Sound-microwave synergistic resonance excitation and zero mechanical pump standing wave transport system and method for water ice in weathered layer of Mars

Abstract

The invention discloses a sound-microwave synergistic resonance excitation and zero mechanical pump standing wave transport system and method for water ice of a Mars weathered layer, and relates to the technical field of in-situ utilization of planetary resources. In order to overcome the defects that in the prior art, the ice sublimation energy efficiency is low, a heating area is uncontrollable, steam transportation seriously depends on a high-energy-consumption mechanical pump, the resource recovery rate is low and the system reliability is poor, the technical scheme provided by the invention is as follows: the Mars weathered layer water ice mining device comprises a probe, a gas guide channel, a gas collecting hood, a radiation condenser and an ice collector; the probe is arranged in a drill hole and internally comprises a microwave antenna and an annular acoustic transducer; the gas guide channel is formed by an annular gap between a probe and a drill hole and is connected to the gas collecting hood; the gas collecting hood is connected with the radiation condenser through a bent angle pipeline; and the radiation condenser is connected with the ice collector. The device is suitable for high-efficiency, low-energy-consumption and mechanical-pump-free water and ice collection and transportation work in a Mars in-situ resource utilization task.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This involves the field of in-situ utilization technology of planetary resources, specifically the acoustic-microwave synergistic resonance excitation and zero-mechanical-pump standing wave transport of water ice in Martian regolith. Background Technology

[0002] Solid water ice, formed under cryogenic conditions, is widely distributed on the Martian surface and subsurface. As a key component of future In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) on Mars, it holds immense strategic value for life support, propellant manufacturing, and base operations in manned Mars exploration. NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and other institutions have continuously explored the distribution, formation, and extraction methods of surface ice in multiple Mars missions. For example, the Phoenix lander directly excavated white ice material at the Martian poles and observed its sublimation behavior over several days, verifying the existence of shallow surface ice. This laid the scientific foundation for in-situ mining of Martian ice.

[0003] In terms of technology, existing methods for extracting Martian water ice mainly focus on two aspects: heat-driven sublimation and steam harvesting. Common heating methods include heat conduction technologies such as resistance wire heating, heat pipe heating, or concentrated solar power. A typical example is NASA's "Subsurface Heat Probe" model, which uses a thermal probe inserted into the ice-containing layer to achieve ice sublimation through heating. However, due to the extremely low thermal conductivity of the Martian regolith, heat is easily lost, resulting in low heating efficiency. Furthermore, the heat is difficult to confine to the target ice layer area, easily leading to resource waste and disturbance of non-target soil.

[0004] In addition, some studies have proposed using microwave radiation for volumetric heating to improve sublimation efficiency. For example, a team at Caltech conducted experiments on the propagation performance of microwaves at different frequency bands in dry soil and verified its feasibility for effective heat transfer in simulated Martian media. However, microwave excitation typically requires high-power drive, which is detrimental to the long-term stable operation of the system given the energy constraints of Mars missions. Furthermore, high-energy microwaves may cause localized overheating of the regolith, leading to unpredictable geological disturbances.

[0005] In terms of steam transport and condensation, current research mainly employs low-pressure pipelines combined with mechanical pumps to guide water vapor from the ice layer to the condenser region. For example, the ice harvesting device in NASA's early "RESOLVE" project included turbopumps or screw pumps. However, in the thin, cold, and dust-rich environment of Mars, mechanical pumps suffer from significant problems such as high energy consumption, susceptibility to clogging, short lifespan, and difficult maintenance, severely impacting system stability and mission reliability. Furthermore, the Martian atmospheric pressure is only about 600 Pa, and water vapor exists in a free molecular flow region with extremely poor diffusion directionality. Relying on natural diffusion makes effective collection difficult, resulting in a large amount of steam escaping into the atmosphere and leading to low resource recovery efficiency.

[0006] In recent years, some studies have attempted to use steam-directing methods without mechanical parts, such as electric field drive and thermocapillary guidance mechanisms. However, their force efficiency is too weak in thin atmospheric environments, making it difficult to provide sufficient transport capacity over long distances. As a result, a stable solution that can be engineered has not yet been developed.

[0007] In summary, existing technologies suffer from drawbacks such as low energy efficiency of ice sublimation, uncontrollable heating zone, heavy reliance on high-energy-consuming mechanical pumps for steam transportation, low resource recovery rate, and poor system reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0008] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, such as low energy efficiency of ice sublimation, uncontrollable heating zone, heavy reliance on high-energy-consuming mechanical pumps for steam transport, low resource recovery rate, and poor system reliability, the technical solution provided by this invention is as follows: A device for extracting water ice from the Martian regolith includes: Probe, gas guide channel, gas collection hood, radiation condenser, and ice collector; The probe is installed inside the borehole and includes a microwave antenna and a ring acoustic transducer. The air guiding channel is formed by the annular gap between the probe and the borehole, and is connected to the air collecting hood; The gas collection hood is connected to the radiant condenser via a bend in the pipe. The radiative condenser is connected to the ice collector.

[0009] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the microwave antenna is a waveguide structure with a slot array on its outer wall for transmitting microwaves.

[0010] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the acoustic transducer is a plurality of annular piezoelectric ceramic elements arranged along the probe axis.

[0011] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the cross-section of the air guide channel is annular, extending along the probe axis to the ground surface.

[0012] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the gas collection hood has a conical structure that is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom, and is used to collect the rising steam in the gas guiding channel.

[0013] It also provides an acoustic-microwave co-resonance excitation and zero-mechanical-pump standing wave transport system for water ice in the Martian regolith, including: The aforementioned Martian regolith water ice extraction device; Also includes: The central control unit is used to receive data from the sound pressure sensor and adjust the frequency and power of the sound transducer. The microwave control module is used to control the excitation frequency and power density of the microwave antenna. The environmental monitoring module is used to collect temperature, air pressure, and dust information for the control unit to adjust accordingly. The communication module is used to record and upload system operating status data.

[0014] A method for acoustic-microwave co-resonance excitation and zero-mechanical-pump standing wave transport of water ice in Martian regolith is also provided, based on the aforementioned system, including: Steps for acquiring real-time data from a sound pressure sensor; Steps for analyzing the sound field state and determining the resonance shift; Steps for adjusting the drive frequency and voltage of the acoustic transducer; Steps for controlling the acoustic standing wave field to maintain stable output; The steps for dynamically adjusting the sound field parameters based on the steam flow rate; The steps to record parameters and upload them to the main control system.

[0015] A computer storage medium is also provided for storing a computer program, which, when read by the computer, executes the method.

[0016] A computer is also provided, including a processor and a storage medium, wherein the computer executes the method when the processor reads a computer program stored in the storage medium.

[0017] A computer program product is also provided, which, when executed, implements the method described.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the technical solution provided by the present invention are as follows: This scheme employs a microwave selective excitation method with a power density precisely controlled at 0.05 W / cm³ and an operating frequency of 5.8 GHz. By using a slotted antenna array to focus radiation onto a cylindrical weathering layer region, it achieves targeted sublimation excitation of the ice-containing area. Compared to traditional heat conduction heating or high-power microwave exposure methods, this scheme can induce ice lattice dipole vibrations with extremely low power consumption, achieving precise sublimation, avoiding heat loss in non-target areas and weathering layer disturbance, and significantly improving sublimation energy efficiency and local control accuracy.

[0019] This solution forms an annular gas-guiding channel between the probe and the borehole, and utilizes 400 Hz low-frequency acoustic resonance to establish an axial acoustic standing wave field within this channel, creating a stable macroscopic upward pressure gradient that effectively drives water vapor to migrate directionally along the channel. In existing technologies, water vapor typically relies on free diffusion or high-energy-consuming mechanical pumps for transport. This invention, however, provides active transport driving force through acoustic radiation, achieving efficient steam guidance with no mechanical parts and low energy consumption, significantly improving steam collection efficiency and eliminating reliability risks associated with pump-based devices.

[0020] The gas collection hood in this design features a conical structure, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. Combined with curved pipes and dust baffles, this creates a multi-stage dust separation structure within the steam transport path, effectively filtering particulate impurities and preventing foreign matter from entering the condenser system. Compared to existing methods that rely solely on physical filtration or airtight structures for dust prevention, this design incorporates a dust inertial settling mechanism in its structural design, enhancing the system's resistance to dust and its long-term operational stability, making it suitable for the high-dust, low-pressure environment of Mars.

[0021] This solution utilizes a multi-layered, high-infrared-emissivity radiative cooling film as the core surface of the condenser, and significantly increases the radiative area and cooling efficiency through a surface micro-pyramid array design, enabling steam to efficiently sublimate into ice at temperatures below -80°C. Unlike existing systems that require auxiliary refrigeration or heat dissipation equipment, this invention achieves efficient low-temperature sublimation in a Martian environment through a purely passive radiative cooling method, requiring no additional energy consumption, significantly improving the energy efficiency ratio and the system's autonomous operation capability.

[0022] The central control unit of this solution collects real-time data from axially distributed sound pressure sensors and dynamically adjusts the frequency and amplitude of the acoustic transducers through an adaptive frequency modulation algorithm to continuously maintain optimal standing wave conditions. Compared to traditional fixed-parameter operation, this intelligent control mechanism can automatically adapt to different environments and steam flow changes, maintaining a stable system operation and ensuring continuous and efficient transport and condensation processes.

[0023] It is suitable for efficient, low-energy, and pump-free water ice collection and transportation in Mars in-situ resource utilization missions. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall operation of the Mars water ice acoustic-microwave co-resonance excitation and standing wave transport system; Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the acoustic-microwave multifunctional probe. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the method flow of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the advantages and benefits of the technical solution provided by the present invention clearer, the technical solution provided by the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, specifically: Implementation Method 1: This implementation method provides a device for mining water ice from the Martian regolith, including: Probe, gas guide channel, gas collection hood, radiation condenser, and ice collector; The probe is installed inside the borehole and includes a microwave antenna and a ring acoustic transducer. The air guiding channel is formed by the annular gap between the probe and the borehole, and is connected to the air collecting hood; The gas collection hood is connected to the radiant condenser via a bend in the pipe. The radiative condenser is connected to the ice collector.

[0026] The microwave antenna is a waveguide structure with a slot array on its outer wall for transmitting microwaves.

[0027] The acoustic transducer consists of multiple annular piezoelectric ceramic elements arranged along the probe axis.

[0028] The cross-section of the air guide channel is annular, extending along the probe axis to the ground surface.

[0029] The gas collection hood has a cone-shaped structure that is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom, and is used to collect the rising steam in the gas guide channel.

[0030] It also provides an acoustic-microwave co-resonance excitation and zero-mechanical-pump standing wave transport system for water ice in the Martian regolith, including: The aforementioned Martian regolith water ice extraction device; Also includes: The central control unit is used to receive data from the sound pressure sensor and adjust the frequency and power of the sound transducer. The microwave control module is used to control the excitation frequency and power density of the microwave antenna. The environmental monitoring module is used to collect temperature, air pressure, and dust information for the control unit to adjust accordingly. The communication module is used to record and upload system operating status data.

[0031] A method for acoustic-microwave co-resonance excitation and zero-mechanical-pump standing wave transport of water ice in Martian regolith is also provided, based on the aforementioned system, including: Steps for acquiring real-time data from a sound pressure sensor; Steps for analyzing the sound field state and determining the resonance shift; Steps for adjusting the drive frequency and voltage of the acoustic transducer; Steps for controlling the acoustic standing wave field to maintain stable output; The steps for dynamically adjusting the sound field parameters based on the steam flow rate; The steps to record parameters and upload them to the main control system.

[0032] Implementation Method Two: This implementation method is a further detailed description of the technical solution provided in Implementation Method One, specifically: The system includes modules such as an acoustic-microwave multifunctional probe, a gas guide channel, a gas collection hood, a radiation condenser, a sublimation ice collector, and an intelligent control unit. These modules work together to form a highly efficient water ice sublimation-transport-collection system that does not require a mechanical pump.

[0033] like Figure 1As shown, after pre-drilling cylindrical holes on the Martian surface, a sonic-microwave multifunctional probe is vertically inserted into the holes, forming an annular gas-conducting channel between the probe's outer wall and the hole wall. Pore ice contained in the regolith releases steam upon stimulation. This steam enters the gas-conducting channel and is directionally transported to the gas collection hood under the influence of sound waves. After preliminary dust removal through a bend-angle pipe, it enters a radiation condenser located on the surface and sublimates into ice, finally falling into the sublimation ice collector below.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, the internal structure of the multifunctional probe includes the following parts: The probe body is made of carbon fiber reinforced PEEK composite material, which features low thermal expansion, high strength, and low temperature resistance. A cylindrical microwave duct is arranged along the central axis of the probe, serving as a microwave antenna structure. Its outer wall is uniformly covered with a slit array to evenly radiate microwave energy to the ice-containing area surrounding the probe. The microwave source is located at the top of the probe and transmits microwave energy to the waveguide via a coaxial line. A cutoff waveguide structure is provided at the bottom of the waveguide to suppress energy leakage or reflection.

[0035] Multiple annular piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducers, made of PZT-8 material, are evenly distributed on the outer wall of the probe. They utilize the piezoelectric effect to convert electrical pulses into low-frequency sound waves, forming an acoustic standing wave field along the axial propagation direction through the annular gaps. The transducers are connected to the acoustic wave drive module through a group control method, allowing for adjustment of frequency and amplitude, and achieving dynamic and precise control of the sound field.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the method flow of the present invention includes the following steps: Step 1: Drilling and Deployment of Multifunctional Probes A cylindrical hole is drilled in the target area, and a multi-functional probe integrating a microwave antenna and an acoustic transducer is vertically deployed in the hole, so that the microwave antenna is aligned with the ice layer and the acoustic transducer is attached to the hole wall to form a gas guiding channel.

[0037] Step 2: Deployment of the gas collection hood and condenser A conical gas collection hood is installed at the borehole opening, with its smaller end connected to the radiant condenser via a bend in the pipe. A dust baffle is installed inside the bend to intercept particulate dust that rises with the steam.

[0038] Step 3: Microwave Weak Field Excitation and Steam Diffusion A waveguide is excited by a microwave source, and microwave energy is radiated to the weathered layer through a slotted antenna, exciting the ice lattice to undergo dipole vibrations and sublimate into steam. The excitation frequency is 5.8 GHz, and the power density is controlled at 0.05 W / cm³ to ensure high energy efficiency and low-disturbance phase transition.

[0039] Step 4: Steam enters the gas guide channel The sublimated water vapor diffuses into the annular gas guide channel between the outer wall of the probe and the hole wall. This channel extends upward along the hole axis and connects to the bottom inlet of the gas collection hood.

[0040] Step 5: Directional transport of acoustic standing waves A toroidal piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducer continuously emits sound waves at a low frequency of 400 Hz, forming a stable axial acoustic standing wave field in the gas guide channel. This sound field creates a macroscopic upward pressure gradient in the channel, propelling the vapor to overcome the low-pressure resistance of Mars and migrate directionally along the direction of the gas guide channel.

[0041] Step Six: Radiative Condenser Sublimation Capture After passing through the gas collection hood and bend in the radiative condenser, the vapor comes into contact with the surface of a multi-layered radiative cooling film. This film has high infrared emissivity and a micro-nano pyramid structure, which can maintain its own temperature below -80°C, allowing the vapor to directly sublimate into ice.

[0042] Step 7: The control unit monitors the sound pressure sensor. Multiple miniature sound pressure sensors are arranged axially inside the probe to monitor the sound field status in real time. Based on this data, the intelligent control unit dynamically adjusts the frequency and voltage of the acoustic transducer to maintain a stable acoustic standing wave mode and optimal transport efficiency.

[0043] Step 8: Collection of Sublimated Ice The ice layer that forms on the condenser surface is stripped off by gravity or an electric scraper and stored in the sublimation ice collector below. The collector is equipped with a weighing sensor and a low-power heater, which can melt or transfer the ice as needed for the mission.

[0044] Implementation Method 3: Combination Figure 1-3 This embodiment describes the technical solution provided above in further detail through specific examples. Specifically: A revolutionary system and method for extracting water ice from Martian regolith fundamentally overcomes all the shortcomings of prior art through acoustic-microwave synergistic resonance excitation and zero-mechanical-pump standing wave transport. The core and fundamental innovation of this invention lies in using precisely controlled acoustic standing waves to generate a continuous, macroscopic, directional pressure gradient in the mixture of water vapor and Martian atmosphere, thereby achieving forced, efficient, and pump-free transport of water vapor. This mechanism, perfectly combined with weak-field selective excitation of microwaves and a high-efficiency radiative condenser, constitutes a complete and highly energy-efficient closed loop for water ice extraction and collection.

[0045] It lies in: This implementation system mainly consists of the following three core modules that work closely together to form a complete water ice extraction chain: The microwave selective excitation unit comprises a highly efficient, precisely power-tunable solid-state microwave source. Its operating frequency is precisely selected at 5.8 GHz. This frequency band exhibits extremely low energy attenuation rates in dry geological media such as the Martian regolith (primarily composed of dry silicate minerals), according to electromagnetic wave propagation theory. This ensures that microwave energy can efficiently penetrate the soil and reach the ice-containing layer, maximizing long-distance energy transmission efficiency. Its core component is a directional microwave radiating antenna, arranged in a linear array along the probe's central axis as part of the acoustic-microwave multifunctional probe. The antenna structure is a cylindrical hollow tube, serving as a microwave conduit, with slotted antennas cut into its walls. Microwave energy is efficiently transmitted through this waveguide and radiated outwards through these slotted antenna openings, precisely focused and uniformly radiated to the cylindrical regolith region surrounding the probe. The waveguide's end is designed as a cutoff waveguide structure to prevent microwave energy reflection or unnecessary leakage at the end, ensuring that energy is primarily radiated through the slotted antennas. The antenna operates in a weak field excitation mode, with a power density precisely controlled at 0.05 W / cm³, which is sufficient to induce effective vibration of the ice molecule dipole, causing the ice lattice to relax and sublimate, thus achieving a highly efficient and low-disturbance phase transition.

[0046] The core of the acoustic resonance-assisted directional transport unit is a ring-shaped piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducer, which is tightly surrounded and fixed to the outer wall of the multifunctional probe. These transducers are driven by high-precision electrical pulses, utilizing the piezoelectric effect to efficiently convert electrical energy into mechanical vibrations, which are then emitted into the surrounding gaseous medium. The frequency of the emitted sound waves is precisely set to 400Hz. This low-frequency sound wave has a sufficient wavelength in the thin Martian atmosphere (where the speed of sound is affected by temperature and the main component, carbon dioxide, and is approximately 240m / s), specifically approximately 0.6m (240m / s / 400Hz=0.6m). This wavelength can form an effective axial acoustic resonance mode with the borehole into which the probe is inserted (as a resonant cavity). The length of the borehole is designed to be an integer multiple of half or a quarter of the 0.6m wavelength, thus ensuring the formation of a stable standing wave field. This design enables effective penetration into deep porous media and optimizes the acoustic flow effect.

[0047] The acoustic resonant cavity, or gas-conducting channel, is the physical path for steam transport. It primarily consists of the cylindrical internal space of the borehole and the annular gap formed between the outer wall of the multi-functional probe and the inner wall of the borehole. This channel extends axially upwards and is tightly connected to the inlet of the radiative condenser above. The width of this gap is designed to effectively balance sound wave propagation efficiency, gas flow resistance, and dust containment capacity. A ring-shaped piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducer emits sound waves at a precise frequency of 400 Hz. When the gas-conducting channel acts as an acoustic resonant cavity, it resonates strongly, forming a stable and powerful axial acoustic standing wave field. This standing wave field generates a macroscopic, continuously upward pressure gradient in the gas medium within the channel. The mechanism originates from acoustic radiation force and periodic pressure fluctuations, providing a pressure gradient intensity strong enough to overcome the viscous resistance of the gas within the channel and ensure effective transport. To achieve this driving force, the amplitude of the pressure fluctuations generated by the acoustic standing wave field is designed to be sufficient to generate a significant macroscopic driving force in the low-pressure environment of Mars. The directional flow velocity of steam in the gas-conducting channel, based on fundamental principles of fluid mechanics, is related to the average velocity V and the pressure gradient. The dynamic viscosity μ of the fluid (a mixture of water vapor and Martian atmosphere) is closely related to the channel geometry (e.g., the inner radius Ri and outer radius Ro of the annular gap). For steady-state laminar flow driven by a pressure gradient in an annular channel with inner radius Ri and outer radius Ro, the basic model formula for the average velocity V can be expressed as:

[0048] in, The macroscopic pressure gradient is provided by the acoustic standing wave. ΔP represents the pressure difference between the two ends of the gas guide channel. It refers to the total pressure reduction experienced by steam in the flow direction as it flows from one end of the channel to the other. This pressure difference is actively generated by our acoustic system and is the "thrust" driving the steam flow. L represents the effective length of the gas guide channel, which is the total transport distance of the steam from the starting point of the drive (inside the borehole) to the condenser inlet. This model shows that under the effective pressure gradient generated by acoustic wave drive, steam can be transported at an effective flow rate significantly higher than the pure diffusion velocity, fully demonstrating the high efficiency of acoustic transport. This macroscopic pressure gradient is an active, directional driving force that can effectively overcome the limitations of disordered diffusion of gas molecules in the low-pressure environment of Mars and the viscous resistance in tiny pores, "selecting" steam molecules from background noise and forcibly transporting them rapidly and efficiently along the gas guide channel towards the condenser.

[0049] The structural cold trap capture unit comprises a gas collection hood and a radiative condenser. The gas collection hood, a structure independent of the probe, is located on the ground surface above the borehole opening, covering the outlet of the gas guide channel. Its internal structure is conical, designed to be smaller at the top and larger at the bottom; that is, its larger diameter end is located above the borehole opening, maximizing the capture of steam transported upwards from the gas guide channel and efficiently concentrating it at the smaller diameter end. This design optimizes steam collection efficiency and minimizes steam loss to the surrounding atmosphere at the borehole outlet. The smaller diameter end of the gas collection hood is airtightly connected to the inlet of the radiative condenser. At the connection between the gas collection hood and the condenser, a bend in the pipe can be designed. This bend is used to, when the steam flow direction changes, utilize the principle of inertial separation to cause larger or heavier dust particles carried by the steam to impact the wall and settle, further reducing dust entering the condenser. Dust baffles can be installed inside the bend in the pipe to guide particles to settle into the collection area and prevent them from rebounding or being carried away again by the airflow.

[0050] The radiative condenser is located above the gas collection hood and is tightly connected to its small-diameter end. Its core design concept is to utilize the extremely low temperatures of the Martian environment for purely passive radiative cooling, requiring no active cooling equipment or additional energy consumption. The core condensing surface of the radiative condenser is a multi-layered radiative cooling film with an extremely high infrared emissivity (ε>0.95). By efficiently radiating its own heat into the frigid deep space, this film can lower its surface temperature to extremely low temperatures (e.g., below -80°C) sufficient to ensure efficient water vapor sublimation. The multi-layered structure further reduces conduction and convective heat loss. A micro-pyramid array is fabricated on the film surface using micro-nano fabrication techniques. This microstructure significantly increases the effective radiative surface area and may further reduce the surface temperature through multiple internal reflection mechanisms, thereby enhancing radiative cooling efficiency and water vapor sublimation efficiency. Water vapor, directionally transported by sound waves and collected by the gas collection hood, directly sublimates upon contact with the ultra-low temperature surface of the radiative cooling film (i.e., directly transforming from a gaseous state into solid ice), completely bypassing the liquid water phase.

[0051] The sublimation ice collector is located below the radiative condenser and is used to collect solid ice that has sublimated on the condenser surface and then fallen off due to gravity or collected by a periodic scraping mechanism.

[0052] The entire system is managed by an intelligent control unit. This unit continuously monitors data from multiple axially distributed miniature acoustic pressure sensors within the gas delivery channel. Based on this real-time feedback, the control unit adaptively and precisely adjusts the drive frequency and power of the acoustic transducer. This precise control aims to maintain optimal acoustic resonance conditions at all times, generating the most stable axial acoustic standing wave mode and providing a precisely controllable macroscopic upward pressure gradient to meet varying steam flow demands and ensure maximum steam transport efficiency.

[0053] Beneficial effects and innovation: 1. Zero-mechanical-pump steam directional transport This implementation utilizes acoustic standing waves to generate a macroscopic pressure gradient, completely eliminating the need for a mechanical pump. This reduces system energy consumption by over 80%, significantly improving operational reliability and lifespan. The absence of moving parts eliminates mechanical wear and dust blockage, significantly simplifying the system structure and reducing maintenance requirements.

[0054] 2. High-efficiency acoustic-microwave co-excitation and precise phase transition A weak microwave field of 5.8 GHz (0.05 W / cm³) precisely triggers relaxation sublimation of the ice lattice, achieving a low-energy phase transition. A low-frequency sound wave of 400 Hz establishes a strong pressure gradient in the thin Martian atmosphere, efficiently and directionally transporting vapor. This optimizes energy utilization and improves material transport efficiency.

[0055] 3. Environmental adaptability and multiple dust management Open gas channels effectively prevent dust blockage. Zero-energy radiative condensation relies entirely on the natural low temperature of Mars. Multiple dust management mechanisms (source suppression, inertial separation, and dust baffles) work together to ensure the purity of the collected water ice. The system exhibits high environmental adaptability.

[0056] 4. Highly integrated probe design and intelligent control The microwave antenna and acoustic transducer are highly integrated into a single probe, simplifying deployment. The intelligent control unit adaptively adjusts acoustic parameters to precisely maintain optimal resonance and pressure gradient, ensuring efficient and stable system operation under dynamic conditions.

[0057] Specifically: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall operation of the Martian water ice acoustic-microwave co-resonance excitation and standing wave transport system. This conceptual diagram clearly shows the deployment and working principle of the system in the Martian regolith. The diagram includes: the Martian regolith and its internal porous ice; a cylindrical borehole formed by drilling and an acoustic-microwave multifunctional probe vertically inserted into the borehole. The probe is a complete cylinder extending upwards from the bottom of the borehole, passing through the borehole to the surface. An independent gas collection hood is placed above the borehole at the surface, its internal structure being a cone shape, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. The microwave antenna is located at the center of the probe, and annular piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducers are arranged around the outer wall of the probe. An annular gas guide channel is formed between the outer wall of the probe and the inner wall of the borehole. The small-diameter end of the gas collection hood is connected to the inlet of a radiative condenser via a bend-angle pipe, with a dust baffle inside the bend-angle pipe. The surface of the condenser consists of multiple layers of radiative cooling films. Below the condenser is a sublimation ice collector. The diagram uses clear arrows to indicate the complete process of water vapor diffusing from pore ice into the borehole, then being driven by sound waves in the gas guide channel and transported upwards in the direction of the arrows, finally entering the gas collection hood. After initial separation of sand and dust through the bend pipe, it sublimates on the surface of the condenser and falls into the collector.

[0058] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the acoustic-microwave multifunctional probe. This figure shows the axial section of the multifunctional probe, clearly depicting its internal structure. The figure will highlight the precise layout of the slot antenna array inside the cylindrical waveguide with the microwave antenna as the central axis, and the ring-shaped piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducer arranged in a segmented manner around the outside of the waveguide and the inside of the probe's outer wall.

[0059] In practical implementation, the probe body is cylindrical, with its diameter and length adaptable to the actual deployment depth and drilling size. The main body is made of carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composite material, which possesses an extremely low coefficient of linear expansion, excellent low-temperature brittle toughness, high strength, lightweight, and low-loss transmission of 5.8 GHz microwaves. The outer surface of the probe is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to provide excellent dustproof and wear-resistant properties. The internal microwave transmission structure of the probe uses a cylindrical waveguide located on the probe's central axis, with slot antennas formed on its walls. The microwave antenna refers to the array of slot openings on this waveguide, with radiating elements evenly distributed along the probe's length. The antenna array is connected to the microwave source at the top of the probe via a high-frequency coaxial cable and incorporates a broadband impedance matching network to ensure efficient coupling of 5.8 GHz microwave energy to the Martian regolith outside the probe. The end of the waveguide is designed as a cutoff waveguide structure to prevent microwave energy reflection or unnecessary leakage at the end, ensuring that energy is primarily radiated through the slot antennas. The ring-shaped piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducers are tightly wrapped around and fixed to the outer wall of the probe, with multiple segments precisely arranged along the probe's axis. Each ring transducer consists of a prestressed PZT-8 piezoelectric ceramic sheet, connected by precision electrodes and vacuum-sealed with special silicone rubber for dustproof protection. The transducer operating frequency is precisely controlled at 400 Hz. All transducers are driven in groups by an external acoustic wave controller to achieve precise axial standing wave control. Electromagnetic compatibility design ensures no interference between the microwave antenna and the ring-shaped piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducers, including but not limited to utilizing their frequency differences, the microwave transparency and acoustic isolation of the probe body material, and necessary electromagnetic shielding and grounding measures.

[0060] The air guide channel consists of an annular gap between the inner wall of the borehole and the outer wall of the probe. The width of this gap can be optimized and determined based on the principles of fluid mechanics and acoustic resonance. The air guide channel is seamlessly and airtightly connected to the bottom inlet of the gas collection hood. The inner wall of the channel is coated with a low-friction PTFE coating.

[0061] The gas collection hood is an independent structure, its main material of which can be a lightweight, high-strength composite material. Its internal structure is conical (smaller at the top, larger at the bottom). The larger diameter end is large enough to cover the borehole opening and effectively capture the upward-flowing steam, while the smaller diameter end is adapted to the inlet of the radiant condenser. The smaller diameter end of the gas collection hood is connected to the inlet of the radiant condenser via a bend in the pipe. This bend in the pipe is designed with a specific bending radius and angle, utilizing the inertial separation effect generated when the steam flow makes a sharp turn, causing the carried dust particles to collide with the pipe wall and separate from the airflow. A dust baffle can be installed inside the bend in the pipe to further guide the particles to settle into a predetermined collection area and prevent them from rebounding or being carried away by the airflow again.

[0062] The radiative condenser has a cylindrical box structure, the dimensions of which can be designed according to heat load and radiative area requirements. The outer shell is made of mirror-polished aluminum alloy. The core condensation surface consists of multiple layers of radiative cooling films, which are composed of alternating layers of polyimide films and a vacuum isolation layer. A titanium oxide nano-coating is sputtered onto the film surface to ensure that its infrared emissivity ε > 0.95 and solar absorptivity α < 0.1. A micro pyramid array is precisely fabricated on the film surface using laser etching technology.

[0063] The sublimation ice collector is a sealed storage tank with an opening at the bottom that connects to the condenser. The main body is encased in multi-layer insulation material (MLI). Additionally, the radiant condenser integrates a motor-driven spiral scraper mechanism that periodically scrapes off the ice layer sublimated on the condenser membrane surface and guides it to the bottom of the collector. A low-power resistance heater is installed at the bottom of the collector for localized heating when ice needs to be transferred or melted into liquid water. The collector incorporates a high-precision weighing sensor to monitor the mass of the collected water ice in real time.

[0064] The entire system is managed and optimized by an advanced central control unit (MCU). The MCU receives real-time data from multiple axially distributed miniature acoustic pressure sensors within the multi-functional probe. The core control logic of the MCU includes: adaptive standing wave control, which, based on real-time feedback data from the axial acoustic pressure sensor array, precisely calculates the resonant frequency drift and sound pressure level of the sound field within the air guide channel using an adaptive resonance tracking algorithm. The MCU dynamically and with high precision (millihertz level) adjusts the 400 Hz drive frequency and voltage amplitude applied to the toroidal piezoelectric ceramic acoustic transducer. This precise control aims to maintain optimal acoustic resonance conditions at all times, generating the most stable axial acoustic standing wave mode and providing a precisely controllable macroscopic upward pressure gradient to meet varying steam flow demands and ensure maximum steam transport efficiency. The system has a built-in fault diagnosis program and autonomously adjusts or reports in abnormal situations. All operating parameters and sensor data are recorded and periodically transmitted to the Mars rover's main control computer.

[0065] The above description of several specific embodiments further details the technical solution provided by the present invention in order to highlight the advantages and benefits of the technical solution provided by the present invention. However, the above-described specific embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Any reasonable modifications and improvements to the present invention, combinations of embodiments, and equivalent substitutions based on the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for extracting water ice from Martian regolith, characterized in that, include: Probe, gas guide channel, gas collection hood, radiation condenser, and ice collector; The probe is installed inside the borehole and includes a microwave antenna and a ring acoustic transducer. The air guiding channel is formed by the annular gap between the probe and the borehole, and is connected to the air collecting hood; The gas collection hood is connected to the radiant condenser via a bend in the pipe. The radiative condenser is connected to the ice collector.

2. The Martian regolith water ice extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microwave antenna is a waveguide structure with a slot array on its outer wall for transmitting microwaves.

3. The Martian regolith water ice extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acoustic transducer consists of multiple annular piezoelectric ceramic elements arranged along the probe axis.

4. The Martian regolith water ice extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-section of the air guide channel is annular, extending along the probe axis to the ground surface.

5. The Martian regolith water ice extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas collection hood has a cone-shaped structure that is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom, and is used to collect the rising steam in the gas guide channel.

6. An acoustic-microwave co-resonance excitation and zero-mechanical-pump standing wave transport system for water ice in Martian regolith, characterized in that, include: The Martian regolith water ice extraction device as described in claim 1; Also includes: The central control unit is used to receive data from the sound pressure sensor and adjust the frequency and power of the sound transducer. The microwave control module is used to control the excitation frequency and power density of the microwave antenna. The environmental monitoring module is used to collect temperature, air pressure, and dust information for the control unit to adjust accordingly. The communication module is used to record and upload system operating status data.

7. A method for acoustic-microwave co-resonance excitation and zero-mechanical-pump standing wave transport of water ice in Martian regolith, characterized in that, The system implementation based on claim 6 includes: Steps for acquiring real-time data from a sound pressure sensor; Steps for analyzing the sound field state and determining the resonance shift; Steps for adjusting the drive frequency and voltage of the acoustic transducer; Steps for controlling the acoustic standing wave field to maintain stable output; The steps for dynamically adjusting the sound field parameters based on the steam flow rate; The steps to record parameters and upload them to the main control system.

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

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

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

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