Fluid transportation system and method based on active volume control or differential pressure driving in microgravity environment

Abstract

The invention provides a fluid transportation system and method based on active volume control or differential pressure driving in a microgravity environment, and aims to overcome the difficulty in material transportation caused by lack of natural convection and sedimentation under microgravity. The system includes a processing chamber and a drive mechanism. And the driving mechanism is configured to drive the fluid state material in the processing chamber to be directionally transported by actively changing the internal volume of the processing chamber or by establishing instantaneous communication between the processing chamber and an external chamber with different pressure. Based on this, the invention further provides a complete application scheme from original minerals to high-purity metals. According to the scheme, the system is characterized in that firstly, minerals are smashed, packaged, fused and filtered through a coarse-grade fusion separation unit, and metal-enriched melt is obtained; then, a multi-stage series vacuum rectification system is adopted for separating the melt, each stage of vacuum gasification chamber is used for separating components with specific boiling points, and a gas-phase product is conveyed to a condensing and forming device in a volumetric pumping or differential pressure suction mode. And an air pressure difference driving transmission mechanism is adopted between stages, so that molten materials are transferred between series units. The system can also integrate target metal consumable net pretreatment, dynamic gas sealing and other designs. According to the invention, continuous and closed full-process treatment and refining of mineral raw materials in a space microgravity environment are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of space resource utilization and advanced manufacturing technology. Specifically, it relates to a system and method suitable for microgravity or low gravity environments such as space stations, the moon, and asteroids, capable of processing, transporting, and separating materials. Background Technology

[0002] As human deep space exploration becomes more long-term and routine, the utilization of in-situ resources in space has become crucial for reducing mission costs and establishing a sustainable extraterrestrial presence. Under Earth's gravity, many industrial processes rely on gravity-driven phenomena such as sedimentation, stratification, and natural convection to achieve phase separation, mass transport, and heat transfer. However, in microgravity or low-gravity environments, these gravity-dependent processes largely fail, rendering traditional technologies unusable. Existing technological attempts face the following challenges: 1. Phases of different densities are mixed and suspended, making separation difficult; 2. The efficiency of mass and heat transfer decreases due to the disappearance of natural convection; 3. Loose or fluid materials are difficult to transport and transfer in a specific direction; 4. Under extreme space operation conditions such as high temperature and vacuum, reliable sealing and long-term operation and maintenance of the system are difficult; Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that can overcome the limitations of microgravity environments and achieve efficient and controllable material handling and transportation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] (I) System Solution One object of the present invention is to provide a material handling system suitable for microgravity environments. To achieve this object, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A material handling system suitable for microgravity environments, characterized in that it comprises: A processing chamber configured to contain materials; A drive mechanism operatively coupled to the processing chamber; The drive mechanism is configured to drive the directional transport of fluid material in the processing chamber by actively changing the internal volume of the processing chamber or by establishing a momentary connection between the processing chamber and an external chamber with a different pressure. This approach provides a solution for manipulating fluids (including liquids, melts, and gaseous substances) in a microgravity environment.

[0004] (II) Coarse-stage melt separation unit and pretreatment process To process raw mineral or bulk raw materials, the system of this invention may further include a coarse-stage melting and separation unit. This unit works in conjunction with a subsequent vacuum distillation system to achieve end-to-end processing from raw materials to high-purity products. The coarse-stage melt separation unit includes the following core components: 1. Raw material crushing and packaging: The raw materials are first crushed by a crushing device to achieve a suitable particle size. Then, the crushed material is loaded into a mesh container (consumable mesh) woven from the target metal wire and packaged to form a material bag. This step solves the problem of feeding and transporting powdered raw materials under microgravity. 2. Primary Melting and Separation: The packaged material is fed into a heatable primary melting and separation device. This device is heated above the melting point of the target metal component, causing the metal to melt. The device includes a movable piston and a filter (e.g., a porous medium made of high-temperature resistant ceramic or intermetallic compound). 3. Melt Filtration and Drive: After the metal melts, the molten liquid is forced through the filter screen via a piston compression chamber. The filter screen separates the molten metal from unmelted silicates, oxides, and other solid residues, yielding a preliminarily purified molten metal liquid. 4. Pressure differential driven conveying: The filtered molten metal is collected into a discharge chamber. Subsequently, using the gas pressure difference between this discharge chamber and the downstream vacuum gasification chamber, the molten liquid is directionally conveyed into the vacuum gasification chamber as feed for subsequent vacuum distillation separation; Through the above process, the system completes the pretreatment, initial separation and transportation of raw materials, and seamlessly connects with the subsequent vacuum distillation system, forming a complete material processing chain.

[0005] (III) Application in vacuum distillation and separation Based on the above scheme, one application of the present invention is for vacuum distillation separation of multi-component resources. In this application, the "processing chamber" is a heatable "vacuum vaporization chamber," the "fluid material" is "vaporized metal vapor," and the goal of the "directional transport" is to separate specific metal vapors and send them to a condenser. In this application, the drive mechanism can be implemented in two ways: Option A (volumetric pumping): The drive mechanism includes a movable piston disposed in the vacuum gasification chamber. By controlling the movement of the piston, the volume of the chamber is changed periodically, thereby pumping out the gas enriched with metal vapor. In one embodiment of this solution, the piston can be composed of a gas-driven cylinder piston unit. This unit includes a pneumatic drive chamber located behind the piston, into which high-pressure inert gas is periodically injected and discharged to drive the piston to reciprocate. This gas-driven method avoids placing electrical components such as motors in a high-temperature vacuum environment. Option B (Differential Pressure Suction Type): The drive mechanism includes an independent negative pressure suction chamber that maintains a low pressure and its connecting valve. When the pressure in the vacuum vaporization chamber rises to a set threshold due to metal vaporization, the connecting valve is opened, and the vapor is drawn to the negative pressure side using the pressure difference between the two chambers; Both of these specific schemes can achieve the above-mentioned driving force and overcome the difficulties in transporting gaseous products under microgravity.

[0006] (iv) System expansion: multi-stage cascade and inter-stage transmission To enhance the separation capability for complex multi-component materials, this invention can extend the aforementioned single-stage vacuum distillation unit into a multi-stage series system. That is, the system includes at least two vacuum vaporization chambers connected in series, with each subsequent chamber configured to receive the remaining material after the previous chamber has completed the vaporization separation of a specific component, and to separate the next component under different temperature conditions. To achieve highly reliable transfer of molten material between series units, this invention proposes a universal interstage transport mechanism driven by pressure difference. An interstage transport mechanism is provided between adjacent vacuum chambers. Its core function is to actively establish and utilize the gas pressure difference between the two chambers to drive the molten material to complete directional transport. This pressure difference can be established through various physical methods, including but not limited to: increasing the gas pressure in the preceding vacuum chamber, decreasing the gas pressure in the following vacuum chamber, actively establishing a pressure gradient through a transition chamber, and any combination of the above methods. Based on this universal principle, the interstage transport mechanism can have various equivalent implementations. As a typical implementation, the mechanism may include a sealed transition chamber and a corresponding valve control system. Its workflow is as follows: first, the melt separated in the preceding stage is discharged into the transition chamber; then, high-pressure inert gas is introduced into the preceding stage cavity to establish a pressure advantage; finally, the connecting valve is opened, and the melt in the transition chamber is pushed into the subsequent stage using the pressure difference between the preceding high-pressure chamber and the following vacuum chamber. This mechanism effectively solves the problem of transferring molten materials in a vacuum, high-temperature, microgravity environment. Based on the same principle, a simplified design such as two-stage direct connection with piston-assisted suction can also be adopted. Subsequent embodiments in the specification will specifically demonstrate different implementation forms.

[0007] (v) Relevant design schemes Regarding the above system, the present invention also provides several related design solutions: 1. Pretreatment solution (material self-encapsulation): To address the difficulty in handling powdered raw materials under microgravity, a retractable mesh container woven from the target metal can be used. This mesh can encapsulate loose raw materials and can be melted as part of the raw material during smelting; 2. Sealing Solution (Dynamic Gas Seal): For sealing moving parts in high-temperature and high-vacuum environments, a dynamic gas-tight subsystem can be used. This system maintains a slightly positive pressure airflow of inert gas towards the interior of the chamber at the seal, forming a gaseous barrier to prevent the leakage of process media. 3. Optimized drive mechanism (dual-chamber integrated gas drive and seal): For the gas-driven piston used in volumetric pumping systems, a dual-chamber structure can be designed: - Pneumatic drive chamber: used to receive high-pressure drive gas to drive the piston movement; - Independent sealed gas chamber: used to receive low-pressure, precisely controlled inert gas, whose pressure is maintained at a level slightly higher than the vacuum gasification chamber process pressure (maintaining a small positive pressure difference). During piston movement, the pressure in the pneumatic drive chamber changes according to drive requirements, while the pressure in the sealing chamber remains stable. The two chambers are isolated in terms of airflow and control. The constant micro-positive pressure in the sealing chamber forms an airflow barrier to the vacuum aeration chamber, achieving dynamic sealing. To minimize interference with the process thermal balance, the inert gas can be preheated before entering the sealing chamber, bringing its temperature close to or matching the operating temperature of the vacuum aeration chamber. This "thermal matching" design aims to avoid localized overcooling within the vacuum aeration chamber due to excessively low sealing gas temperature, preventing unintended condensation of materials on the surface of critical moving parts, thereby ensuring process stability and long-term component reliability. Specifically, when the piston performs compression or conveying actions, this continuously flowing inert gas effectively blocks the penetration of molten material into the gap between the piston and the chamber wall, and purges any trace materials that may enter the gap, preventing material from cooling and solidifying within the gap, ensuring long-term flexibility and reliability of piston movement. This dual-chamber design decouples high-pressure drive from low-pressure precision sealing functions. Regarding the dynamic sealing argon flow: In the above process, the flow rate of the trace amount of argon gas continuously flowing into the vacuum evacuation chamber to ensure a dynamic seal is strictly controlled through a precisely designed piston gap (e.g., at the micrometer level). This flow rate is set to be much smaller than the vacuum system's pumping capacity into the vacuum evacuation chamber, thus not significantly affecting the required background vacuum level (e.g., 1-5 Pa range) for maintaining the process. Simultaneously, as an inert gas, argon does not react with the process materials, and its presence does not interfere with the partial pressure and condensation process of the target metal vapor. This approach of exchanging a controlled, trace amount of inert gas flow for a long-lasting, reliable dynamic seal is one of the key design trade-offs of this invention, and its effectiveness has been verified in simulations and experiments. 4. Control and Energy Efficiency Solutions: The system can be coordinated by a central controller, adjusting temperature, pressure, valve timing, etc., based on sensor feedback. A heat recovery module can also be integrated to reuse waste heat from the system. 5. Gas-Liquid Separation and Anti-Entrainment Structure: To prevent liquid materials from being entrained by the gas phase flow during exhaust in the vacuum gasification chamber, a liquid-loving metal mesh structure (e.g., woven or sintered from metal wires with good wettability to molten metal) can be installed within the vacuum gasification chamber. This structure is positioned in the inlet area of ​​the exhaust channel. Its working principle utilizes the dominant capillary force under microgravity to stably confine the molten metal within the micropores of the mesh, forming a capillary barrier that allows vapor to pass through but blocks liquid flow. The pore size and material of this mesh structure can be optimized based on the surface tension and density of the target metal to ensure that its capillary holding force is always greater than the maximum shear force that the exhaust gas flow may generate. Inside the vapor outlet valve of the vacuum chamber, a multi-layered hydrophilic mesh woven from high-temperature nickel-based alloy wire is installed. After the melt is injected, the mesh is pre-impregnated with molten zinc under capillary action. When volumetric pumping or differential pressure suction is performed, zinc vapor can pass smoothly through the pores of the liquid-impregnated mesh, while the molten zinc is firmly bound within the mesh structure by strong capillary forces, thereby achieving high-purity vapor separation and effectively preventing liquid zinc from being carried into the condensation system. 6. Zonal Coordination Design for Gas-Liquid Separation and Material Output: To resolve the contradiction between the hydrophilic gas-liquid separation structure within the vacuum vaporization chamber and the material output requirements, this invention proposes a zonal coordination design. The vacuum vaporization chamber is divided into a "gas-liquid separation zone" and a "liquid collection and output zone." The gas-liquid separation zone features a hydrophilic mesh structure to block liquids while allowing vapors to pass through during the vaporization separation stage. The liquid collection and output zone uses geometric designs (such as liquid storage chambers and surface tension guide channels) to collect molten material under microgravity and connects to an interstage transfer mechanism via an independent outlet. The system is configured to execute sequentially: during the separation stage, vapor purification is achieved using the hydrophilic mesh; after separation, internal pressurization causes the liquid to detach from the capillary confinement zone, and then the interstage pressure differential mechanism outputs it at high speed. This design achieves efficient coordination between capillary separation and pressure differential-driven transfer mechanisms in both time and space. 7. Gas-Liquid Interface Management and Enhanced Convergence Design: To optimize the behavior of molten materials in a vacuum chamber under microgravity, a combination of active and passive design methods can be adopted: a. Active aggregation: By using the compressive motion of movable parts (such as pistons), a gentle mechanical constraint is applied to the melt entering the chamber, causing it to aggregate towards a predetermined area under the action of surface tension, thus avoiding the formation of dispersed suspended droplets; b. Surface Energy Modulation: The surfaces of stationary or moving parts in contact with the melt are treated with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic (non-hydrophilic) coating. For example, a hydrophilic coating is used in areas where liquid spreading is desired to enhance heat exchange, while a hydrophobic coating is used in areas where liquid aggregation or reduced adhesion is desired. In particular, for pistons performing compression, transport, or coordinated motion functions, the entire outer surface (including the working end face and side surfaces) is preferably treated with a non-hydrophilic coating. This treatment effectively reduces the adhesion and spreading of high-temperature molten metal on the piston surface, thereby preventing tearing or entrainment due to liquid adhesion and the formation of dispersed droplets during any piston movement (such as thrust, return, or rapid motion). This avoids the risk of liquid splashing introduced by the moving parts at the source. c. Targeted Separation: Hygrophilic capillary structures (such as meshes) are precisely positioned at key points along the airflow path (such as steam outlets), allowing them to specifically capture droplets entrained in the airflow without interfering with the flow and aggregation of the bulk molten material. This synergistic design, where the active component (piston) surface is hydrophobic to repel liquids while the fixed separation component (mesh) surface is hydrophilic to capture droplets, achieves precise control of the material flow direction within the system. 8. Synchronous Volumetric Coordinated Control for Interstage Transfer: To achieve highly reliable and splash-free transfer of molten material between stages under microgravity, this invention provides a control strategy for active coordination between the transmitting and receiving ends. The interstage transfer mechanism is configured to execute the following coordinated sequence: a. Preparatory state: Before the transmission begins, the piston in the vacuum chamber of the receiving end (the next stage) is at the front end, so that its internal working volume is at its minimum; the transition chamber of the transmitting end (the previous stage) contains the melt to be transmitted. b. Synchronous transmission: After the transmission command is triggered, the sending end establishes a driving pressure difference, and the melt begins to flow into the connecting pipe. At the same time, the piston at the receiving end moves backward (away from the inlet) in a controlled manner according to the pressure inside the pipe or a preset program, gradually expanding its chamber volume; c. Synergistic effect: The active expansion of the receiving end's volume provides a welcoming space for the incoming melt, complementing the pushing pressure at the transmitting end. This synergistic "push and pull" effect ensures that the melt remains a continuous and intact liquid column throughout the entire transmission process, effectively eliminating the risk of liquid column breakage and the formation of dispersed droplets due to flow mismatch or pressure fluctuations. d. Pipeline emptying: After the main melt is transferred, the receiving piston can continue to move to its last end (maximum chamber volume). This action generates a brief negative pressure suction effect in the connecting pipe, which helps to completely draw the small amount of melt remaining in the pipe into the receiving chamber, thus achieving self-cleaning of the pipe.

[0008] (vi) Molded condensation collection scheme To further optimize product collection and processing, the present invention may also include a molded condensation collection chamber. This collection chamber is connected to a vacuum evacuation chamber or a negative pressure extraction chamber, and contains a porous mesh molder (e.g., a rectangular cage) made of the target metal material. After metal vapor enters this chamber, it condenses, grows, and eventually solidifies on the controlled-cooling surface of the mesh molder into a dense metal block with a shape consistent with the inner cavity of the mesh molder. This approach achieves in-situ molding and collection of the product, simplifying subsequent processing steps.

[0009] (vii) Thermal energy management and recovery design To ensure the long-term stable operation of the molded condensation collection chamber (or, more generally, the condensation unit in the system) and to optimize the system's energy efficiency in the energy-constrained space environment, this invention provides a specialized thermal management solution. This solution aims to efficiently remove the enormous latent heat released during the condensation and solidification of metal vapor in a controllable manner, and optionally achieve energy recovery. 1. Core thermal management mechanism: - Active cooling loop: The porous mesh structure is efficiently thermally connected to the closed-loop coolant piping system. The coolant (such as liquid metal or special fluid) circulates under the drive of a pump, transferring the collected heat to the system's radiant heat sink or heat collector; - Passive radiative heat dissipation: The outer shell of the condensation collection chamber is designed as a radiative heat sink with a high emissivity surface, facing the cold background of space, and directly dissipating heat through thermal radiation. This is the most reliable basic heat dissipation method in the space environment; - Integrated thermoelectric conversion (preferred option): To further improve the closed-loop level of system energy utilization, a thermoelectric power generation module (e.g., a solid-state thermocouple array based on the Seebeck effect) can be integrated into the heat flow path. The hot end of this module is tightly coupled to a high-temperature mesh structure or its thermal connection components, while the cold end is coupled to an active cooling loop or a radiant heat sink. During condensation, the condensation of metal vapor releases heat to maintain the high temperature at the hot end, while the cold end maintains a low temperature through heat dissipation, thereby establishing a stable temperature difference across the two ends of the module and directly and continuously generating electrical energy. 2. Engineering benefits and system integration: -Ensure process stability and product quality: By combining one or more of the above methods, precise control of the condensation rate can be achieved, avoiding internal cracking or deformation of the solid metal block due to thermal stress, and ensuring the production of regular, dense, and usable products. - Achieve partial energy recovery and system energy saving: By integrating a thermoelectric power generation module, some of the waste heat from the process that would otherwise be dissipated can be converted into electrical energy. The generated electricity can be used to drive low-power devices such as sensors, controllers, valves, or auxiliary heaters within the system, thereby reducing the net energy requirement of the entire processing system. -Enhancing System Self-Sustainability and Mission Adaptability: This thermo-electric synergistic design embodies the core concept of a dual closed loop of matter and energy for in-situ resource utilization systems designed for long-term deep space missions. It is not only a solution to thermal control problems, but also a key engineering feature for improving the energy self-sufficiency (ISP) and sustainability of the entire space factory system.

[0010] III. Beneficial Effects: 1. A scheme is provided to drive fluid transport under microgravity through "active volume change" or "active pressure build-up"; 2. In vacuum distillation applications, multi-stage dedicated chambers combined with active gas-phase drive can improve separation accuracy and efficiency; 3. The gas pressure difference-driven interstage melt transport mechanism can be used to solve the melt transfer problem in multi-stage series systems; 4. From self-consumable raw material packaging to dynamic process sealing and energy recovery, the system design helps to achieve a closed loop of matter and energy and adapt to the operational requirements of the space environment; 5. The system can be modularly designed, and more complex materials can be processed by increasing the number of series stages. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of the present invention, showing the connection and composition relationship between the various physical modules (including the coarse melting and separation unit, the multi-stage vacuum gasification chamber, the interstage transfer mechanism, the condensation and collection chamber, and the vacuum, pressure and control system) in the mineral processing system.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a complete process flow diagram of the present invention, which shows the complete process sequence, material state changes and key operation steps from raw mineral raw materials or recycled materials to various high-purity metal products in the form of a flow chart.

[0013] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the workflow for the active encapsulation preprocessing unit.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of a single-stage vacuum gasification chamber, illustrating two driving mechanisms: volumetric pumping and differential pressure suction.

[0015] Figure 5 The diagrams illustrate several typical implementation methods of interstage transmission, demonstrating different implementation forms based on the pressure difference driving principle.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of a dynamic airtight system.

[0017] It should be clarified that the accompanying drawings included in this specification ( Figures 1 to 5The embodiments described in the accompanying drawings and specific implementations (Embodiments 1 to 3) are intended to clearly demonstrate and explain the core principles of the present invention, one or more possible implementations, and their workflow. These drawings and embodiments should be understood as exemplary and illustrative, and not as an exhaustive enumeration or sole limitation of the present invention. 1. Non-limiting nature of the accompanying drawings: The structures, connections, and component shapes shown in the drawings are for the purpose of clarifying the principle. Those skilled in the art will understand that different mechanical layouts, spatial configurations, or component combinations can be used to achieve the same function. For example, the geometry of the vacuum chamber, the arrangement of the heaters, the type and location of valves, and the routing of pipelines can all be optimized according to specific engineering constraints without departing from the basic principles of this invention. 2. Variation of Examples: The examples described herein, including the process parameters (such as temperature, pressure, and time), material selection (such as specific metal wires), and system configurations (such as three-stage series connection), are typical examples selected for illustrative purposes. In practical applications, these parameters and configurations can be extensively adjusted and replaced according to the physicochemical properties of the material to be processed, the purity requirements of the target product, the type and power of available energy, and the specific objectives of the task. For example, the number of stages in the series connection can be increased or decreased; the material of the consumable wire mesh can be selected to be a substance compatible with any target metal to be recovered; the specific value of the driving pressure can be reset according to the system size and the required transmission speed. 3. Universality of the Principle: The core principle of this invention—"achieving directional fluid transport under microgravity by actively changing volume or actively establishing pressure difference"—has application potential not limited to the vacuum distillation separation scenario detailed in the specification. This principle can also inspire or be applied to other microgravity operations, such as, but not limited to: separation of liquids of different densities, quantitative feeding of powders or particles, mixing and stirring of materials in reaction chambers, and collection and discharge of waste products. Any system or method that utilizes this core principle to manipulate fluid materials in microgravity or low gravity environments may fall within the scope of this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the following description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0019] Example 1: Single-stage vacuum purification of zinc based on core driving principle (Reference) Figure 1 . Figure 2 . Figure 5 . Figure 6 ) This embodiment demonstrates the application of the present invention to a single-stage process for purifying zinc from zinc-containing waste, and provides three specific driving and operating methods: 1. Common configuration: The raw material is zinc-containing waste. The system includes a vacuum vaporization chamber, heater, condenser, and control system; 2. Implementation method A (volumetric pumping type): - A gas-driven piston cylinder unit is installed inside the vacuum chamber. This unit includes a pneumatic drive chamber connected to an external high-pressure air source, and an independent sealed air chamber connected to a precision low-pressure air source; - Process: After the material is melted, it is injected into the chamber, evacuated, and heated to 800°C to vaporize the zinc. When the pressure rises to a set high threshold (e.g., 5 Pa), the controller initiates the drive sequence: ensuring the pressure in the sealed gas chamber remains stable at 0.3 kPa higher than the vacuum vaporization chamber; subsequently, high-pressure argon gas (e.g., 80 kPa) is introduced into the pneumatic drive chamber, pushing the piston forward, compressing the chamber volume, and pumping the zinc vapor to the condenser. When the pressure drops to a low threshold (e.g., 1.5 Pa), the drive chamber depressurizes, and the piston retracts. The pressure in the sealed gas chamber remains constant. This cycle continues until zinc separation is complete. 3. Implementation method B (differential pressure suction type): - The system is equipped with a negative pressure pumping chamber maintained at 0.01 Pa by an independent vacuum pump, and is connected to the vacuum vaporization chamber through a high-temperature valve; - Process: Under the same heating conditions, when the pressure in the vacuum gasification chamber rises to the trigger threshold (e.g., 5 Pa), the controller opens the connecting valve. Using the pressure difference between the two chambers, zinc vapor is drawn into the negative pressure extraction chamber and condensed. 4. Implementation method C (piston compression-expansion circulation volumetric pump): This embodiment demonstrates an operational process for optimizing liquid collection and vapor separation under microgravity by coordinating active piston compression and expansion. a. System Configuration: Similar to implementation method A, but with emphasis on the following specific design: i. The vacuum gasification chamber is initially in a state where the piston inside is at its farthest end, and the chamber volume is at its maximum. ii. The entire outer surface of the piston in contact with the inner wall of the chamber is made of a non-hydrophilic material (such as a high-temperature alloy with a low surface energy ceramic coating) to reduce the adhesion and spread of molten metal; iii. Install a hydrophilic metal mesh at the steam outlet, which is compatible with the target metal vapor condensate (such as zinc wire mesh or galvanized steel mesh for zinc vapor condensation). iv. The liquid outlet is located at the bottom of the chamber, in coordination with the direction of piston movement; b. Process flow (one complete cycle): i. Compressed feed and liquid collection: Initially, the piston is at its furthest point (chamber volume is at its maximum). Molten material from the previous stage (such as zinc-containing waste melt) is injected into the vacuum chamber under the action of external driving force (such as residual pressure or micro-propulsion from the previous stage); Simultaneously, the controller instructs the piston to advance into the chamber at a controlled speed, gently compressing the incoming melt. This compression causes the melt to gather near the piston end face or a predetermined collection area (such as the bottom groove) under microgravity due to surface tension, forming a relatively concentrated liquid area and expelling any entrained air bubbles. ii. Establishment of the vaporization space: - After feeding and compression are complete, the piston retracts to its furthest position, restoring the chamber volume to its maximum. This provides ample space for subsequent gasification processes and may help maintain a low-pressure environment within the chamber through volume expansion; iii. Gasification and steam separation: - The heater heats the chamber to the vaporization temperature of the target metal (such as zinc) (e.g., 800°C). The target metal vaporizes, producing metal vapor that gradually fills the entire chamber; When the pressure inside the chamber rises to a set threshold (e.g., 5 Pa) due to the accumulation of metal vapor, the controller opens the high-temperature valve connecting the vacuum vaporization chamber and the negative pressure extraction chamber. Under the pressure difference, the metal vapor is drawn out of the vacuum vaporization chamber at high speed. - Key point: The hydrophilic metal mesh placed at the steam outlet effectively captures and prevents trace droplets that may be entrained by the high-speed airflow, ensuring that only steam enters the condensation system. At this time, the molten liquid remains in a concentrated state due to the non-hydrophilic nature of the piston end face, and does not spread over a large area to the mesh, thus effectively achieving gas-liquid separation; iv. Drain residual liquid (in preparation for the next cycle or transfer): - Once the target metal has been separated (determined by pressure rise rate or spectral monitoring), the remaining molten material (such as lead-copper alloy) can be discharged through the discharge valve at the bottom of the chamber via piston propulsion. The discharged material can then enter the interstage transition chamber, ready to be transferred to the next stage; c. Effects: This implementation method, through an active piston compression-expansion cycle combined with a non-hydrophilic surface and a fixed-point hydrophilic mesh, achieves forced aggregation of molten liquid, maximization of vapor space, and efficient gas-liquid separation under microgravity. It is particularly suitable for processing melts with high viscosity or those prone to forming dispersed droplets, enhancing the robustness of the process. 5. Summary of the Results of Example 1: Both Implementation Methods A and B achieved directional transport of metal vapor under zero-gravity conditions. The dual-chamber gas-driven piston scheme used in Implementation Method A demonstrated its driving capability and sealing function. Implementation Method C further demonstrated an optimized operating procedure that solves the problems of liquid collection and efficient gas-liquid separation under microgravity through active volume and surface energy management.

[0020] Example 2: Three-stage continuous vacuum refining of zinc, lead, and copper (reference) Figure 1 . Figure 2 . Figure 5 ) This example demonstrates an application that integrates multi-stage cascading and inter-stage transmission: 1. System Configuration: A three-stage series configuration is adopted. The first stage (zinc separation chamber) is driven by a volumetric pump. The second stage (lead separation chamber) is driven by a differential pressure suction system. The third stage is the copper collection chamber. An interstage transfer mechanism, including a transition chamber and valves, is provided between the first and second stages. The raw material is encapsulated using a consumable mesh woven from zinc wire. 2. Process Flow: a. Zinc separation: After the material is melted, it enters the first-stage chamber, where zinc is separated by circulating it at 850°C using a piston pump; b. Interstage Transfer (Synchronous Volumetric Coordination Process): In this embodiment, interstage transfer can be based on the aforementioned pressure difference driving principle and can be implemented in various ways, such as any of the implementation methods demonstrated in Embodiment 5 below. The following description uses an implementation method employing a transition chamber as an example: i. Preparatory State: After zinc separation is completed, the first-stage (transmitting end) piston pushes the lead-copper molten material into the interstage transition chamber and closes the isolation valve. The second-stage (lead separation chamber, receiving end) piston is pre-moved to its foremost position to minimize its internal volume. The outer surface of this receiving end piston is also treated with a non-hydrophilic coating to ensure that the molten material does not adhere to its surface during subsequent coordinated movement and volume expansion, thus ensuring clean and complete transmission. ii. Establish driving pressure difference: Fill the emptied first-stage chamber with high-pressure argon gas to the set pressure (e.g., 150 kPa), while the second-stage chamber maintains its high vacuum environment; iii. Synchronous and Cooperative Transmission: - The controller simultaneously issues commands to open the valve (V1) connecting the transition chamber and the second-stage chamber, and the valve (V2) connecting the first-stage chamber and the transition chamber. - High-pressure argon gas pushes the melt in the transition chamber into the pipe leading to the second-stage chamber; - At the same time, the piston in the second-stage chamber starts and controls itself to move backward (into the chamber) at a speed that matches the melt flow rate, based on feedback from the pressure sensor at the inlet, actively expanding the volume to receive the incoming melt; iv. Transmission completion and reset: - When the pressure sensor or flow meter determines that the main melt has been transferred, first close valves V1 and V2; - Subsequently, the piston in the second stage chamber continues to move to its last end (maximum volume), and this final action uses volume expansion to completely draw the remaining melt in the connecting pipe into the second stage chamber; - The first-stage chamber and transition chamber are evacuated again, all components are reset, and preparation is made for the next cycle; c. Lead separation and copper recovery: The second-stage chamber is heated to 1500°C to separate lead; the remaining molten copper is cast into ingots; 3. Results: This embodiment demonstrates the collaborative work from core driver and single-level application to multi-level extension and inter-level transmission, achieving continuous separation of three metals.

[0021] Example 3: General Specifications and Parameter Adjustment The proposed solution is applicable to various fluid handling scenarios. In vacuum distillation, the number of system stages can be increased according to the amount of components. The consumable mesh material can be selected based on the target product. The vacuum level can be adjusted from 10 Pa to 10^-4 Pa, and the interstage transfer drive pressure difference can be optimized from 10 kPa to 200 kPa. All processes can be controlled by a central controller based on sensor data.

[0022] Example 4: Zinc ingot collection based on a mesh forming device (Reference) Figure 1 ) Based on the system described in Example 1, the condenser is replaced with a molded condensation collection chamber. Inside this chamber is a rectangular cage-like mesh basket woven from high-purity zinc wire. The outer wall of the basket is connected to a circulating coolant pipe to dissipate condensation heat. Zinc vapor from the vacuum evaporation chamber condenses on the surface of the wire in the basket and gradually grows to fill the entire basket space, forming a regular rectangular zinc ingot. The system stops steam intake when the ingot's mass reaches a set value, monitored by a built-in weighing sensor. After cooling, the finished zinc ingot can be removed by opening the snap-on side panel of the basket using a robotic arm. The empty basket is then replaced, and the next batch collection continues.

[0023] Example 5: Demonstration of interstage transfer based on multiple pressure difference establishment methods (Reference) Figure 5 ) This embodiment demonstrates multiple implementations of the inter-stage transmission mechanism described in claims 4 and 5: 1. Implementation method A (direct connection pressurized type): - The first and second stage vacuum chambers are directly connected by a pipe with a valve; - During transmission, high-pressure gas (e.g., 150 kPa) is introduced into the first stage, while the second stage is kept under vacuum; - Open the valve, and the pressure difference drives the melt to flow directly from the first stage into the second stage; 2. Implementation method B (transition chamber type): A sealed transition chamber is provided between the first and second stages, and the front and rear stages are connected by two valves respectively. Transmission sequence: ① The melt is discharged from the first stage into the transition chamber; ② The first valve is closed; ③ High-pressure gas is introduced into the transition chamber; ④ The second valve is opened, and the pressure difference drives the melt into the second stage; 3. Implementation method C (push-pull type): - The first and second stages are directly connected, and both stages are equipped with movable pistons; - During transmission, the first-stage piston actively compresses to reduce the volume and generate positive pressure, while the second-stage piston actively retracts to gradually expand the volume and generate negative pressure, and at the same time opens the connecting valve; - The first stage pushes, the second stage sucks, and the melt is transported to the second stage; Preferred method: Not only can it ensure that the melt connection is not broken, but it also reduces the floating of melt droplets. 4. Implementation method D (hybrid mode): - Combining the above methods, the pressure of the preceding and following stages and the pressure of the transition chamber are adjusted simultaneously; -For example: the first stage applies slight pressure, the transition chamber establishes negative pressure to suck up the material first, and then establishes positive pressure to push the material, while the second stage piston assists in suction; 5. Common characteristics: - All implementation methods are based on the pressure difference driving principle; - During transmission, the receiving end can achieve volume coordination through piston movement to ensure continuous flow of the melt; - Connecting pipes and contact surfaces can be treated with non-hydrophilic agents to reduce residue.

[0024] Example 6: Complete Zinc Ore Processing Flow Based on Coarse-Stage Melting Separation (Reference) Figure 1 . Figure 2 . Figure 3 ) This embodiment demonstrates the complete process of extracting high-purity zinc from raw zinc-bearing ores (such as a mixture of sphalerite and gangue minerals); 1. System Configuration: - Crushing and Packaging Module: Includes a jaw crusher and a consumable mesh packaging machine made of zinc wire; - Primary melting and separation device: It is a cylindrical heat-resistant alloy cavity with a graphite piston and an alumina ceramic filter screen (100μm pore size) inside, and an induction heating coil wound on the outside; - Conveying pipelines and valves: connecting the discharge port of the primary separation unit to the first-stage vacuum chamber (zinc separation chamber); - Vacuum distillation and forming system: vacuum gasification chamber as described in Example 1 and forming condensation collection chamber as described in Example 4; 2. Process Flow: a. Raw material preparation: Crush the zinc-containing ore to a particle size of less than 1 mm. Load the powder into a zinc wire consumable mesh and seal it to form a cylindrical material bag; b. Primary melt separation: i. Place the bale into the primary melting and separation device, evacuate to a low vacuum (approximately 1000 Pa), and then heat the device to 500°C using induction heating to melt the zinc wire mesh in the bale and the metallic zinc in the raw material; ii. The piston inside the device is activated, propelling it at constant pressure, forcing the molten zinc through the ceramic filter at the bottom and into the collection chamber below. Solid residues such as gangue minerals are trapped above the filter screen; c. Melt delivery: A small amount of inert gas is introduced into the collection chamber to establish a slight positive pressure (e.g., 5 kPa), while maintaining the first-stage vacuum chamber at a low vacuum (e.g., 10 Pa). The connecting valve is opened, and the pressure difference smoothly injects the zinc molten metal into the vacuum chamber; d. Vacuum distillation and forming: The zinc vapor was then separated by performing the process of embodiment C (piston compression-expansion cycle) as described in Example 1, and condensed and collected as high-purity zinc ingots on a mesh forming device as described in Example 4; 3. Results: This embodiment achieves a closed-loop, continuous processing from zinc-bearing ore to high-purity zinc ingots, verifying the system's ability to process raw minerals. The coarse-stage melting and separation unit effectively removes most non-metallic impurities, creating favorable conditions for subsequent high-vacuum distillation and improving the overall process efficiency and product purity.

[0025] VI. System Modularity and Adaptability The system proposed in this invention is essentially a modular and adaptable architecture. Its value lies in providing a set of basic functional modules (such as processing chambers, drive mechanisms, and transmission mechanisms) and general operating logic (such as pressure triggering and differential pressure transmission). The specific technical implementation of each module (e.g., whether the drive is pneumatic, hydraulic, or electromagnetic; whether the seal is a dynamic gas seal, a magnetohydrodynamic seal, or a flexible membrane seal) can be selected and integrated according to the technological maturity, reliability requirements, quality budget, and power consumption constraints of different tasks. This design philosophy ensures that the present invention can serve as a basic platform, adapting to diverse and evolving mission requirements, from experimental verification at near-Earth orbit space stations to large-scale production at future lunar bases, and even in-situ resource utilization in deep space exploration missions, by replacing or upgrading specific sub-modules.

Claims

1. A material handling system suitable for microgravity environments, characterized in that, include: A processing chamber configured to contain materials; A drive mechanism operatively coupled to the processing chamber; The drive mechanism is configured to drive the directional transport of fluid material in the processing chamber by actively changing the internal volume of the processing chamber or by establishing a momentary connection between the processing chamber and an external chamber with a different pressure.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing chamber is a vacuum vaporization chamber configured to vaporize the internal material through heating; the directional transport object is the vaporized metal vapor.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The system includes at least two vacuum gasification chambers connected in series, with the latter vacuum gasification chamber configured to receive the remaining material after the former vacuum gasification chamber has completed gasification and separation.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that, An interstage transfer mechanism is provided between two adjacent vacuum gasification chambers. This mechanism is configured to use the pressure difference to drive the remaining molten material after separation in the previous stage to the next stage.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The interstage transmission mechanism includes a fluid passage connecting the front and rear vacuum gasification chambers and at least one valve. The pressure difference is established by adjusting the pressure of at least one of the front vacuum gasification chamber, the rear vacuum gasification chamber, or a transition chamber located therebetween.

6. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive mechanism includes a movable piston disposed in the vacuum vaporization chamber, which changes the volume by moving the piston to pump steam.

7. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive mechanism includes a negative pressure extraction chamber connected to the vacuum gasification chamber, which draws in vapor by establishing a pressure difference between the two.

8. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The movable piston is a gas-driven piston, which is driven by a pneumatic drive chamber located on the rear side of the piston; and the system also includes a dynamic airtight subsystem, which is configured to provide a constant pressure inert gas micro-positive pressure airflow to the piston movement area to form a dynamic seal.

9. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a condensation collection chamber, which contains a porous mesh structure woven or formed of the target metal material; the metal vapor is configured to condense and solidify into a metal mass on the mesh structure.

10. A mineral processing system suitable for microgravity environments, characterized in that, Including those connected sequentially: A coarse-stage melting and separation unit is configured to crush, encapsulate, melt and filter solid mineral raw materials to obtain a metal-enriched melt; A vacuum distillation separation unit, comprising: A vacuum chamber is configured to receive and heat the metal-rich melt to generate metal vapor; A drive mechanism is configured to drive the directional transport of the metal vapor by actively changing the internal volume of the vacuum vaporization chamber or by establishing a momentary connection between the vacuum vaporization chamber and an external chamber at a different pressure. In addition, a condensation collection chamber with a porous mesh structure for condensing and solidifying the metal vapor into a metal block.

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