenon collection bottle alternately perform the "accumulated liquid xenon evaporation and addition" process to ensure uninterrupted operation of the addition device.

[0028] Preferably, the liquid xenon evaporator has an integrated multi-point temperature sensor inside to monitor the temperature distribution of key parts of the liquid xenon evaporator in real time. The power of the electric heater at the bottom of the liquid xenon evaporator is dynamically adjusted by an algorithm. When the temperature sensor detects that the xenon temperature is lower than a first set threshold, the heating power is increased through an intelligent temperature control system; when the temperature sensor detects that the xenon temperature is higher than a second set threshold, the heating power is reduced.

[0029] Preferably, when the device to be refilled reaches the rated refill volume, refilling is stopped, the device to be refilled is pressure-equalized, and the refill volume is verified to confirm the device to be refilled as a refilled device, including:

[0030] The electronic scale connected to the equipment to be filled is used to detect the weight when the equipment is unloaded, and the electronic scale is calibrated based on the obtained unloaded weight data.

[0031] The temperature fluctuation, vibration amplitude, and electromagnetic interference intensity data of the operating area of ​​the equipment to be filled are detected, and the weight detection data obtained by the electronic scale are compensated and corrected based on the compensation coefficient of the temperature fluctuation, vibration amplitude, and electromagnetic interference intensity data of the operating area of ​​the equipment to be filled.

[0032] During the refueling process, the weight detection data of the device to be refueled is acquired in real time. Before the xenon refueling amount reaches the preset ratio of the rated value, the full-speed mode is used. After the preset ratio is reached, the refueling is switched to slow speed until the real-time output data of the electronic scale reaches the rated value.

[0033] The xenon filling amount is verified using the built-in sensor of the filling device. Once the filling amount is confirmed to meet the preset standard, the device to be filled is identified as a filling device.

[0034] Preferably, the xenon refueling amount is verified using a sensor built into the refueling device. When the refueling amount is confirmed to meet a preset standard, the device to be refueled is identified as a refueled device, including:

[0035] Before filling, the built-in sensor is calibrated in multiple stages, the filling pipeline valve is closed, so that the built-in sensor is in an unloaded state, and the output signal of the built-in sensor is adjusted to the theoretical zero point through the weight detection system.

[0036] The temperature of the filling pipeline is monitored in real time using a temperature sensor. The change in xenon density is calculated by combining the xenon equation of state. The interference of the density change on the pressure sensor is predicted by a machine learning model, and the output signal is dynamically adjusted.

[0037] The output signal is used to adjust the output value of the mass flow sensor. When the deviation between the mass flow sensor and the electronic scale's weight change rate exceeds a preset percentage, an alarm is triggered and refueling is paused.

[0038] After filling, the difference in the electronic scale readings before and after filling is compared, and the number of xenon moles is calculated using the pressure sensor readings and pipeline volume data, and cross-validated with the output value of the mass flow sensor.

[0039] When the filling volume is confirmed to meet the preset standard, the device to be filled is identified as the device that has been filled.

[0040] Preferably, the method further includes remote monitoring and real-time adjustment of system device operating parameters based on remote technical support and optimized control algorithms, including:

[0041] Based on industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the device in this method is intelligently controlled using a field intelligent control platform and a cloud-based collaborative control platform.

[0042] Deploy composite sensor arrays at key nodes, use pressure sensor groups to monitor the dynamic pressure of xenon storage tanks and pipelines, use high-precision electronic scales to provide real-time feedback on tank mass changes, and use non-contact infrared spectrometers to analyze xenon purity online.

[0043] All sensor data are timestamped and then input into the on-site intelligent control platform and the cloud-based collaborative control platform.

[0044] An adaptive control framework based on a thermodynamic model is established based on the characteristics of xenon liquid-gas conversion. The opening of the liquid nitrogen flow regulating valve is intelligently matched based on the xenon cooling rate through the field intelligent control platform. The heating power is dynamically adjusted by using a fuzzy control algorithm to eliminate the interference of xenon cylinder pressure fluctuations on flow stability during the filling process.

[0045] The cloud-based collaborative control platform is used to optimize control algorithms through machine learning models, train neural network models based on historical data, determine the optimal refueling rate under different ambient temperatures, dynamically adjust the liquid nitrogen recovery and supply ratio using reinforcement learning, and simulate extreme working conditions using digital modeling technology to determine emergency plans.

[0046] A fault-tolerant protection mechanism is established based on the field intelligent control platform. When the pipeline pressure exceeds the safety threshold, the regulating valve throttling measure is triggered and pushed to the field intelligent control platform. An optical leak detection array is deployed to realize early warning of micro-leakage.

[0047] A backup system is set up, and the field intelligent control platform and the backup system can perform real-time mutual verification based on the heterogeneous redundancy design.

[0048] The cloud-based collaborative control platform enables remote expert guidance, fault code analysis, and the establishment of equipment health assessment models. It also allows for the prediction of the remaining lifespan of key components based on vibration spectrum analysis and thermal imaging data.

[0049] Blockchain technology is used to record operation logs and sensor data, and the control algorithm library provides a data interface to support the subsequent import of new optimization models.

[0050] A system for continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants by controlling the phase change of xenon gas is characterized by comprising:

[0051] The pressure equalization module is used to connect a full xenon cylinder to the device to be filled, and to perform pressure equalization operation with the device to be filled through the first connecting valve, so that the pressure of the xenon cylinder and the device to be filled is equalized.

[0052] The liquefaction module is used to introduce the remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder into the xenon liquefaction unit, and use a liquid nitrogen Dewar canister to liquefy the remaining xenon gas into liquid xenon in the xenon liquefaction unit;

[0053] The collection module is used to inject the liquid xenon into the liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches the preset liquid level, the second connecting valve between the xenon liquefier and the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier is opened for collection.

[0054] The vaporization module is used to turn on the bottom heater of the first liquid xenon collection bottle to vaporize the liquid xenon, and uses a pressure sensor to detect the internal pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled.

[0055] The filling module is used to open the fourth connecting valve between the first xenon collection bottle and the filling device when it detects that the pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle is higher than the pressure data of the filling device, so as to perform temperature-controlled filling of the filling device.

[0056] The quality control module is used to stop filling when the equipment to be filled reaches the rated filling amount, to perform pressure equalization on the equipment to be filled, to verify the filling amount, and to confirm the equipment to be filled as a filled equipment.

[0057] The recovery module is used to recover substandard xenon gas into a recovery cylinder via a plug pump when the detected substandard xenon gas in the filled equipment is found to be substandard.

[0058] Through the above-mentioned technical means, the present invention achieves the following beneficial effects:

[0059] 1) By controlling the phase change process of xenon propellant to achieve "gas-liquid-gas", continuous refueling of satellite electric thrusters can be achieved. By intelligently adjusting the cooling liquefaction and vaporization pressurization process of xenon, the gas is converted into liquid for storage and then precisely converted into gas. The xenon is continuously delivered to the satellite thrusters at a stable pressure, achieving uninterrupted refueling of satellite electric thrusters. This significantly improves the operating efficiency and reliability of the satellite propulsion system, while reducing the risk of manual maintenance.

[0060] 2) The intelligent temperature control system automatically adjusts the cooling intensity to keep the xenon gas in the best condition in real time, accurately controls the delivery speed and temperature, avoids low-temperature crystallization or pipeline blockage, ensures a smooth and efficient filling process, greatly reduces manual intervention and operational risks, and improves xenon gas utilization and system safety.

[0061] 3) Xenon filling is achieved solely through xenon phase change, without introducing other components into the filling system. This prevents impurities from remaining in the xenon and causing blockages. No additional chemical treatment is required throughout the process, maintaining xenon purity, significantly reducing the risk of equipment wear and tear, extending the lifespan of the filling system, and simplifying the operation process while improving safety.

[0062] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures particularly pointed out in the written description and the accompanying drawings.

[0063] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0064] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0065] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a system for controlling xenon phase change to achieve continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants, provided by the present invention.

[0066] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a method for continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants by controlling the phase change of xenon gas, provided by the present invention;

[0067] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a system for controlling the phase change of xenon gas to achieve continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants, provided by the present invention.

[0068] Figure 1 The components represented by each number are as follows: 1. Recovery gas cylinder, 2. Xenon cylinder 1, 3. Xenon cylinder 2, 4. Liquid nitrogen Dewar flask; 5. Heater, 6. Xenon liquefaction unit, 7. First liquid xenon collection bottle, 8. Second liquid xenon collection bottle, 9. Electronic scale, 10. Recovery compressor, 11. Injector pump. Detailed Implementation

[0069] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0070] Currently, satellite electric propulsion systems mainly include Hall effect electric propulsion systems and ion electric propulsion systems, commonly used in geostationary orbit satellite platforms to perform tasks such as north-south position maintenance, attitude control, orbit control, and geosynchronous orbit transfer. Hall effect electric propulsion systems and ion electric propulsion systems using xenon as the working propellant require xenon refueling before satellite launch. Electric propulsion systems using xenon as the working propellant require xenon refueling with a purity higher than 99.995%, and water and oxygen content not exceeding 2 ppm, placing extremely high demands on impurity control. Currently, xenon refueling is mainly achieved through three methods: pressure-filling refueling, compressor mechanical compression refueling, and thermal pressurization refueling. Pressure-filling refueling refers to the process of filling xenon from the storage tank into the onboard gas cylinder under the action of a pressure difference; refueling cannot continue once the pressure in the storage tank and the onboard gas cylinder are equal. Compressor mechanical compression refueling uses a compressor to pressurize the xenon, causing it to continuously flow into the onboard electric propulsion system, but this method has issues with purity and temperature control. The hot-pressurized xenon refueling method effectively solves problems such as foreign matter control and temperature control, increases refueling flow rate, and improves reliability and reduces operating time by increasing the number of core components, making it an important technology for achieving large-capacity, high-purity xenon refueling. Based on the above, the following problems still exist in the method of controlling xenon phase change to achieve electric propellant refueling:

[0071] 1. The amount of xenon added in each cycle is small, the filling speed is slow, and the filling density is low, making it impossible to achieve continuous xenon filling.

[0072] 2. The mass flow rate and temperature of xenon gas cannot be controlled during filling.

[0073] 3. It is not possible to effectively control the water and oxygen content in the xenon gas inside the system, and the presence of impurities can easily lead to damage to the filling system.

[0074] A method for controlling the phase change of xenon gas to achieve continuous electric propellant loading, such as Figure 2 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0075] Step S101: Connect the full xenon cylinder to the device to be filled, and perform pressure equalization operation between the xenon cylinder and the device to be filled through the first connecting valve to make the pressure of the xenon cylinder and the device to be filled equal.

[0076] In some embodiments, at the initial stage of the refueling process, a pre-tested and qualified xenon gas storage cylinder is connected to the target device through a dedicated interface, and the pressure balance valve between the two is opened to gradually connect the inside of the xenon gas cylinder with the cavity of the device to be refueled. This ensures that the xenon gas achieves a stable pressure transition during natural diffusion, avoiding abnormal gas flow rate or interface seal failure due to sudden pressure difference changes. This lays a stable pressure foundation for subsequent accurate refueling. At the same time, the pressure synchronization status on both sides is confirmed by real-time monitoring instruments to ensure operational safety and system reliability.

[0077] Step S102: The remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder is introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit, and the remaining xenon gas is liquefied into liquid xenon in the xenon liquefaction unit using a liquid nitrogen Dewar canister.

[0078] In some embodiments, the xenon gas that has not been completely consumed in the gas storage cylinder is transported to the xenon liquefaction unit through a guide pipe. The linkage cooling system between the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister and the liquefaction unit is activated. The xenon gas is deeply cooled by the extremely low temperature environment of liquid nitrogen, so that the xenon gas is liquefied into liquid xenon without crystallization.

[0079] Step S103: Inject the liquid xenon into the liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches the preset liquid level, close the second connecting valve between the xenon liquefier and the liquid xenon collection bottle, and open the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier for collection.

[0080] In some embodiments, this embodiment uses the main valve of the drain pipeline to allow liquid xenon to flow smoothly into the liquid xenon collection bottle cavity under pressure. During the draining process, the pressure and flow rate of the liquid xenon collection bottle are monitored simultaneously to ensure that there is no fluctuation or risk of vaporization during the transmission process.

[0081] Step S104: Turn on the bottom heater of the first liquid xenon collection bottle to vaporize the liquid xenon, and use a pressure sensor to detect the internal pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled;

[0082] In some embodiments, this embodiment uses a controllable temperature heating module at the bottom of the liquid xenon collection bottle to gradually convert liquid xenon into gaseous state. The internal pressure change signal is collected in real time by a multi-point pressure probe built into the evaporator, and the pressure in the filling device is monitored synchronously. The data is transmitted to the central control system in real time.

[0083] Step S105: When the pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle is detected to be higher than the pressure data of the device to be filled, the fourth connecting valve between the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled is opened to perform temperature-controlled filling of the device to be filled.

[0084] In some embodiments, when the system detects that the internal pressure of the liquid xenon collection bottle exceeds the pressure of the device to be filled, the pressure difference driving mechanism is automatically triggered to gradually open the connecting valve. By adjusting the opening range of the valve in stages, xenon gas flows from the evaporator to the target device at a stable rate, avoiding airflow impact caused by a sudden drop in pressure difference. During the filling process, the pressure data on both sides are compared in real time and the power of the heating module is adjusted in linkage to maintain the dynamic balance between vaporization and transportation.

[0085] Step S106: When the device to be refilled reaches the rated refilling amount, stop refilling, equalize the pressure of the device to be refilled, and then verify the refilling amount to confirm that the device to be refilled has been refilled.

[0086] In some embodiments, when the system detects that the xenon gas reserve of the target device has reached the preset standard, it automatically cuts off the filling pipeline after pressure equalization and starts the verification procedure. Through multiple detection methods such as quality change comparison and pressure stability verification, it confirms that the filling amount error is within the allowable range. After the verification is passed, the device status indicator automatically switches to filled.

[0087] Step S107: When the xenon gas in the filled equipment is found to be substandard, the substandard xenon gas is recovered into the recovery gas cylinder by the filler pump.

[0088] In some embodiments, when the purity of xenon gas in the filling device is detected to be substandard, the system automatically triggers a recovery procedure. The xenon gas composition is monitored in real time by a purity analyzer. When the gas is found to be substandard, the plug pump is started. Based on the principle of negative pressure suction, the substandard xenon gas is reverse-drawn back to a dedicated recovery gas cylinder through an airtight pipeline. At the same time, the pump frequency is dynamically adjusted by a pressure sensor to maintain a stable flow rate.

[0089] The working principle of the above technical solution is as follows: First, a full xenon cylinder is connected to the equipment to be filled. A pressure equalization operation is performed between the xenon cylinder and the equipment via the first connecting valve to achieve pressure equilibrium. Second, the remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder is introduced into a xenon liquefaction unit, where a liquid nitrogen Dewar canister is used to liquefy the remaining xenon gas into liquid xenon. Third, the liquid xenon is injected into a liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches the preset liquid level, the connecting valve between the xenon liquefaction unit and the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the first connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefaction unit is opened for collection. Finally, the bottom heating element of the liquid xenon collection bottle is activated. The device vaporizes liquid xenon and uses a pressure sensor to detect the internal pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled. When the pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle is detected to be higher than that of the device to be filled, the connecting valve between the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled is opened to perform temperature-controlled filling of the device to be filled. When the device to be filled reaches the rated filling amount, the filling is stopped, the filling amount is checked after the pressure of the device to be filled is equalized, and the device to be filled is confirmed as the filled device. Finally, when the xenon in the filled device is detected to be unqualified, the unqualified xenon is recovered to the recovery gas cylinder by the injector pump.

[0090] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: First, a full xenon cylinder is connected to the equipment to be refueled. A pressure equalization operation is performed between the xenon cylinder and the equipment via a first connecting valve, ensuring pressure equilibrium and improving refueling efficiency. Next, the remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder is introduced into a xenon liquefaction unit. A liquid nitrogen Dewar canister is used to liquefy the remaining xenon gas into liquid xenon within the liquefaction unit. This allows for the continuous delivery of xenon gas to the satellite thruster at a stable pressure, significantly improving the operational efficiency and reliability of the satellite propulsion system. Further, liquid xenon is injected into a liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches a preset liquid level, the connecting valve between the xenon liquefaction unit and the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the first connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefaction unit is opened for collection. The bottom heater of the liquid xenon collection bottle is activated to vaporize the liquid xenon. A pressure sensor is used to detect the vaporization of the first liquid xenon. The system monitors the internal pressure data of the xenon collection bottle and the device to be refilled. When the pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle is higher than that of the device to be refilled, the connecting valve between the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be refilled is opened, and temperature-controlled refilling is performed on the device to be refilled. When the device to be refilled reaches the rated refilling volume, refilling is stopped, and the refilling volume is checked after equalization. The device to be refilled is then confirmed as having been refilled. This system can precisely control the delivery speed and temperature, avoid low-temperature crystallization or pipeline blockage, ensure a stable and efficient refilling process, significantly reduce manual intervention and operational risks, and improve xenon utilization and system safety. Furthermore, when the xenon in the refilled device is found to be substandard, the substandard xenon is recovered to the recovery gas cylinder through the injection pump, which can recover and reuse xenon in the system, improving space utilization.

[0091] In one embodiment, before connecting the full xenon cylinder to the filling device and performing a pressure equalization operation between the xenon cylinder and the filling device via a first connecting valve to achieve pressure equilibrium, the method further includes:

[0092] A helium leak detector is used to perform single-point helium leak detection at preset points in the refueling system to obtain a first leakage rate. Argon gas is then injected into the refueling system to perform pressure-holding leak detection to obtain a second leakage rate.

[0093] In some embodiments, this embodiment performs staged leak detection on the refueling system based on the principle of helium mass spectrometry leak detection technology and the pressure-holding leak detection operation specifications. The helium leak detector is used to scan the preset key points of the refueling system point by point. Helium is injected into the suspected leak area as a tracer gas. The intensity of helium ion flow is monitored in real time by a mass spectrometer, and the first leak rate data is recorded. High-purity argon is injected into the refueling system to a preset pressure to allow the gas to fully penetrate. The system pressure change is continuously monitored by a pressure sensor, and finally the second leak rate is obtained.

[0094] When both the first leakage rate and the second leakage rate are lower than the first preset threshold, it is determined that the leakage rate meets the standard.

[0095] In some embodiments, in the gas tightness detection process of this embodiment, when both the first leakage rate obtained by the helium mass spectrometry spot detection method and the second leakage rate measured by the argon overall pressure holding method are lower than the preset threshold, the system determines that the leakage rate meets the standard.

[0096] The filling system is evacuated using a plunger pump, and the filling system is replaced with a preset gas. The water molecule content of the filling system is detected using a trace water analyzer, and the oxygen molecule content of the filling system is detected using a trace oxygen analyzer. When the water molecule content is lower than a second preset threshold and the oxygen molecule content is lower than a third preset threshold, the replacement is confirmed to be qualified.

[0097] In some embodiments, this embodiment is based on the safety operation specifications of the gas injection system, and the replacement qualification judgment process is as follows: Vacuuming treatment: Start the injection pump to perform deep vacuuming of the injection system until the system pressure drops to the target vacuum level, completely eliminating residual air and volatile impurities; Inert gas replacement: Inject a preset high-purity inert gas into the system, and achieve full gas replacement through segmented pressurization-depressurization cycle operation to ensure that the oxygen content and water in the system are effectively diluted; Water detection: Use a trace water analyzer to monitor the water molecule concentration in the system in real time; Oxygen content detection: Use an electrochemical trace oxygen analyzer to sample and analyze the oxygen molecule distribution at multiple points to ensure that there is no risk of local oxygen enrichment; Qualification judgment: When the water molecule content in the system is continuously and stably lower than the second preset threshold and the oxygen molecule content is lower than the third preset threshold, a replacement qualification signal is triggered.

[0098] Xenon gas is injected into the filling system to clean it.

[0099] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: dual-mode leak detection forms complementary verification of microscopic and macroscopic sealing, ensuring no system leakage; vacuuming combined with inert gas replacement thoroughly removes residual impurities in the pipeline; and real-time monitoring with a trace water and oxygen analyzer ensures that the system cleanliness meets the requirements of ion propellant-grade xenon for ultra-low water and oxygen content; the xenon gas circulation cleaning mechanism can efficiently displace residual gas and reduce the waste of high-value working fluids; xenon gas that fails the replacement stage can be directionally recovered to a dedicated gas cylinder through the recovery component, purified, and reused, significantly reducing loss costs and improving the reliability and economy of the xenon gas refueling system.

[0100] In one embodiment, the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister is used to provide cold source nitrogen to the xenon liquefaction unit. The cold source nitrogen has two nitrogen paths: the first nitrogen path is directly introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit through the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister, and the second nitrogen path is sent out through the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister to a heater for heating before being introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit.

[0101] In one embodiment, the temperature of the xenon liquefier is controlled by mixing two streams of nitrogen and adjusting the pressure of the mixture. The steps are as follows:

[0102] Temperature measurements were taken of the nitrogen gas in the first nitrogen path and the second nitrogen path.

[0103] Based on a preset target temperature, the mixing ratio is determined by a preset algorithm using nitrogen temperature data in the first nitrogen path and the second nitrogen path, and the mixture is introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit according to the mixing ratio.

[0104] A temperature sensor is installed at the heat exchanger inlet of the xenon liquefier to monitor the temperature data of the cold source nitrogen mixture in real time and feed the temperature data back to the control system.

[0105] In some embodiments, this embodiment integrates a high-precision temperature sensing module at the cold source inlet of the heat exchange system of the xenon liquefier to collect the comprehensive temperature parameters after the mixing of multiple nitrogen sources in real time. After the data is processed by the signal conditioning circuit, it is transmitted to the central controller through the industrial bus and dynamically compared with the preset process curve. When the temperature deviates from the set threshold, the control system adjusts the opening of the dual nitrogen regulating valve in linkage and adjusts the output power of the refrigeration unit in sync.

[0106] The target temperature range is set according to the xenon phase transition curve, and the control system adjusts the nitrogen pressure introduced into the xenon liquefier based on the target temperature range.

[0107] In some embodiments, this embodiment analyzes the phase transition curve from the triple point to the critical point of xenon gas, dynamically sets a temperature control range that matches the target pressure, and uses a dynamic balance algorithm to automatically calculate the mixing ratio of cold and hot nitrogen gas based on real-time collected dual-channel nitrogen temperature data, so that the temperature of the mixed low-temperature nitrogen gas accurately matches the thermodynamic conditions required for xenon liquefaction, and corrects the nitrogen pressure in time to avoid the formation of solid xenon.

[0108] When the temperature of the mixed nitrogen gas deviates from the set value, the protection mode is automatically triggered and an error message is issued.

[0109] In some embodiments, when the temperature deviates from the threshold, the system will implement a three-level protection mechanism: first, the regulating unit will be activated to dynamically correct the opening of the dual-path nitrogen proportional valve and the compressor power; if the regulation is ineffective, an audible and visual alarm will be triggered and a remote warning will be pushed to the central control platform; if the temperature continues to exceed the limit, the gas supply path will be automatically cut off and the electric heating compensation device will be activated to prevent low-temperature embrittlement.

[0110] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: by determining the mixing ratio based on the nitrogen temperature data in the first nitrogen path and the second nitrogen path based on the preset target temperature, and using the regulating valve to realize the xenon liquefaction unit according to the preset ratio, the temperature control accuracy is significantly improved, the possibility of xenon liquefaction and crystallization is reduced, the delivery speed and temperature are accurately controlled, and the problems of low temperature crystallization or pipeline blockage are avoided. When the mixed nitrogen temperature is detected to deviate from the set value, the protection mode is automatically triggered and an error reminder is issued to ensure the safe operation of the equipment.

[0111] In one embodiment, the liquid xenon is injected into the liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches a preset liquid level, the second connecting valve between the xenon liquefier and the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier is opened for collection. The first liquid xenon collection bottle is used to accumulate liquid xenon. After reaching a preset threshold, the accumulation of liquid xenon stops, and the evaporated liquid xenon is added. The second liquid xenon collection bottle is used to perform the liquid xenon accumulation operation when the evaporated liquid xenon in the first liquid xenon collection bottle is added. After reaching a rated value, the second liquid xenon collection bottle stops accumulating liquid xenon, and the evaporated liquid xenon is added. The first and second liquid xenon collection bottles alternately perform the "accumulated liquid xenon evaporation and addition" process to ensure uninterrupted operation of the addition device.

[0112] In one embodiment, the liquid xenon evaporator has an integrated multi-point temperature sensor inside to monitor the temperature distribution of key parts of the liquid xenon evaporator in real time. The power of the electric heater at the bottom of the liquid xenon evaporator is dynamically adjusted by an algorithm. When the temperature sensor detects that the xenon temperature is lower than a first set threshold, the heating power is increased through an intelligent temperature control system; when the temperature sensor detects that the xenon temperature is higher than a second set threshold, the heating power is reduced.

[0113] In one embodiment, when the device to be refilled reaches the rated refill volume, refilling is stopped, the device to be refilled is pressure-equalized, and the refill volume is verified to confirm the device to be refilled as a refilled device, including:

[0114] The electronic scale connected to the equipment to be filled is used to detect the weight when the equipment is unloaded, and the electronic scale is calibrated based on the obtained unloaded weight data.

[0115] In some embodiments, when the device is not loaded with xenon, this embodiment starts the precision weighing unit linked with the filling system to perform benchmark calibration under no-load conditions, activates the automatic zeroing function of the electronic scale to eliminate zero drift error, and at the same time eliminates environmental interference through the vibration suppression module, locks the current parameters as the benchmark mass data for subsequent xenon filling, and ensures the accuracy of the filling amount calculation.

[0116] The temperature fluctuation, vibration amplitude, and electromagnetic interference intensity data of the operating area of ​​the equipment to be filled are detected, and the weight detection data obtained by the electronic scale are compensated and corrected based on the compensation coefficient of the temperature fluctuation, vibration amplitude, and electromagnetic interference intensity data of the operating area of ​​the equipment to be filled.

[0117] In some embodiments, during the equipment filling operation, this embodiment synchronously collects environmental parameters to construct a dynamic compensation model, constructs an environmental interference weight matrix based on multi-source sensor data, dynamically calculates temperature drift compensation coefficient, vibration filtering factor and electromagnetic shielding correction parameters through Bayesian algorithm, and finally injects the multidimensional compensation coefficient into the digital signal processor to perform adaptive filtering and nonlinear correction on the original weighing data to eliminate the composite error of thermal expansion deformation, mechanical resonance and electromagnetic pulse superposition.

[0118] During the refueling process, the weight detection data of the device to be refueled is acquired in real time. Before the xenon refueling amount reaches the preset ratio of the rated value, the full-speed mode is used. After the preset ratio is reached, the refueling is switched to slow speed until the real-time output data of the electronic scale reaches the rated value.

[0119] In some embodiments, this embodiment uses a high-precision weighing unit to collect the weight change trend of the target device in real time. In the initial stage, xenon gas is injected quickly in full-flow mode. When the injection amount approaches the preset threshold, the system automatically switches to pulse-type slow injection mode and dynamically adjusts the air intake rate through the pressure balance valve group. When the weight approaches the rated value, the micro-compensation program is started.

[0120] The xenon filling amount is verified using the built-in sensor of the filling device. Once the filling amount is confirmed to meet the preset standard, the device to be filled is identified as a filling device.

[0121] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: by using an electronic scale connected to the equipment to be refueled in an unloaded state to perform weight detection, and calibrating the electronic scale based on the acquired unloaded weight data, the detection accuracy of the electronic scale is improved. Based on the compensation coefficients of the temperature fluctuation, vibration amplitude and electromagnetic interference intensity data of the operating area of ​​the equipment to be refueled, the weight detection data acquired by the electronic scale is compensated and corrected, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the refueling xenon weight, improving the reliability of this method, further improving the practicality and safety of the system, and reducing the probability of failure.

[0122] In one embodiment, the xenon refueling amount is verified using a sensor built into the refueling device. When the refueling amount is confirmed to meet a preset standard, the device to be refueled is identified as a refueled device, including:

[0123] Before filling, the built-in sensor is calibrated in multiple stages, the filling pipeline valve is closed, so that the built-in sensor is in an unloaded state, and the output signal of the built-in sensor is adjusted to the theoretical zero point through the weight detection system.

[0124] In some embodiments, this embodiment automatically performs a sensor pre-calibration process before xenon refueling starts, closes all refueling pipeline valves and activates mechanical locking devices to ensure that the sensor is completely free from external load interference. Then, the self-test mode of the weight detection system is started, and the zero-point offset and linearity error of the sensor are gradually corrected through staged static load tests.

[0125] The temperature of the filling pipeline is monitored in real time using a temperature sensor. The change in xenon density is calculated by combining the xenon equation of state. The interference of the density change on the pressure sensor is predicted by a machine learning model, and the output signal is dynamically adjusted.

[0126] In some embodiments, this embodiment deploys a high-precision temperature sensor array to collect temperature data from multiple nodes in the pipeline in real time, constructs a multi-physics field coupled calculation module based on the xenon equation of state, and dynamically solves the density-temperature-pressure nonlinear relationship of supercritical xenon by combining real-time temperature gradient changes and pressure parameters. Simultaneously, a machine learning prediction system is built, and a temporal convolutional neural network architecture is used to analyze historical operating data, establish a mapping model between density fluctuations and pressure sensor signal drift, and continuously optimize the prediction accuracy through an online learning mechanism.

[0127] The output signal is used to adjust the output value of the mass flow sensor. When the deviation between the mass flow sensor and the electronic scale's weight change rate exceeds a preset percentage, an alarm is triggered and refueling is paused.

[0128] In some embodiments, this embodiment integrates the output value of the mass flow sensor and the weight change rate of the electronic scale in real time through the data fusion module. When the system detects that the deviation between the two exceeds the safety threshold, it first activates the adaptive filtering algorithm to perform redundancy verification and drift compensation on the sensor signal. If the deviation persists, it triggers an audible and visual alarm and pushes an abnormal code to the control terminal. At the same time, it suspends the refueling process to ensure the data reliability and operational safety of the entire process.

[0129] After filling, the difference in the electronic scale readings before and after filling is compared, and the number of xenon moles is calculated using the pressure sensor readings and pipeline volume data, and cross-validated with the output value of the mass flow sensor.

[0130] In some embodiments, this embodiment obtains the absolute value of the mass difference before and after filling by a high-precision electronic scale, combines the real-time data of the pipeline temperature-pressure sensor array, dynamically calculates the actual number of moles of xenon based on the xenon state equation, and simultaneously retrieves the cumulative output value of the mass flow sensor and compares it with the mole number calculation result. If the deviation between the two exceeds the preset tolerance threshold, a self-test program is triggered to perform redundant verification of sensor zero-point drift and pipeline residual amount compensation coefficient.

[0131] When the filling volume is confirmed to meet the preset standard, the device to be filled is identified as the device that has been filled.

[0132] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: by using a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the filling pipeline in real time, calculating the change in xenon density using the xenon equation of state, predicting the interference of the density change on the pressure sensor using a machine learning model, dynamically adjusting the output signal, adjusting the output value of the mass flow sensor, and ensuring the xenon filling mass is consistent, the filling error is reduced, the fault identification capability is improved, and after filling is completed, the difference in the electronic scale readings before and after filling is compared, and the number of xenon moles is calculated using the pressure sensor readings and pipeline volume data, which is then cross-validated with the output value of the mass flow sensor, enhancing the generalization of this method under different temperature and pressure conditions, and improving the accuracy and safety of the system.

[0133] In one embodiment, the method further includes remote monitoring and real-time adjustment of system device operating parameters based on remote technical support and optimized control algorithms, including:

[0134] Based on industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the device in this method is intelligently controlled using a field intelligent control platform and a cloud-based collaborative control platform.

[0135] Deploy composite sensor arrays at key nodes, use pressure sensor groups to monitor the dynamic pressure of xenon storage tanks and pipelines, use high-precision electronic scales to provide real-time feedback on tank mass changes, and use non-contact infrared spectrometers to analyze xenon purity online.

[0136] In some embodiments, this embodiment installs multiple pressure sensing probes along the top of the storage tank, at pipeline bifurcation points, and at gas-liquid conversion nodes to track fluid pressure fluctuations in real time and adjust valve opening accordingly; a high-precision weighing platform with temperature compensation function is integrated at the bottom of the storage tank, which eliminates environmental interference through vibration suppression algorithms and dynamically analyzes the rate of mass change; a non-contact spectral analysis module is embedded at the vaporizer outlet to scan xenon purity online using infrared absorption characteristics and simultaneously detect water and oxygen impurity concentrations, and all sensor data are fused and processed through a central control system;

[0137] All sensor data are timestamped and then input into the on-site intelligent control platform and the cloud-based collaborative control platform.

[0138] In some embodiments, this embodiment uses a high-precision clock source to uniformly synchronize the time of all sensor nodes, ensuring that heterogeneous data streams such as pressure, mass, and purity have a strictly consistent time base;

[0139] An adaptive control framework based on a thermodynamic model is established based on the characteristics of xenon liquid-gas conversion. The opening of the liquid nitrogen flow regulating valve is intelligently matched based on the xenon cooling rate through the field intelligent control platform. The heating power is dynamically adjusted by using a fuzzy control algorithm to eliminate the interference of xenon cylinder pressure fluctuations on flow stability during the filling process.

[0140] In some embodiments, this embodiment constructs a multimodal control framework based on the characteristics of thermodynamic parameters during the xenon liquid-gas phase change process. The nonlinear relationship between xenon saturated vapor pressure and temperature is derived through the thermodynamic equation of state. Combined with real-time collected data on tank temperature gradient, liquid level, and pipeline pressure difference, the transfer function of the liquid nitrogen flow regulating valve is dynamically corrected using an algorithm. The on-site intelligent control platform uses a fuzzy inference engine to generate dynamic correction coefficients for the flow regulating valve opening through rule base matching.

[0141] The cloud-based collaborative control platform is used to optimize control algorithms through machine learning models, train neural network models based on historical data, determine the optimal refueling rate under different ambient temperatures, dynamically adjust the liquid nitrogen recovery and supply ratio using reinforcement learning, and simulate extreme working conditions using digital modeling technology to determine emergency plans.

[0142] In some embodiments, this embodiment builds an optimization system based on a cloud-based collaborative control platform. It collects ambient temperature, pipeline pressure and tank liquid level data in real time through edge computing nodes, trains a deep neural network model in combination with historical operation database, and dynamically optimizes valve opening and pump frequency parameters through algorithms. By integrating fluid dynamics models and thermodynamic equations of state, it simulates extreme working conditions such as pipeline crystallization and gas-liquid two-phase flow, generates multi-level pressure gradient compensation schemes, and automatically matches the pre-simulation strategy library when the monitored parameters trigger the threshold.

[0143] A fault-tolerant protection mechanism is established based on the field intelligent control platform. When the pipeline pressure exceeds the safety threshold, the regulating valve throttling measure is triggered and pushed to the field intelligent control platform. An optical leak detection array is deployed to realize early warning of micro-leakage.

[0144] In some embodiments, this embodiment monitors the pipeline pressure waveform characteristics in real time through a pressure sensor group. When the dynamic pressure value exceeds a preset safety threshold, a graded control logic is triggered. First, the throttling algorithm of the regulating valve is activated to quickly converge the flow deviation. At the same time, a fault code is sent to the edge computing node, and a distributed fiber optic sensor network is deployed synchronously. Micro-leakage is identified by detecting the phase change of Rayleigh scattering light. When a leakage event occurs, the system automatically generates a model containing the leakage coordinates and diffusion path, links the audible and visual alarm device, and starts the emergency isolation procedure. The built-in fault tree analysis module can perform multi-dimensional correlation analysis of abnormal data in combination with the historical operating condition database.

[0145] A backup system is set up, and the field intelligent control platform and the backup system can perform real-time mutual verification based on the heterogeneous redundancy design.

[0146] In some embodiments, the intelligent control system of this embodiment constructs a primary and backup active architecture, deploys hardware platforms and differentiated software using the principle of heterogeneous redundancy design, and achieves bidirectional state synchronization and cross-verification through a dynamic heartbeat detection protocol.

[0147] The cloud-based collaborative control platform enables remote expert guidance, fault code analysis, and the establishment of equipment health assessment models. It also allows for the prediction of the remaining lifespan of key components based on vibration spectrum analysis and thermal imaging data.

[0148] In some embodiments, this embodiment constructs a multi-source data fusion system based on a cloud-based collaborative control platform, integrates a remote expert knowledge base, realizes semantic decoupling and pattern recognition of fault codes, adopts a hybrid reasoning mechanism, combines decision tree classification and deep learning algorithms, constructs a dual-channel health assessment model based on physical mechanisms and data-driven approaches, utilizes edge computing nodes to compare on-site measured data with cloud simulation results in real time, provides data, and enables remote expert guidance; blockchain technology is used to record operation logs and sensor data, and the control algorithm library provides data interfaces to support the subsequent import of new optimization models.

[0149] In some embodiments, this embodiment uses blockchain technology to build a distributed operation log storage architecture, and automatically encapsulates the timestamps, operation types and environmental parameters of sensor data through smart contracts to form an immutable data chain.

[0150] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: Through intelligent IoT technology and cloud-based collaborative control, remote real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of the entire xenon refueling process are achieved. The system automatically matches cooling and heating intensities, precisely controlling temperature, pressure, and refueling rate to ensure xenon purity meets standards and delivery is stable. Multiple built-in safety protection mechanisms automatically limit flow and provide early warnings of minor leaks in case of abnormal pressure. Combined with a dual-system backup design, operational reliability is significantly improved. Simultaneously, it supports remote expert diagnosis of equipment status and prediction of component lifespan, and records operational data throughout the process using blockchain technology, providing a reliable basis for subsequent optimization, significantly reducing operational risks and maintenance costs, and balancing efficiency and safety.

[0151] A system for continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants by controlling the phase change of xenon gas, such as Figure 3 As shown, the feature is that it includes:

[0152] A system for continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellants by controlling the phase change of xenon gas is characterized by comprising:

[0153] The pressure equalization module 101 is used to connect a full xenon cylinder to the device to be filled, and to perform pressure equalization operation with the device to be filled through the first connecting valve, so that the pressure of the xenon cylinder and the device to be filled is equalized.

[0154] The liquefaction module 102 is used to introduce the remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder into the xenon liquefaction unit, and use a liquid nitrogen Dewar canister to liquefy the remaining xenon gas into liquid xenon in the xenon liquefaction unit.

[0155] Collection module 103 is used to inject the liquid xenon into the liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches the preset liquid level, the second connecting valve from the xenon liquefier to the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier is opened for collection.

[0156] The vaporization module 104 is used to turn on the bottom heater of the first liquid xenon collection bottle to vaporize the liquid xenon, and to use a pressure sensor to detect the internal pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled.

[0157] The filling module 105 is used to open the fourth connecting valve between the first xenon collection bottle and the filling device when it detects that the pressure data of the first xenon collection bottle is higher than the pressure data of the filling device, so as to perform temperature-controlled filling of the filling device.

[0158] The quality control module 106 is used to stop filling when the filling device reaches the rated filling amount, perform pressure equalization on the filling device, and verify the filling amount to confirm the filling device as a filling device.

[0159] The recovery module 107 is used to recover the substandard xenon gas into a recovery gas cylinder by means of a plug pump when the xenon gas in the filled equipment is detected to be substandard.

[0160] In one embodiment, the specific structure of the controlled xenon phase change to achieve continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellant is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, xenon cylinders 1 and 2 are connected to xenon liquefaction unit 6 via valves. Xenon cylinders 1 and 2 are connected to electronic scale 9. Liquid nitrogen dewar canister 4 is divided into two paths: one path is heated by heater 5, and the other path is directly fed into xenon liquefaction unit 6. The two paths are mixed and fed into xenon liquefaction unit 6, while the other end is vented. Heater 5 and xenon liquefaction unit 6 are connected to electronic scale 9. Xenon liquefaction unit 6 is connected to first liquid xenon collection bottle 7 and second liquid xenon collection bottle 8. First liquid xenon collection bottle 7 and second liquid xenon collection bottle 8 are connected to electronic scale 9. Pump 11 is connected to xenon liquefaction unit 6, first liquid xenon collection bottle 7 and second liquid xenon collection bottle 8. Recovery compressor 10 is connected to pump 11. Recovery cylinder 1 is connected to recovery compressor 10.

[0161] Those skilled in the art should understand that the "first" and "second" in this invention simply refer to different application stages.

[0162] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the following claims.

[0163] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: A full xenon cylinder is connected to the device to be filled, and the pressure is equalized between the xenon cylinder and the device to be filled through the first connecting valve. The remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder is introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit, and the remaining xenon gas is liquefied into liquid xenon in the xenon liquefaction unit using a liquid nitrogen Dewar canister. The liquid xenon is injected into the liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches the preset liquid level, the second connecting valve from the xenon liquefier to the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier is opened for collection. Turn on the bottom heater of the first liquid xenon collection bottle to vaporize the liquid xenon, and use a pressure sensor to detect the internal pressure data of the first liquid xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled; When the pressure data of the first liquid xenon collection bottle is detected to be higher than the pressure data of the device to be filled, the fourth connecting valve between the first liquid xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled is opened to perform temperature-controlled filling of the device to be filled. When the equipment to be refilled reaches the rated refilling volume, refilling is stopped, the equipment to be refilled is pressure equalized, and the refilling volume is checked to confirm that the equipment to be refilled has been refilled. When the xenon gas in the already filled equipment is found to be substandard, the substandard xenon gas is recovered into the recovery gas cylinder by the injector pump.

2. The method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before connecting the full xenon cylinder to the filling device and performing a pressure equalization operation between the xenon cylinder and the filling device via the first connecting valve to achieve pressure equilibrium, the method further includes: A helium leak detector is used to perform single-point helium leak detection at preset points in the refueling system to obtain a first leakage rate. Argon gas is then injected into the refueling system to perform pressure-holding leak detection to obtain a second leakage rate. When both the first leakage rate and the second leakage rate are lower than the first preset threshold, it is determined that the leakage rate meets the standard. The filling system is evacuated using a plunger pump, and the filling system is replaced with a preset gas. The water molecule content of the filling system is detected using a trace water analyzer, and the oxygen molecule content of the filling system is detected using a trace oxygen analyzer. When the water molecule content is lower than a second preset threshold and the oxygen molecule content is lower than a third preset threshold, the replacement is confirmed to be qualified. Xenon gas is injected into the filling system to clean it.

3. The method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid nitrogen Dewar canister is used to provide cold nitrogen to the xenon liquefaction unit. The cold nitrogen has two nitrogen paths: the first nitrogen path is directly introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit through the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister, and the second nitrogen path is sent out through the liquid nitrogen Dewar canister to the heater for heating before being introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit.

4. The method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas according to claim 3, characterized in that, The temperature of the xenon liquefier is controlled by mixing two streams of nitrogen and adjusting the pressure of the mixture. The steps are as follows: Temperature measurements were taken of the nitrogen gas in the first nitrogen path and the second nitrogen path. Based on a preset target temperature, the mixing ratio is determined by a preset algorithm using nitrogen temperature data in the first nitrogen path and the second nitrogen path, and the mixture is introduced into the xenon liquefaction unit according to the mixing ratio. A temperature sensor is installed at the inlet of the heat exchanger of the xenon liquefier to monitor the temperature data of the cold source nitrogen mixture in real time and feed the temperature data back to the control system. The target temperature range is set according to the xenon phase transition curve, and the control system adjusts the nitrogen pressure introduced into the xenon liquefier based on the target temperature range. When the temperature of the mixed nitrogen gas deviates from the set value, the protection mode is automatically triggered and an error message is issued.

5. The method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid xenon is injected into the liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches a preset liquid level, the second connecting valve between the xenon liquefier and the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier is opened for collection. The first liquid xenon collection bottle is used to accumulate liquid xenon. After reaching a preset threshold, the accumulation of liquid xenon stops, and liquid xenon is added by evaporation. The second liquid xenon collection bottle is used to perform the liquid xenon accumulation operation when liquid xenon is added by evaporation in the first liquid xenon collection bottle. After reaching a rated value, the second liquid xenon collection bottle stops accumulating liquid xenon, and liquid xenon is added by evaporation. The first and second liquid xenon collection bottles alternately perform the "accumulated liquid xenon evaporation and addition" process to ensure uninterrupted operation of the addition device.

6. The method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid xenon evaporator has an integrated multi-point temperature sensor inside, which monitors the temperature distribution of key parts of the liquid xenon evaporator in real time. The power of the electric heater at the bottom of the liquid xenon evaporator is dynamically adjusted by an algorithm. When the temperature sensor detects that the xenon temperature is lower than the first set threshold, the heating power is increased through the intelligent temperature control system; when the temperature sensor detects that the xenon temperature is higher than the second set threshold, the heating power is reduced.

7. The method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the equipment to be refilled reaches the rated refill volume, refilling is stopped. After equalizing the pressure of the equipment, the refill volume is checked, and the equipment is confirmed as having been refilled, including: The electronic scale connected to the equipment to be filled is used to detect the weight when the equipment is unloaded, and the electronic scale is calibrated based on the obtained unloaded weight data. The temperature fluctuation, vibration amplitude, and electromagnetic interference intensity data of the operating area of ​​the equipment to be filled are detected, and the weight detection data obtained by the electronic scale are compensated and corrected based on the compensation coefficient of the temperature fluctuation, vibration amplitude, and electromagnetic interference intensity data of the operating area of ​​the equipment to be filled. During the refueling process, the weight detection data of the device to be refueled is acquired in real time. Before the xenon refueling amount reaches the preset ratio of the rated value, the full-speed mode is used. After the preset ratio is reached, the refueling is switched to slow speed until the real-time output data of the electronic scale reaches the rated value. The xenon filling amount is verified using the built-in sensor of the filling device. Once the filling amount is confirmed to meet the preset standard, the device to be filled is identified as a filling device.

8. The method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas according to claim 7, characterized in that, The xenon refueling amount is verified using the built-in sensor of the refueling device. Once the refueling amount is confirmed to meet a preset standard, the device to be refueled is identified as a refueled device, including: Before filling, the built-in sensor is calibrated in multiple stages, the filling pipeline valve is closed, so that the built-in sensor is in an unloaded state, and the output signal of the built-in sensor is adjusted to the theoretical zero point through the weight detection system. The temperature of the filling pipeline is monitored in real time using a temperature sensor. The change in xenon density is calculated by combining the xenon equation of state. The interference of the density change on the pressure sensor is predicted by a machine learning model, and the output signal is dynamically adjusted. The output signal is used to adjust the output value of the mass flow sensor. When the deviation between the mass flow sensor and the electronic scale's weight change rate exceeds a preset percentage, an alarm is triggered and refueling is paused. After filling, the difference in the electronic scale readings before and after filling is compared, and the number of xenon moles is calculated using the pressure sensor readings and pipeline volume data, and cross-validated with the output value of the mass flow sensor. When the filling volume is confirmed to meet the preset standard, the device to be filled is identified as the device that has been filled.

9. The method for continuous cryogenic loading of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes remote monitoring and real-time adjustment of system device operating parameters based on remote technical support and optimized control algorithms, including: Based on industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the device in this method is intelligently controlled using a field intelligent control platform and a cloud-based collaborative control platform. Deploy composite sensor arrays at key nodes, use pressure sensor groups to monitor the dynamic pressure of xenon storage tanks and pipelines, use high-precision electronic scales to provide real-time feedback on tank mass changes, and use non-contact infrared spectrometers to analyze xenon purity online. All sensor data are timestamped and then input into the on-site intelligent control platform and the cloud-based collaborative control platform. An adaptive control framework based on a thermodynamic model is established based on the characteristics of xenon liquid-gas conversion. The opening of the liquid nitrogen flow regulating valve is intelligently matched based on the xenon cooling rate through the field intelligent control platform. The heating power is dynamically adjusted by using a fuzzy control algorithm to eliminate the interference of xenon cylinder pressure fluctuations on flow stability during the filling process. The cloud-based collaborative control platform is used to optimize control algorithms through machine learning models, train neural network models based on historical data, determine the optimal refueling rate under different ambient temperatures, dynamically adjust the liquid nitrogen recovery and supply ratio using reinforcement learning, and simulate extreme working conditions using digital modeling technology to determine emergency plans. A fault-tolerant protection mechanism is established based on the field intelligent control platform. When the pipeline pressure exceeds the safety threshold, the regulating valve throttling measure is triggered and pushed to the field intelligent control platform. An optical leak detection array is deployed to realize early warning of micro-leakage. A backup system is set up, and the field intelligent control platform and the backup system can perform real-time mutual verification based on the heterogeneous redundancy design. The cloud-based collaborative control platform enables remote expert guidance, fault code analysis, and the establishment of equipment health assessment models. It also allows for the prediction of the remaining lifespan of key components based on vibration spectrum analysis and thermal imaging data. Blockchain technology is used to record operation logs and sensor data, and the control algorithm library provides a data interface to support the subsequent import of new optimization models.

10. A system for continuous cryogenic refueling of electric propellant by controlling the phase change of xenon gas, characterized in that, include: The pressure equalization module is used to connect a full xenon cylinder to the device to be filled, and to perform pressure equalization operation with the device to be filled through the first connecting valve, so that the pressure of the xenon cylinder and the device to be filled is equalized. The liquefaction module is used to introduce the remaining xenon gas in the xenon cylinder into the xenon liquefaction unit, and use a liquid nitrogen Dewar canister to liquefy the remaining xenon gas into liquid xenon in the xenon liquefaction unit; The collection module is used to inject the liquid xenon into the liquid xenon collection bottle. When the first liquid xenon collection bottle reaches the preset liquid level, the second connecting valve between the xenon liquefier and the liquid xenon collection bottle is closed, and the third connecting valve between the second liquid xenon collection bottle and the xenon liquefier is opened for collection. The vaporization module is used to turn on the bottom heater of the first liquid xenon collection bottle to vaporize the liquid xenon, and uses a pressure sensor to detect the internal pressure data of the first liquid xenon collection bottle and the device to be filled. The filling module is used to open the fourth connecting valve between the first liquid xenon collection bottle and the filling device when it detects that the pressure data of the first liquid xenon collection bottle is higher than the pressure data of the filling device, so as to perform temperature-controlled filling of the filling device. The quality control module is used to stop filling when the equipment to be filled reaches the rated filling amount, to perform pressure equalization on the equipment to be filled, to verify the filling amount, and to confirm the equipment to be filled as a filled equipment. The recovery module is used to recover substandard xenon gas into a recovery cylinder via a plug pump when the detected substandard xenon gas in the filled equipment is found to be substandard.

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