Moon building structure based on ETFE-water carrier radioactive ray shielding

Abstract

The invention discloses a moon building structure based on ETFE-water carrier radioactive ray shielding, the building structure comprises a wall body, the wall body comprises an inflatable bag made of ETFE materials and ice which is filled in the inflatable bag and formed by water solidification, the wall body forms an ice house, and the outer side of the inflatable bag is wrapped with an alumina fiber rope. A house-shaped ETFE inflatable bag is adopted to collect water and solidify the water into ice to form the ice house, and the ice house serves as an effective radioactive protection material; meanwhile, the outer side of the inflatable bag is wrapped with an aluminum oxide fiber rope, and transition expansion of the inflatable bag is limited; solar photovoltaic paint is smeared on the inner side of the wall of the ice house, the transparent ice house becomes a solar collection station, and collected solar energy is applied to energy and heat supply of the ice house. A discrete radioactive ray protection design is adopted, moon buildings with the thickness of several meters are avoided, the appearance is beautified, and the construction speed is increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lunar architecture technology, specifically to a lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the lunar exploration program has progressed to sending people to the moon and establishing a lunar base. However, one of the most crucial aspects of establishing a lunar base is radiation protection.

[0003] Radiation protection is a crucial aspect of lunar exploration, leading to various proposals for its implementation. One suggestion is to establish lunar outposts within impact craters or lava caves. However, establishing such outposts within caves would place astronauts in perpetual darkness, preventing them from utilizing the constant sunlight present at the lunar south pole. Other researchers have proposed constructing inflatable tents for astronaut accommodations or research bases, covering the outside with sandbags made from lunar regolith. Alternatively, a conical aluminum alloy shelter could be launched to the lunar surface and then covered with lunar regolith sandbags to achieve radiation protection.

[0004] With technological advancements, 3D printing of lunar soil has become widely accepted and is now the consensus for constructing houses on the lunar surface. A drawback of this technology is that it doesn't consider window design. Under the principle of maximum radiation protection, the thickness of such houses is typically around three meters. Finding three-meter-thick transparent windows then becomes a challenge in this design.

[0005] Since the most basic survival needs of humans and any living organism are sunlight and water, astronauts cannot live in an environment without sunlight all day long. The aforementioned sandbag structures and 3D lunar soil-based research bases all exist in environments without sunlight. Without sunlight, both physical and mental health will suffer. Astronauts' performance on the lunar surface will be significantly reduced. To enable astronauts to work normally on the lunar surface for extended periods, any lunar surface structure must consider the issue of lighting.

[0006] Current scientific research has demonstrated that a considerable amount of water can be obtained by heating lunar soil. Given that lighting is a primary consideration, using water as a building material becomes a clear and advantageous choice. Another advantage of ice or water ice is that it contains enough hydrogen atoms to block secondary reflections of high-energy rays and neutron rays. In terms of protection against high-energy radioactive particles, water or ice offers superior protection compared to aluminum alloys or lunar soil.

[0007] At the extremely low temperatures of the lunar north and south poles, water turns into ice. However, at extremely low temperatures (0.01 degrees Celsius) and pressures (0.006 atmospheres), ice will sublimate in a vacuum, turning into gas and disappearing. Based on this, this invention researches and develops a lunar surface housing structure made of water ice. Summary of the Invention

[0008] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a lunar building structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding. It uses ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) inflatable bags to surround the outer layer of ice, preventing the water ice from turning into gas and disappearing under extremely low temperatures and pressures, thus transforming the ice into a lunar building with radiation protection shielding function.

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a lunar building structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding. The building structure includes a wall, which includes an inflatable bag made of ETFE material and ice formed by water solidified inside the inflatable bag. The wall forms an igloo, and the outside of the inflatable bag is wrapped with alumina fiber rope.

[0010] This invention fills water into an inflatable, house-shaped ETFE bag, which freezes into ice at low temperatures, creating a robust igloo. Water, as a deep-space high-energy radiation shielding material, can effectively block various heavy ions, protons, neutrons, etc., and is superior to other metal radiation shielding materials. At the same time, alumina fiber ropes are wrapped around the outside of the inflatable bag to limit excessive expansion.

[0011] Furthermore, the outer surface of the inflatable bags on the outside of the igloo walls is coated with graphene to increase the igloo's strength and toughness, preventing it from being punctured by impacts from micro meteorites.

[0012] Alternatively, the outer surface of the inflatable bags on the outside of the igloo's walls can be sequentially coated with quantum dot or photovoltaic paint layers, as well as graphene layers. The ice-made lunar house structure is transparent, and several layers of solar quantum dot or photovoltaic paint can be applied to the inner side of its main walls, turning the transparent ice-water house into a solar energy collection station. The collected solar energy will be used for the igloo's energy and heating, thereby achieving thermal balance on the inner side of the ice-water wall layers. The indoor temperature will reach 20°C, providing researchers with a comfortable experience and allowing them to maintain a regular schedule. In addition, through the transparent ice-water walls and solar energy collection circuitry, the ice-water house can be transformed into a suitable solar greenhouse for cultivating vegetables and fruits.

[0013] Furthermore, the igloo is equipped with colored LEDs, and different lights can cultivate different fruits and vegetables, thus turning the igloo into a greenhouse, which is beneficial for indoor food production.

[0014] Furthermore, radiation measuring instruments are placed both inside and outside the igloo to detect the arrival of high-energy radiation, especially relativistic electron radiation. The arrival of such radiation means that a solar storm and high-energy proton rays will hit the igloo structure within 30-40 minutes. At this time, the alarm system will effectively warn the astronauts around the igloo to immediately retreat to the underground radiation shelter with better protection.

[0015] Furthermore, the igloo is placed inside a 3D-printed lunar soil concrete house with windows. Since 3D-printed lunar soil houses lack windows and are unsuitable for long-term astronaut stays on the lunar surface, the lack of windows in the 3D-printed lunar soil house is compensated for by pre-installing several windows in the walls and then placing an inflatable ice-water house inside.

[0016] Furthermore, the water contained in the inflatable bag is extracted from lunar soil.

[0017] Furthermore, the igloo includes an inner wall and an outer wall fitted over the inner wall, forming a mezzanine area between the inner and outer walls, as well as a central area within the inner wall. The mezzanine area can serve as a greenhouse, work area, or food production area, while the central area can be used as a bedroom for astronauts.

[0018] Furthermore, the thickness of the outer wall is 20±2cm, the thickness of the inner wall is 30±2cm, and the total thickness of the outer wall and the inner wall is ≥50cm.

[0019] Furthermore, the lunar architectural structure also includes a radiation shelter composed of underground walls, the radiation shelter being 5m-10m deep.

[0020] The total thickness of the inner and outer walls of the igloo is over 50cm, which is the minimum thickness required to withstand ordinary high-energy deep-space radiation and proton rays. Furthermore, the radiation shelter is designed to cope with solar proton rays that occur every eleven years or occasionally. This invention involves excavating an underground radiation shelter five to ten meters below the outer edge of the igloo. The passage from the igloo to the radiation shelter reaches the bottom layer in a curved or rotating manner to counteract radiation scattering.

[0021] Furthermore, the water inside the inflatable bag is mixed with sawdust or silica powder to increase the hardness of the ice wall.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0023] This invention uses house-shaped ETFE inflatable bags to collect water and freeze it into ice to form an igloo. The ETFE inflatable bags surround the outer layer of ice, preventing the water ice from turning into gas and disappearing under extremely low temperatures and pressures. The igloo can also serve as an effective radiation protection material. At the same time, alumina fiber ropes are wrapped around the outside of the inflatable bags to limit excessive expansion of the inflatable bags.

[0024] This invention involves coating the inner side of the igloo's walls with solar quantum dots or photovoltaic paint, transforming the transparent igloo into a solar energy collection station. The collected solar energy is then used for the igloo's energy and heating, thereby achieving thermal equilibrium on the inner side of the igloo's walls. The indoor temperature reaches 20°C, providing researchers with a comfortable experience and allowing them to maintain a regular routine.

[0025] This invention employs a "discrete" radiation protection design, including an ETFE+ ice water house building and a high-yield underground radiation shelter. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, equivalent substitutions, modifications or improvements can be made based on the same principle.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the lunar architectural structure of the present invention, including an underground shelter;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the lunar igloo building structure of the present invention, including the inner wall and the outer wall;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the greenhouse igloo structure of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the outer wall of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the inner wall of the present invention;

[0032] The labels in the aforementioned diagrams are as follows: 1. Outer wall, 2. Inner wall, 3. Shelter, 4. Radiation measuring instrument. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment relates to a lunar building structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding. The structure includes walls, each comprising an inflatable bag made of ETFE material, and water frozen into ice inside the inflatable bag, forming an igloo. The inflatable bag made of ETFE material operates within a temperature range of -200°C to +165°C, with a thickness of 0.1-0.2 mm. The outside of the inflatable bag is wrapped with alumina fiber rope to limit excessive expansion. The fabrication process of this lunar building structure involves placing water ice collected from the moon, or water collected after heating lunar soil, into a house-shaped inflatable bag made of ETFE polymer. After the water completely freezes, it forms an ice wall. This wall serves as the basic framework of the building structure and also acts as a radiation shield and part of the thermal effect control mechanism.

[0035] Specifically, the outer surface of the inflatable bags on the outside of the igloo's walls is sequentially coated with a photovoltaic paint layer and a graphene layer, as shown in the reference. Figure 4 The graphene layer increases the igloo's strength and toughness, preventing it from being punctured by micrometeoroid impacts. Its operating temperature range is from -269.15℃ to +900℃. The ice-based lunar structure is transparent, with several layers of solar quantum dots or photovoltaic paint applied to the inner walls, transforming the transparent ice-water igloo into a solar energy collection station. The collected solar energy will be used for the igloo's energy and heating, achieving thermal equilibrium on the inner side of the ice-water walls. The indoor temperature reaches 20℃, providing researchers with a comfortable experience and allowing them to maintain a regular schedule. Furthermore, through the transparent ice-water walls and solar energy collection circuitry, the ice-water igloo can be converted into a suitable solar greenhouse for cultivating vegetables and fruits.

[0036] The maximum pressure within lunar structures should be maintained below one atmosphere (101.4 kPa), with oxygen comprising 21% and nitrogen as the remainder. The shapes of lunar structures are predominantly hemispherical. (Reference) Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown.

[0037] refer to Figure 1-2The igloo, with its lunar architectural structure as its main component, comprises an inner wall 2 and an outer wall 1 nested around the inner wall, forming a mezzanine area between the inner wall 2 and the outer wall 1, as well as a central area within the inner wall 2, creating a large-scale Russian nesting doll-like igloo. The mezzanine area can serve as a greenhouse, work area, or food production area, while the central area can be used as a bedroom for astronauts. The outer wall has a thickness of 20±2 cm, and the graphene layer on its outer side has a thickness of 100±10 nm. The inner wall has a thickness of 30±2 cm, and the graphene layer on its outer side has a thickness of 20±2 nm. The density of the graphene is 2.267 g / cm³. 3 To reduce the weight and thickness of graphene, aerogel can be added to create a graphene-aerogel mixture, with the total thickness of the outer and inner walls ≥ 50 cm. Within the inner wall forming the central region, a hydrophobic aerogel layer, a thermal insulation layer, electrical circuits, and life support systems can be installed. Hydrophobic aerogel textiles are also included. (See reference...) Figure 5 The hydrophobic aerogel layer operates within a temperature range of -198℃ to +1000℃, with a thickness of 0.1-0.2mm. The multi-layered thermal insulation layer (MLI) is made of a very thin plastic polymer, coated with a very thin layer of aluminum or silver. Polyester fibers and polyurethane are incorporated into the insulation layer, and its operating temperature range is -269℃ to +1300℃. Because this insulation layer is doped with aluminum or silver, it is not transparent and can be used as the outer casing of the astronaut's living quarters, providing a dark sleeping environment. The astronaut's bedroom should primarily rely on artificial LED lighting. In summary, the igloo is basically divided into two parts: the first part is the outer ETFE inflatable bag and its surface graphene layer and photovoltaic paint layer; the second part is the inner ETFE inflatable bag and its surface graphene layer, as well as the internal hydrophobic aerogel layer, thermal insulation layer, circuitry and life support systems, and textiles synthesized from hydrophobic aerogel. Both parts are assembled on Earth. The first and second parts will be folded and carried on different rockets and lunar landers to land on the moon. Both the first and second parts are connected to airlocks. The purpose of the airlocks is to allow astronauts to readjust atmospheric pressure when entering and exiting the main structure in order to dock with the outside world. After the aforementioned system reaches the lunar surface, the astronauts can assemble the system, fill ETFE with nitrogen, and then fill it with ice water after it expands.

[0038] The igloo is equipped with colored LEDs; different lights can cultivate different fruits and vegetables, thus transforming the igloo into a greenhouse, beneficial for indoor food production, and suitable as an independent greenhouse. As an independent ice-water igloo, it includes an outer wall 1 but does not have an inner wall, as shown in the reference. Figure 3As shown, the greenhouse used for growing fruits and vegetables has a radiation protection ice water wall with a thickness of 20cm.

[0039] Because sunlight doesn't directly reach the lunar south pole, the solar photovoltaic paint beneath the graphene layer currently only achieves a solar energy conversion rate of around 10%. Furthermore, the lunar daylight duration is 708 hours, with 13% of the time the area behind the lunar south pole receiving no sunlight until the next cycle. To compensate for the insufficient power from the solar photovoltaic paint, a radioisotope generator (nuclear battery) could be installed on the lunar base. The lunar base and ice-water house described in this invention are built on a high point at the lunar south pole, a point that must receive sunlight most of the time. However, even with sunlight, the temperature at the lunar south pole is extremely low, between -50°C and -60°C. This temperature is ideal for building structures made of ice water and for the lunar base. Existing research indicates that considerable amounts of water have been found on the far side of the lunar south pole, suggesting the potential presence of water in the vicinity of the lunar south pole. Based on this discovery, the lunar base and the ice-water house described in this invention are positioned at the center of the south pole, maximizing sunlight exposure, which allows the ice-water house to emit light and heat.

[0040] Specifically, each astronaut's living space is 25 cubic meters. However, their average working space is 100 cubic meters. As the lunar surface work area expands, the ice-water cabins for each of the six astronauts can be expanded from 600 to 1000 cubic meters under pressurized conditions. The atmospheric pressure in the lunar surface work area can be maintained between 70 kPa and 100 kPa, with a temperature of around 20°C, depending on the conditions. The total weight of the equipment used to build the ice-water cabins for a six-person lunar exploration team should be maintained at around 15 tons to accommodate the payload of the launch vehicle and lunar lander. The lunar lander and ice-water cabin equipment must arrive on the lunar surface several weeks or months before the exploration team arrives to complete the preparatory work. After the astronauts arrive on the lunar surface, ETFE inflatable bags can be filled with nitrogen to support the basic space of the ice-water cabins. Once the outer ice water house is erected, the inner ice water house, serving as the living room and bedroom, is built on its inner side. This inner ice water house contains an aerogel hydrophobic layer, a thermal insulation layer, electrical circuits, batteries, and a life support system. Finally, textiles primarily made of aerogel are hung on top. If the purpose of the ice water house is to serve as a greenhouse for producing fruits and vegetables, then the thermal insulation layer and the aerogel with textiles are not necessary.

[0041] The lunar architectural structure also includes an underground radiation shelter 3 composed of underground walls, see reference. Figure 1The depth of Shelter 3 is 5m-10m. Radiation detectors 4 are placed both inside and outside the igloo to detect the arrival of high-energy radiation, especially relativistic electron radiation. The arrival of such radiation indicates that a solar storm and high-energy proton rays will impact the igloo's structure within 30-40 minutes. At this time, the alarm system will effectively warn astronauts near the igloo to immediately retreat to a shelter with better protection. Preparatory lunar surface work requires transporting all building materials of the igloo to the lunar surface months or weeks before the astronauts arrive. Simultaneously, a nuclear-powered robotic excavator will be sent to the lunar surface. Under artificial intelligence control, the robotic excavator will begin digging the underground shelter. The underground shelter also has an ETFE inflatable bag. The surface of the inflatable bag, which serves as the underground shelter, does not require photovoltaic coating. After inflation and pressurization, it can be transformed into a meeting room. This radiation-emitting underground shelter can be used as a meeting room or astronaut living quarters.

[0042] Based on calculations and existing research, the radiation shielding on the lunar surface using lunar regolith needs to be 50 cm to 3 meters thick. This embodiment employs a "discrete radiation shielding design," achieving the goal of radiation shielding in a segmented manner. For example, in a large Russian nesting doll-like ice house, a large outer building encloses a smaller inner building. The outer building has a radiation shielding ice wall thickness of 20 cm, while the inner smaller building has a radiation shielding ice wall thickness of 30 cm. Thus, the total thickness of the radiation shielding ice wall is 50 cm, used for daily protection against high-energy deep-space radiation and proton rays. For every eleven years or occasional solar proton rays, an underground refuge is excavated 5 to 10 meters below the outer edge of the ETFE polymer building. The passage from the ice house to the refuge reaches the bottom layer in a curved or rotating manner to counteract radiation scattering. In this discrete radiation protection structure, the outer building serves as the first layer of shelter, housing daily work and activities; the inner building is the second layer, housing the astronauts' living quarters; and the underground refuge with winding passageways is the third layer of protection. When to enter this refuge depends on dynamic, timely alarms issued by radiation measuring instruments. During periods of high sunspot activity and solar wind (a low-probability event), radiation alarms will notify all personnel inside the igloo to immediately evacuate to the underground refuge. The advantage of this discrete radiation protection design is that it provides a basic radiation protection layer for all structures on the lunar surface. This reduces the thickness of radiation shielding, making it suitable for 99% of safe work and habitation time on the lunar surface. With reduced radiation shielding thickness, the appearance of various construction projects can be improved, construction speed can be increased, and the 3-5 meter thick radiation shielding wall made of lunar regolith is no longer needed.

[0043] Preferably, the igloo is placed inside a 3D-printed lunar soil concrete house with windows. Since 3D-printed lunar soil houses lack windows, they are unsuitable for long-term astronaut stays on the lunar surface. Therefore, by pre-installing several windows in the walls of the 3D-printed lunar soil house, and then placing an inflatable ice-water house inside, the lack of windows in the lunar soil house can be compensated for.

[0044] Preferably, the water placed in the air bag is extracted from lunar soil, and the water placed in the air bag is mixed with sawdust or silicon powder to increase the hardness of the ice wall.

[0045] In summary, the lunar building structure of this invention provides two types of building bodies: the first type can be used as an independent greenhouse; the second type includes a Russian nesting doll-like building body with an outer layer and an inner layer; it also includes an underground shelter located below or at the front of the igloo.

[0046] The present invention has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments and exemplary examples; however, these descriptions should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that various equivalent substitutions, modifications, or improvements can be made to the technical solutions and embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications and improvements fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding, characterized in that, The building structure includes walls, which consist of inflatable bags made of ETFE material and ice formed by the solidification of water inside the inflatable bags. The walls form an igloo, and the outside of the inflatable bags is wrapped with alumina fiber ropes.

2. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the inflatable bags on the outside of the igloo's walls is coated with graphene. Alternatively, the outer surface of the inflatable bags on the outside of the igloo walls may be sequentially coated with a quantum dot or photovoltaic paint layer and a graphene layer.

3. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The igloo is equipped with colored LEDs.

4. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Radiation measuring instruments were placed both inside and outside the igloo.

5. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The igloo is housed in a windowed building made of 3D-printed lunar soil concrete.

6. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water contained in the inflatable bag was extracted from lunar soil.

7. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The igloo includes an inner wall and an outer wall fitted over the inner wall, forming a sandwich area between the inner and outer walls, as well as a central area within the inner wall.

8. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The outer wall has a thickness of 20±2cm, the inner wall has a thickness of 30±2cm, and the total thickness of the outer and inner walls is ≥50cm.

9. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lunar architectural structure also includes a radiation shelter composed of underground walls, the radiation shelter being 5m-10m deep.

10. The lunar architectural structure based on ETFE-water carrier radiation shielding as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water inside the inflatable bag is mixed with wood chips or silicon powder.

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