A test platform for lunar soil water ice microwave heating

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of lunar resource utilization, and specifically discloses a test platform for lunar soil water ice microwave heating, which comprises a tank body, a temperature adjusting unit, a pressure adjusting unit, a microwave heating unit, an infrared thermal imager, a lunar soil placing table, an inert gas introduction unit and a water vapor collecting unit. The temperature adjusting unit and the pressure adjusting unit are respectively used for adjusting the temperature and the pressure inside the tank body. The microwave heating unit and the infrared thermal imager are respectively used for microwave heating and infrared thermal image monitoring of the inside of the tank body. The inert gas introduction unit comprises a uniform gas outlet table arranged in the inside of the tank body and a gas supply unit connected with the uniform gas outlet table. The lunar soil placing table is arranged on the uniform gas outlet table. The water vapor collecting unit is used for collecting water vapor generated by the lunar soil sample. The test platform has a reasonable structure and can complete the test of lunar soil water ice microwave heating through ground experiments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of lunar resource utilization technology, specifically a test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of deep space exploration technology, the Moon, as an important target for human deep space exploration, has made its resource development and utilization a key research focus in the aerospace field.

[0003] The water ice resources contained in lunar soil are not only a key material for the life support system of future lunar bases (such as drinking water supply), but can also be decomposed into hydrogen fuel and oxygen to provide energy support for deep space exploration missions. Therefore, the development of efficient extraction technology for lunar soil water ice is of great strategic significance. Among the many lunar soil water ice extraction technologies, microwave heating technology has become one of the core research directions due to its advantages such as direct energy action on water ice, high heating efficiency, and minimal damage to the lunar soil structure. However, the process of microwave heating of lunar soil water ice is significantly affected by the special lunar environment. Its heating law and water ice sublimation characteristics are very different from those of the conventional environment on Earth, making it impossible to verify the feasibility of the technology or optimize the process parameters through conventional ground experiments. To ensure that this technology can be stably applied to actual lunar exploration missions, it is urgent to develop a dedicated ground testing platform. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice, so as to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice, comprising: a tank, a temperature regulating unit, a pressure regulating unit, a microwave heating unit, an infrared thermal imager, a lunar soil placement platform, an inert gas introduction unit, and a water vapor collection unit. The temperature regulating unit and the pressure regulating unit are respectively used to regulate the temperature and pressure inside the tank. The microwave heating unit and the infrared thermal imager are both installed on the tank and are used for microwave heating and infrared thermal imaging monitoring of the tank interior, respectively. The inert gas introduction unit includes a uniform gas outlet platform disposed inside the tank and a gas supply unit connected to the uniform gas outlet platform. The lunar soil placement platform is disposed on the uniform gas outlet platform. The water vapor collection unit includes an intake end and a collection area. The intake end is located inside the tank and is correspondingly disposed to the uniform gas outlet platform. The collection area is connected to the intake end and is used to collect water vapor intake from the intake end.

[0006] Preferably, the tank has a double-layer structure, including an outer tank and an inner tank fixedly disposed inside the outer tank, with a gap between the outer tank and the inner tank, and the temperature regulating unit is used to cool the gap space.

[0007] In a further preferred embodiment, the pressure regulating unit includes a first vacuum pump, which is connected to an intake pipe and an exhaust pipe. The intake pipe extends into the tank body, and the exhaust pipe's outlet is located outside the tank body.

[0008] Further preferably, the tank is equipped with a pressure gauge and a temperature sensor to monitor the pressure and temperature inside the tank.

[0009] Further preferably, the gas supply unit includes a storage tank, a gas pump, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe. The storage tank stores inert gas, and the gas pump is connected to the storage tank and the uniform gas outlet platform through the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, respectively, for delivering the high-purity inert gas stored in the storage tank through the uniform gas outlet platform.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment, a groove is provided on the top of the uniform air outlet platform, and air outlet holes are evenly distributed on the inner circumference of the groove. The lunar soil placement platform is placed in the groove, and the air outlet holes surround the lunar soil placement platform.

[0011] Further preferably, the uniform gas outlet platform is connected to the gas supply unit via a circular tube, the circular tube is connected to the tank body via a first bearing, and the circular tube is connected to the gas outlet pipe in the gas supply unit via a second bearing. The test platform also includes a rotary drive unit for driving the circular tube to rotate. The rotary drive unit includes a motor, a rotating shaft, a driving gear, and a driven gear. The motor is located below the tank body, the rotating shaft is connected to the output shaft of the motor, the driving gear is fixedly sleeved on the outer circumference of the rotating shaft, and the driven gear meshes with the driving gear and is fixedly sleeved on the outer circumference of the circular tube.

[0012] Further preferably, the water vapor collection unit includes a fixed pipe, a dust filter structure, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, and a second vacuum pump. The fixed pipe is fixed to the tank body, with one end extending into the tank body and the other end located outside the tank body. Along the direction of water vapor flow, the dust filter structure, the first solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve are sequentially and alternately arranged on the fixed pipe located outside the tank body. The pipeline between the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve is the collection area, and the air inlet of the second vacuum pump is connected to the collection area.

[0013] Further preferably, the free end of the fixed pipe located inside the tank is a flared air inlet end.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, the test platform also includes a base plate on which the entire platform structure is integrated.

[0015] The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice provided by this invention can simulate the low temperature and vacuum environment of the moon by adjusting the temperature and pressure inside the tank through temperature and pressure adjustment units. The microwave heating unit can microwave heat the lunar soil sample, causing the water ice in the lunar soil to evaporate. After the water ice is heated to form water vapor, the inert gas can be introduced into the tank through the inert gas introduction unit to form a micro-pressure zone in a local area around the lunar soil. Then, by utilizing the pressure difference suction of the water vapor collection unit, the inert gas carrying the water vapor can be precisely guided along the pressure gradient to the collection area of ​​the water vapor collection unit to achieve water vapor collection. In particular, by mixing the water vapor with the inert gas, the water vapor can be more easily captured by the water vapor collection unit, effectively reducing extraction loss. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice proposed in this invention;

[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Front sectional view;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the inert gas introduction unit and the rotary drive unit.

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A partial structural diagram of the test platform used for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice from another angle;

[0020] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A sectional view;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the water vapor collection unit.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Base plate; 2. Control console; 3. Outer tank; 4. Inner tank; 5. Microwave heating unit; 6. Infrared thermal imager; 7. First bearing; 8. Circular tube; 9. Uniform gas outlet platform; 10. Lunar soil placement platform; 11. Gas path check valve; 12. Fixing pipe; 13. Flared air inlet end; 14. Storage tank; 15. Air pump; 16. Air inlet pipe; 17. Air outlet pipe; 18. Second bearing; 19. Pressure gauge; 20. Refrigeration unit; 21. Inner... 21. Sealing cap; 22. Outer sealing cap; 23. First vacuum pump; 24. Suction pipe; 25. Exhaust pipe; 26. First one-way valve; 27. Motor; 28. Shaft; 29. ​​Drive gear; 30. Driven gear; 31. Housing; 32. Dust filter element; 33. First solenoid valve; 34. Connecting pipe; 35. Second solenoid valve; 36. Output pipe; 37. Second vacuum pump; 38. Vertical pipe; 39. Pipeline; 40. Second one-way valve. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 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.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice, including: a tank, a temperature regulation unit, a pressure regulation unit, a microwave heating unit 5, an infrared thermal imager 6, a lunar soil placement platform 10, an inert gas introduction unit, and a water vapor collection unit. The temperature regulation unit and pressure regulation unit are used to regulate the temperature and pressure inside the tank, respectively. The microwave heating unit 5 and the infrared thermal imager 6 are both installed on the tank and are used for microwave heating and infrared thermal imaging monitoring of the tank interior, respectively. The inert gas introduction unit includes a uniform gas outlet platform 9 disposed inside the tank and a gas supply unit connected to the uniform gas outlet platform 9. The lunar soil placement platform 10 is disposed on the uniform gas outlet platform 9. The water vapor collection unit includes an intake end and a collection area. The intake end is located inside the tank and is correspondingly disposed to the uniform gas outlet platform 9. The collection area is connected to the intake end and is used to collect water vapor drawn in by the intake end.

[0025] The working principle and usage procedure of the test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice are as follows:

[0026] First, the operator places the lunar soil sample on the lunar soil placement platform inside the container. Then, the temperature and pressure inside the container are adjusted by the temperature and pressure adjustment units to simulate the low temperature and vacuum environment of the moon. Next, the lunar soil sample is microwave-heated by the microwave heating unit (microwave generator) (the microwave intensity can be adjusted via control console 2), causing the water ice in the lunar soil to evaporate. During the experiment, the temperature distribution inside and on the surface of the lunar soil sample and the movement of water vapor can be collected in real time by an infrared thermal imager to determine the uniformity of microwave heating. After the water ice is heated to form water vapor, the inert gas introduction unit and the water vapor collection unit are activated. At this time, the inert gas introduction unit sends inert gas into the container and forms a micro-pressure zone in a local area around the lunar soil. Then, using the pressure difference suction of the water vapor collection unit, the inert gas carrying water vapor can be precisely guided along the pressure gradient to the collection area of ​​the water vapor collection unit to achieve water vapor collection. By mixing water vapor with inert gas, the water vapor can be more easily captured by the water vapor collection unit, effectively reducing extraction loss.

[0027] To avoid the electromagnetic shielding effect and multipath reflection interference of metal components on the microwave field, preferably, all structural components involving the microwave radiation area (such as lunar soil placement stage, supporting components, etc.) are made of low-loss dielectric materials, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or high-purity quartz, with a dielectric loss tangent of [value missing]. All below 10 -3 This ensures that microwave energy can penetrate and concentrate on the lunar soil sample without damage, thereby improving energy coupling efficiency.

[0028] As an improvement to the technical solution, the tank body has a double-layer structure, including an outer tank 3 and an inner tank 4 fixedly installed inside the outer tank 3. A gap is formed between the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4. The temperature regulation unit can be a refrigerator 20, which is used to cool the gap space, thereby achieving heat conduction and cooling of the inner tank 4. Preferably, the top of the inner tank 4 is hinged with an inner sealing cover 21, and the top of the outer tank 3 is hinged with an outer sealing cover 22. The inner sealing cover 21 and the outer sealing cover 22 can achieve a sealing effect and facilitate the operator to place lunar soil.

[0029] As an improvement to the technical solution, the pressure regulating unit includes a first vacuum pump 23 for sucking out the gas inside the tank. Specifically, the first vacuum pump 23 is connected to a suction pipe 24 and an exhaust pipe 25. The suction pipe 24 extends into the tank, and the exhaust pipe's outlet is located outside the tank. A first one-way valve 26 is fixedly connected to the top of the exhaust pipe 25 to prevent outside air from flowing back into the tank.

[0030] As an improvement to the technical solution, a pressure gauge 19 is installed on the tank body to monitor the pressure inside the tank.

[0031] As an improvement to the technical solution, the gas supply unit includes a storage tank 14, a gas pump 15, an inlet pipe 16, and an outlet pipe 17. The storage tank 14 is used to store high-purity inert gas. The gas pump 15 is connected to the storage tank 14 and the uniform gas outlet platform 9 through the inlet pipe 16 and the outlet pipe 17, respectively, and is used to send the high-purity inert gas stored in the storage tank 14 out through the uniform gas outlet platform 9.

[0032] As an improvement to the technical solution, a groove is provided on the top of the uniform gas outlet platform 9, and gas outlet holes are evenly distributed on the inner circumference of the groove. The lunar soil placement platform 10 is placed in the groove, and the gas outlet holes surround the lunar soil placement platform 10. Preferably, a one-way valve 11 is provided on the gas outlet holes to prevent the gas in the tank from flowing out in reverse.

[0033] As an improvement to the technical solution, the uniform gas outlet platform 9 is connected to the gas supply unit via a circular tube 8. The circular tube 8 is connected to the tank body via a first bearing 7, and the circular tube 8 is connected to the gas outlet pipe 17 in the gas supply unit via a second bearing 18. Preferably, the first bearing 7 and the second bearing 18 are all-ceramic bearings (such as silicon nitride material), which can eliminate the interference of metal components on the microwave field and the risk of vacuum breakdown, ensuring that microwave energy can act on the lunar soil sample in a full and uniform manner, while avoiding the influence of the bearing's own induction heating on the acquisition of experimental temperature data. The test platform also includes a rotation drive unit for driving the circular tube 8 to rotate, thereby driving the uniform gas outlet platform 9 and the lunar soil placement platform 10 to rotate, thereby ensuring that the lunar soil sample can be heated uniformly, and at the same time allowing the inert gas to carry more water vapor. The rotary drive unit includes a motor 27, a rotating shaft 28, a drive gear 29, and a driven gear 30. The motor 27 is located below the tank body. The rotating shaft 28 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 27. The drive gear 29 is fixedly sleeved on the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 28. The driven gear 30 meshes with the drive gear 29 and is fixedly sleeved on the outer circumference of the circular tube 8. To avoid the shielding effect of metal components on the microwave field inside the tank and the risk of arc discharge, preferably, the drive gear 29 and the driven gear 30 are both reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material components. This material not only has excellent mechanical strength and wear resistance, but also has extremely low dielectric loss, which can ensure that microwave energy is not significantly lost when passing through the gear structure, thereby maintaining the purity and uniformity of microwave energy distribution inside the tank.

[0034] As an improvement to the technical solution, the water vapor collection unit includes a fixed pipe 12, a dust filter structure, a first solenoid valve 33, a second solenoid valve 35, and a second vacuum pump 37. The fixed pipe 12 is fixed to the tank body, with one end extending into the tank body and the other end located outside the tank body. Preferably, the free end (inhalation end) of the fixed pipe 12 located inside the tank body is a flared air inlet end 13. Along the flow direction of the water vapor, the dust filter structure, the first solenoid valve 33, and the second solenoid valve 35 are sequentially and alternately arranged on the fixed pipe 12 located outside the tank body. The pipeline between the first solenoid valve 33 and the second solenoid valve 35 (denoted as the connecting pipe 34) is the collection area. The second vacuum pump 37... The gas end is connected to the collection area through the vertical pipe 38. The gas outlet of the second vacuum pump 37 is connected to the pipe 39. The pipe 39 is equipped with a second one-way valve 40 to prevent gas backflow. Along the direction of water vapor flow, the pipe (output pipe 36) located at the rear end of the second solenoid valve 35 is connected to the external condensation structure. The dust filtration structure includes a dust filter element 32 (preferably a ceramic filter element). The surface of the dust filter element 32 does not adsorb water molecules. Water vapor molecules can quickly pass through the pores of the filter element and filter lunar soil dust. The dust filter element 32 can be directly installed in the fixed pipe 12 or installed in the housing 31, which is installed on the fixed pipe 12.

[0035] The process of collecting water vapor is as follows: First, close the first solenoid valve 33 and the second solenoid valve 35, start the second vacuum pump 37, adjust the collection area to low pressure, and then close the second vacuum pump 37. After inert gas is introduced into the tank, close the second solenoid valve 35 and open the first solenoid valve 33, connecting the collection area with the inside of the tank. At this time, the inert gas around the lunar soil sample will carry water vapor and be precisely guided into the collection area along the pressure gradient. When the water vapor passes through the dust filter structure, the dust filter structure will filter the lunar soil dust in the water vapor. After the water vapor enters the collection area, close the first solenoid valve 33 and start the second solenoid valve 35 to isolate the water vapor from the vacuum area. At this time, the water vapor can be liquefied and extracted by the external condensation mechanism connected to the output pipe 36. The test of microwave heating of lunar soil water ice is completed through ground experiments.

[0036] As an improvement to the technical solution, the test platform also includes a base plate 1, which is used to integrate the entire platform structure. Preferably, a control console 2 is provided on the base plate 1, which is connected to various adjustment units (temperature adjustment unit, pressure adjustment unit, microwave heating unit, pump, valve, motor, etc.) and monitoring units (temperature sensor, pressure gauge, infrared thermal imager, etc.).

[0037] The specific embodiments of the present invention are written in a progressive manner, emphasizing the differences between the various implementation schemes, and the similar parts can be referred to each other.

[0038] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice, characterized in that, include: The system comprises a tank, a temperature control unit, a pressure control unit, a microwave heating unit, an infrared thermal imager, a lunar soil placement platform, an inert gas introduction unit, and a water vapor collection unit. The temperature control unit and pressure control unit are used to regulate the temperature and pressure inside the tank, respectively. The microwave heating unit and infrared thermal imager are both mounted on the tank and are used for microwave heating and infrared thermal imaging monitoring of the tank's interior, respectively. The inert gas introduction unit includes a uniform gas outlet platform located inside the tank and a gas supply unit connected to the uniform gas outlet platform. The lunar soil placement platform is located on the uniform gas outlet platform. The water vapor collection unit includes an intake end and a collection area. The intake end is located inside the tank and corresponds to the uniform gas outlet platform. The collection area is connected to the intake end and is used to collect water vapor drawn in by the intake end.

2. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tank has a double-layer structure, including an outer tank and an inner tank fixedly installed inside the outer tank. A gap is formed between the outer tank and the inner tank, and the temperature regulating unit is used to cool the gap space.

3. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure regulating unit includes a first vacuum pump, which is connected to an intake pipe and an exhaust pipe. The intake pipe extends into the tank body, and the exhaust pipe's outlet is located outside the tank body.

4. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tank is equipped with a pressure gauge and a temperature sensor to monitor the pressure and temperature inside the tank.

5. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas supply unit includes a storage tank, a gas pump, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe. The storage tank stores inert gas. The gas pump is connected to the storage tank and the uniform gas outlet platform through the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, respectively, and is used to deliver the high-purity inert gas stored in the storage tank through the uniform gas outlet platform.

6. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the uniform air outlet platform is provided with a groove, and the inner circumference of the groove is evenly distributed with air outlet holes. The lunar soil placement platform is placed in the groove, and the air outlet holes surround the lunar soil placement platform.

7. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 5, characterized in that: The uniform air outlet platform is connected to the air supply unit via a circular tube. The circular tube is connected to the tank body via a first bearing, and the circular tube is connected to the air outlet pipe in the air supply unit via a second bearing. The test platform also includes a rotary drive unit for driving the circular tube to rotate. The rotary drive unit includes a motor, a rotating shaft, a drive gear, and a driven gear. The motor is located below the tank body, the rotating shaft is connected to the output shaft of the motor, the drive gear is fixedly sleeved on the outer circumference of the rotating shaft, and the driven gear meshes with the drive gear and is fixedly sleeved on the outer circumference of the circular tube.

8. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water vapor collection unit includes a fixed pipe, a dust filter structure, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, and a second vacuum pump. The fixed pipe is fixed to the tank body, with one end extending into the tank body and the other end located outside the tank body, along the direction of water vapor flow. The dust filter structure, the first solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve are sequentially and alternately arranged on the fixed pipe located outside the tank body. The pipeline between the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve forms the collection area, and the air inlet of the second vacuum pump is connected to the collection area.

9. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 8, characterized in that: The free end of the fixed pipe located inside the tank is the flared air inlet end.

10. The test platform for microwave heating of lunar soil water ice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The test platform also includes a base plate on which the entire platform structure is integrated.

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