Gas compression and generation apparatus for extraterrestrial life support

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of gas compression and generation equipment for extraterrestrial life maintenance, including the vortex compression mechanism and oxygen generation mechanism connected in sequence;The vortex compression mechanism is connected with gas collection and pretreatment device, for the multi-stage pressurization of the dilute CO2 after pretreatment, and output smooth airflow;The oxygen generation mechanism is used to decompose the pressurized CO2 into oxygen and carbon monoxide under high temperature conditions, and realizes the separation and collection of product;The vortex compression mechanism and high-temperature electrolysis mechanism are closely integrated, the compact structure and lightweight are realized;Power transmission is carried out through the eccentric idler shaft of the dynamic disc vortex track assembly, effectively solving the technical bottleneck of low gas compression efficiency and serious sealing leakage in the low pressure environment of extraterrestrial, the pressurized CO2 is decomposed into oxygen and carbon monoxide by high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis stack;The utilization efficiency of resources is improved, and the closed-loop circulation of key substances is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of extraterrestrial oxygen generation devices, specifically to a gas compression and generation device for sustaining life on extraterrestrial planets. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous improvement of my country's comprehensive national strength and scientific and technological level, fields such as manned spaceflight and deep space exploration are accelerating towards the stage of keeping pace with and even leading the world. After the manned space station project achieved phased results, my country proposed major missions such as manned lunar exploration and Mars sample return, and the vision of a long-term extraterrestrial base is moving from conception to engineering planning. However, the aerospace field still faces practical problems such as insufficient self-sufficiency in core equipment, weak reserves of long-term deep space exploration and stationing technologies, and an incomplete support system for cross-celestial missions. The pressure of technological breakthroughs and industrial support is gradually becoming more prominent.

[0003] In existing space missions, the oxygen used by aerospace spacecraft technicians, cabin environment regulation, and some propellant oxidizers are mainly supplied from Earth in advance or periodically. However, with the increase in exploration distance and dwell time, traditional oxygen supply methods have the following problems: 1) High mission costs and limited transport capacity: Oxygen, propellant oxidizers, and other supplies require a large amount of payload from the launch vehicle, which not only increases launch costs but also reduces the space available for core materials such as equipment and scientific payloads; 2) Mission reliability and safety are constrained by the supply chain: the supply-dependent model is difficult to support long-term deep space missions, cannot achieve frequent resupply, and also restricts the expansion of deep space exploration to greater distances; 3) Low resource utilization efficiency: supplies transported from Earth are "disposable" and cannot be recycled, which does not meet the sustainability requirements of deep space missions and wastes resources that may exist on extraterrestrial bodies.

[0004] Earth-like planets, exemplified by Mars, share a prominent common characteristic in their atmospheric environments: extremely high carbon dioxide content. They also possess the following feasibility features: 1) Carbon-based gases, as core components, have resource conversion potential, which can be transformed into key materials such as oxygen and methane through in-situ resource utilization technologies, such as the Sabatil reaction and electrolysis; 2) Dynamic circulation exists, supporting continuous resource collection. The seasonal and diurnal fluctuations in atmospheric concentration and composition on Earth-like planets mean that atmospheric resources possess "renewable" and continuous collection conditions, rather than being a one-time static resource; 3) Atmospheric pressure and composition are compatible with existing miniaturized in-situ conversion equipment. Although the atmospheric density of Earth-like planets is relatively low, the pressure and composition range is compatible with existing miniaturized in-situ resource utilization devices, enabling gas capture, separation, and conversion without extreme equipment modifications. Therefore, research focusing on the core engineering problem of how to utilize CO2 from extraterrestrial environments such as Mars to produce oxygen is of significant strategic importance in supporting my country's future deep space exploration and space base construction.

[0005] From the perspectives of engineering practice and sustainable development, the current resource support model for deep space missions, which is centered on Earth resupply, has the following contradictions: 1) The efficiency imbalance between payload occupancy and cost coupling not only directly increases the economic cost of a single launch, but also makes it difficult to guarantee the space for core payloads such as systems; 2) The supply chain is fragile and lacks sustainability, making it impossible to achieve high-frequency and high-reliability resupply; 3) The extreme dynamic environment of extraterrestrial space makes it difficult to achieve lightweight structural design and engineering coordination for wide-condition adaptive design.

[0006] In order to break the dependence on Earth for supplies, there is an urgent need to develop an integrated equipment that can efficiently utilize extraterrestrial in-situ resources (such as the abundant carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere) and realize an integrated solution for collecting, stably compressing and efficiently converting oxygen from the thin atmosphere. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution provided by the present invention is: a gas compression and generation device for sustaining extraterrestrial life, comprising a vortex compression mechanism and an oxygen generation mechanism connected in sequence; The vortex compression mechanism is connected to the gas collection and pretreatment device, and is used to perform multi-stage pressurization on the pretreated dilute CO2 and output a stable airflow. The oxygen generating mechanism is used to electrochemically decompose pressurized CO2 into oxygen and carbon monoxide under high temperature conditions, and to separate and collect the products. The vortex compression mechanism includes: a housing structure; a moving disk vortex track assembly disposed within the housing structure; an engine and a stationary disk cover disposed at both ends of the housing structure and drivingly connected to the input and output ends of the moving disk vortex track assembly; the stationary disk cover and the moving disk vortex track assembly are connected by several idler shafts and fasteners; the housing structure is also provided with heat dissipation holes and a cooling fan. The moving disc scroll track assembly includes: an idler shaft housing connected to the idler shaft and fasteners; a scroll track rotatably disposed within the idler shaft housing; and a drive crankshaft connecting the scroll track to the engine.

[0008] Preferably, the idler shaft and fasteners include an eccentric idler shaft disposed in the idler shaft housing and a plurality of bearings disposed on the top of the eccentric idler shaft; the bearings are embedded in corresponding mounting holes on the stationary disc cover.

[0009] Preferably, the vortex profile of the vortex track is based on the involute of a circle, and its tooth tip profile is modified to form a double-sided asymmetrical profile; a sealing groove is provided on the end face of the vortex tooth, and a sealing strip made of self-lubricating material is embedded in the sealing groove; a wear-resistant plate is added to the bottom plane of the vortex disk; the sealing strip adopts a self-tightening seal or a back pressure balance seal structure.

[0010] Preferably, the drive crankshaft is fastened to the scroll rail by bolts; the drive crankshaft is connected to the engine by a flexible coupling.

[0011] Preferably, the stationary disc cover is provided with a gas supply pipe that communicates with the oxygen generating mechanism; the gas supply pipe is provided with multiple layers of filter membrane; the gas supply pipe is a high-pressure resistant and corrosion-resistant sealed pipeline.

[0012] Preferably, the electrolytic cell housing 206; an electrolytic component disposed within the electrolytic cell housing 206; the vortex compression mechanism is connected to the air inlet of the electrolytic component via a gas supply pipe; and the air outlet of the electrolytic component is connected to a plurality of air outlet pipes 207 extending out of the electrolytic cell housing 206.

[0013] Preferably, the electrolytic cell base and electrolytic cell top cover are detachably connected; an electrolytic cell shell is disposed within the electrolytic cell base; an electrolytic stack is disposed within the electrolytic cell shell; an electrolytic cell top cover is fixedly connected to the top of the electrolytic cell shell; and several layers of electrolytic anode chambers and electrolytic cathode chambers are staggered from top to bottom within the electrolytic stack.

[0014] Preferably, the electrolytic anode chamber and the electrolytic cathode chamber are respectively provided with an electrolytic anode plate and an electrolytic cathode plate; the electrolytic anode chamber is used to release and collect oxygen; the outlet of the electrolytic cathode chamber is used to discharge carbon monoxide and unreacted CO2, wherein the unreacted CO2 flows back to the gas collection and pretreatment device to re-enter the cycle, and carbon monoxide is collected separately to maintain the reducing environment of the system.

[0015] Preferably, it includes the gas compression and generation equipment as described above; and an electrical control module; The electrical control module includes an STM32 series main control chip, which has the ability to resist single-event effects and multiple communication interfaces; The sensor module includes a pressure sensing unit and a temperature sensing unit; the pressure sensing unit amplifies the signal through an instrumentation amplifier and filters the noise through a multi-stage active low-pass filter before inputting it into the main control chip; The temperature sensing unit is driven by a constant current source and converted into a temperature value using a lookup table method; The communication module uses an isolated CAN transceiver and is equipped with a hardware watchdog chip and a voltage monitoring chip. The motor drive module adopts a three-phase full-bridge inverter circuit, with low on-resistance N-MOSFETs as power switches. It is driven by the FOC algorithm and equipped with a three-phase brushless DC motor drive IC with integrated gate drive and protection logic.

[0016] Preferably, the electrical control module further includes: The power module is equipped with reverse connection protection, overvoltage protection and overcurrent protection circuits, and supplies power to different modules through a high-current step-down converter and a low-dropout linear regulator. The data acquisition module is used to periodically poll and collect sensor data and perform moving average filtering. The display module uses an OLED display screen to dynamically display system operating status parameters.

[0017] The advantages of this invention compared to the prior art are: (1) This invention integrates the vortex compression mechanism with the high-temperature electrolysis mechanism to design an integrated gas compression and generation equipment. The vortex compression mechanism adopts a double-headed vortex line design with optimized tooth profile, achieving a compact and lightweight structure while ensuring exhaust volume. Power is transmitted through the moving disk vortex track assembly with an eccentric idler shaft, effectively solving the technical bottlenecks of low gas compression efficiency and serious sealing leakage in the low-pressure environment of extraterrestrial space, and providing a stable and continuous gas source for the downstream electrolysis.

[0018] (2) The entire system of this invention is specifically adapted for the low pressure, high and low temperature, and dusty environment of extraterrestrial environments. The shell structure of the vortex compressor mechanism is equipped with a cooling fan and heat dissipation holes, and uses special environmentally resistant materials to ensure thermal management and environmental tolerance. The gas transmission pipeline is a high-pressure resistant and corrosion-resistant sealed pipeline with multiple layers of filter membranes inside, which can effectively deal with dust and impurities in the extraterrestrial atmosphere. The electrical control system also considers reliability designs such as radiation resistance and wide temperature range operation, ensuring long-term stable operation under extreme conditions.

[0019] (3) This invention uses a high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis stack to electrochemically decompose pressurized CO2 into oxygen and carbon monoxide. The products are separated and collected through independent channels, namely the electrolysis anode chamber and the electrolysis cathode chamber: oxygen is collected for life support; unreacted CO2 can be returned to the front end of the system to re-participate in the compression and electrolysis cycle, rather than being directly emitted. This design greatly improves the efficiency of resource utilization, realizes the closed-loop cycle of key materials, fundamentally reduces dependence on external supplies, and is of decisive significance for establishing a sustainable extraterrestrial base. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the upper part of a gas compression and generation device for sustaining extraterrestrial life according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the lower part of a gas compression and generation device for sustaining extraterrestrial life according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the vortex compression mechanism in a gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission crankshaft in a gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the upper part of the moving disk vortex orbit assembly in a gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to the present invention.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the oxygen generation mechanism in a gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the electrolytic stack in a gas compression and generation device for sustaining extraterrestrial life according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of a gas compression and generation device for sustaining extraterrestrial life according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical control module in a gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to the present invention.

[0029] In the diagram: 100-Scroll compression mechanism; 101-Shell structure; 102-Moving disk scroll track assembly; 102a-Idler wheel shaft housing; 102b-Scroll track; 102c-Drive crankshaft; 103-Engine; 104-Stationary disk cover; 105-Cooling fan; 106-Idler wheel shaft and fasteners; 106a-Eccentric idler wheel shaft; 106b-Bearing; 107-Heat dissipation holes; 200 - Oxygen generating mechanism; 201 - Electrolytic cell base; 202 - Electrolytic cell top cover; 203 - Electrolytic cell outer shell; 204 - Electrolysis stack; 204a - Gas pipeline connection interface; 204b - Electrolytic anode chamber; 204c - Electrolytic cathode chamber; 204d - Electrolytic anode plate; 204e - Electrolytic cathode plate; 204f - Carbon monoxide / carbon dioxide outlet; 204g - Carbon dioxide inlet; 204h - Oxygen outlet; 205 - Electrolytic cell top fixed cover; 206 - Electrolytic cell shell; 207 - Gas outlet pipe; 300 - Gas transmission pipeline; Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, 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. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0031] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the invention is in use, they are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0032] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," and "sag" does not imply that the component must be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but rather that it can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0033] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, "multiple" means at least two.

[0034] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention according to the specific circumstances. Example

[0035] This embodiment discloses a gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support, and a life support system with autonomous oxygen production function in the low-pressure CO2 environment of extraterrestrial life support. The solution is adapted to the low-pressure CO2 thin atmosphere environment of extraterrestrial life support systems such as Mars, and can realize efficient CO2 collection, multi-stage pressurization, high-temperature electrochemical decomposition for oxygen production, and CO2 recycling. It effectively solves the problems of low degree of autonomy of core equipment, low gas compression efficiency, and low resource utilization efficiency of existing extraterrestrial life support systems. The following describes the solution in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and technical features.

[0036] The autonomous oxygen-generating life support system of this embodiment mainly consists of a gas collection and pretreatment device, a gas compression and generation device, and an electrical control module. The core gas compression and generation device consists of a vortex compressor 100 and an oxygen generation device 200 connected in sequence. The gas collection and pretreatment device is connected to the input end of the vortex compressor 100 to collect and pre-treat the raw gas. The vortex compressor 100 completes multi-stage pressurization and flow stabilization of the raw gas. The oxygen generation device 200 realizes the high-temperature electrochemical decomposition of CO2 after pressurization and the separation and collection of products. The electrical control module provides power drive, parameter monitoring, operation regulation, and fault protection for the entire system.

[0037] Specifically, the scroll compressor mechanism 100 is an oil-free dual-head scroll compressor structure, adapted to the low-pressure gas compression requirements of the rarefied CO2 environment on an alien planet. It achieves multi-stage pressurization of pre-treated CO2 and outputs a stable, pulsation-free airflow. The entire structure consists of a shell structure 101, a moving disk scroll track 102b assembly 102, an engine 103, a stationary disk cover 104, a cooling fan 105, and several idler shafts and fasteners 106. The engine 103 and the stationary disk cover 104 are respectively located on the shell structure. The two ends of 101 are connected to the input and output ends of the moving disk vortex track 102b assembly 102. The cooling fan 105 is mounted on the housing structure 101 to realize the thermal management of the system operation. The housing structure 101 is also provided with heat dissipation holes 107. The moving disk vortex track 102b assembly 102 is the core compression unit of the vortex compression mechanism 100. It is detachably connected to the idler shaft and fasteners 106, the engine 103, and the stationary disk cover 104, which is convenient for maintenance in extreme extraterrestrial environments.

[0038] The shell structure 101 also serves as the housing for the compression mechanism. It is made of a special material that is resistant to high temperatures and dust erosion. As the structural skeleton of the entire vortex compression mechanism 100, it has a precise installation chamber and air passage inside, which can stably accommodate and fix core components such as the engine 103, the moving disk vortex track 102b assembly 102, and the crankshaft. The air outlet passage of the shell structure 101 is connected to the air supply pipe 300 of the stationary disk cover 104, and the passage integrates a filter structure, which can intercept sand, dust and impurities in the Martian atmosphere, creating a clean working environment for the internal components.

[0039] The moving disc scroll track 102b assembly 102 consists of an idler wheel housing 102a, a scroll track 102b, and a drive crankshaft 102c. The idler wheel housing 102a is fixedly connected to the idler wheel shaft and fasteners 106. The scroll track 102b is rotatably mounted inside the idler wheel housing 102a. One end of the drive crankshaft 102c is fastened to the scroll track 102b, and the other end is connected to the engine 103 for transmission, providing power transmission for gas compression. The scroll track 102b adopts a double-headed scroll profile design. The basic profile is a circular involute, and the tooth tip profile is modified to form a double-sided asymmetrical profile, which optimizes the sealing effect and compression ratio under low pressure environment. Under the same exhaust volume (3.3m² / min), the moving scroll diameter is only 298mm, the tooth width is 4.5mm, and the number of turns is 2.65, achieving a compact and lightweight structure.

[0040] The vortex tooth end face of the vortex track 102b is provided with a sealing groove, and a sealing strip made of self-lubricating material is embedded in the groove. The sealing strip adopts a self-tightening sealing or back pressure balance sealing structure, which greatly reduces leakage during the gas compression process. Wear-resistant plates are added to the bottom plane of the vortex disk to reduce frictional loss during the movement of the vortex track 102b and improve the service life of the mechanism.

[0041] The transmission crankshaft 102c is the core component for power conversion. It is made of high-strength stainless steel and its imbalance is controlled within G1.0 level after dynamic balancing. It is fastened to the vortex track 102b by bolts and connected to the output end of the engine 103 by a flexible coupling, which efficiently converts the rotational motion of the engine 103 into the eccentric revolution motion of the vortex track 102b. The eccentric section of the transmission crankshaft 102c is precision machined to ensure the consistency of the amplitude of the track vortex motion and to ensure the accuracy of the volume change of the compression chamber.

[0042] The idler shaft and fastener 106 consist of an eccentric idler shaft 106a and multiple bearings 106b. The eccentric idler shaft 106a is fixedly mounted on the idler shaft housing 102a, and the bearings 106b are embedded in the top of the eccentric idler shaft 106a. The bearings 106b are adapted to be embedded in the corresponding mounting holes on the stationary disc cover 104, thereby realizing a detachable connection between the idler shaft housing 102a and the stationary disc cover 104. The eccentric idler shaft 106a is designed with the same eccentricity as the crankshaft, which can balance and cancel the eccentricity effect of the crankshaft. When the engine 103 is running, only the moving scroll plate part will undergo revolution, avoiding unnecessary vibration and structural displacement, improving the meshing position accuracy and structural stability of the components, and preventing the "rotation" and "derailment" of the scroll track 102b.

[0043] Engine 103 provides stable mechanical energy output for the vortex compressor mechanism 100 and is the core power source of the entire compression system. Cooling fan 105 is seamlessly assembled with housing structure 101 and adopts precise airflow matching design to continuously dissipate the heat generated by the system operation, so that core components such as engine 103, crankshaft, and vortex track 102b are always maintained within a reasonable operating temperature range, ensuring long-term reliable operation of the mechanism in the extreme hot environment of Mars.

[0044] The stationary disc cover 104 serves as the output component of the scroll compressor mechanism 100. It meshes with the scroll track 102b to form a variable working chamber, completing the intake, compression, and discharge of CO2. The stationary disc cover 104 is equipped with a gas delivery pipe 300 that communicates with the oxygen generator mechanism 200. This gas delivery pipe 300 is a high-pressure resistant and corrosion-resistant sealed pipe with multiple layers of filter membranes inside, which can further filter impurities in the compressed gas and avoid contamination of the subsequent electrolysis components. At the same time, the scroll compressor mechanism 100 is equipped with a pressure-stabilizing buffer volume and an optimized gas path layout, which can effectively attenuate the pulsating airflow discharged from the compressor, so that the CO2 airflow output through the gas delivery pipe 300 is stable and continuous, meeting the flow stability requirements of the subsequent electrolysis stack 204.

[0045] The main shaft of the vortex compressor mechanism 100 is equipped with an angular contact ball bearing 106b and perfluoropolyether grease to improve rotational smoothness; the bearing 106b housing and cavity adopt a heat insulation design to reduce the impact of heat transfer on the lubrication and structural accuracy of the bearing 106b.

[0046] The oxygen generating mechanism 200 is a high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis structure that can electrochemically decompose pressurized CO2 into oxygen and carbon monoxide at a high temperature of 800℃, and achieve efficient separation, collection and recycling of the products. The whole is composed of an electrolysis cell shell 206 and an electrolysis component set in the shell. The vortex compression mechanism 100 is sealed to the air inlet of the electrolysis component through the gas supply pipe 300. The air outlet of the electrolysis component is connected to several air outlet pipes 207 that pass through the electrolysis cell shell 206, so as to realize the delivery and collection of oxygen, carbon monoxide and unreacted CO2 respectively.

[0047] The electrolysis assembly has a detachable assembly structure, which facilitates fault replacement and maintenance. It consists of an electrolysis cell base 201, an electrolysis cell top cover 202, an electrolysis cell outer shell 203, an electrolysis stack 204, and an electrolysis cell top fixing cover 205. The electrolysis cell base 201 and the electrolysis cell top cover 202 are detachably connected. The electrolysis cell outer shell 203 is set inside the electrolysis cell base 201. The electrolysis stack 204 is embedded inside the electrolysis cell outer shell 203. The electrolysis cell top fixing cover is sealed to the top of the electrolysis cell outer shell 203 to achieve fixation and sealing of the electrolysis stack 204. The electrolysis stack 204 has a multi-layer thin-plate structure and adopts a heavy-duty design to withstand a high-temperature electrolysis environment of 800℃. Its surface has mounting holes for electrical wiring and a gas pipeline docking interface 204a, which achieves a seamless sealed connection with the gas pipeline 300 of the vortex compressor mechanism 100.

[0048] The electrolysis stack 204 contains several layers of electrolytic anode chambers 204b and electrolytic cathode chambers 204c arranged alternately from top to bottom. Electrolytic anode plates 204d and electrolytic cathode plates 204e are respectively installed within each chamber. The anode and cathode chambers are independent of each other, achieving physical isolation of the products. The electrolytic anode chamber 204b is an oxygen collection chamber used to release and collect oxygen generated during the electrolysis reaction. The electrolytic cathode chamber 204c is a reduction product discharge chamber used to discharge carbon monoxide and unreacted CO2. The gas pipeline connection interface 204a includes a carbon dioxide inlet 204g and an oxygen outlet 204h penetrating one end of the electrolysis stack 204, and a carbon monoxide / carbon dioxide outlet 204f penetrating the other end.

[0049] One end of the electrolytic cathode chamber 204c is connected to the input end of the gas collection and pretreatment device via a carbon monoxide / carbon dioxide outlet 204f. Unreacted CO2 can re-enter the collection and pretreatment stage through this reflux channel to participate in the compression and electrolysis cycle again, realizing the resource recycling of CO2 and solving the problem of one-time consumption of extraterrestrial resources. Carbon monoxide is collected separately through an independent collection channel and can be used to maintain the reducing environment of the entire life support system and improve the stability of system operation.

[0050] Electrolysis reaction principle: Solid oxide electrolyte is used as the core medium for electrolysis. When CO2 heated to 800℃ flows through the surface of the electrolysis cathode under an applied potential, CO2 undergoes an electrochemical decomposition reaction under the combined action of the catalyst and high temperature, generating carbon monoxide and oxygen ions. The oxygen ions migrate through the solid oxide electrolyte to the electrolysis anode, where they combine to generate gaseous O2 on the anode surface. The oxygen is released from the electrolysis anode cavity 204b at a rate proportional to the current, completing the core process of CO2 to oxygen production.

[0051] The electrical control module is the "control center" of the entire life support system. It is electrically connected to the actuators such as the engine 103, electrolysis component, and cooling fan 105 of the gas compression and generation equipment, realizing the system's power drive, real-time parameter monitoring, data processing, operation regulation, and fault protection. Its core consists of an STM32 series main control chip, sensor module, communication module, motor drive module, power supply module, data acquisition module, and display module. Each module is independently designed and integrated in a sealed control box, which has the characteristics of resisting complex extraterrestrial electromagnetic environment and high and low temperature resistance.

[0052] Main control chip: The STM32 series chip with single-event immunity is selected as the core of the electrical control module. It has multiple built-in communication interfaces, which can realize bidirectional data interaction with each sub-module, receive monitoring data from sensor modules, issue drive and control commands, and realize information interaction with external devices through the communication module to meet the remote monitoring needs of the extraterrestrial base.

[0053] Sensor module: including pressure sensing unit and temperature sensing unit, to realize real-time monitoring of parameters of key nodes of the system and provide data support for control; The pressure sensing unit is installed in the air inlet and outlet of the vortex compressor mechanism 100 and inside the electrolytic cell shell 206 of the oxygen generator mechanism 200. It is used to monitor the gas compression pressure and the electrolytic chamber pressure. The detection signal is amplified by the instrumentation amplifier and then filtered out by the multi-stage active low-pass filter before being input to the main control chip to ensure the accuracy of pressure detection. Temperature sensing units are deployed in core components such as the vortex track 102b, electrolysis stack 204, and engine 103 to monitor the operating temperature of the components and the temperature of the electrolysis environment. They are powered by a constant current source and the detected electrical signal is converted into an intuitive temperature value by a lookup table method before being input into the main control chip to achieve accurate temperature monitoring.

[0054] Communication module: It adopts an isolated CAN transceiver to improve the anti-interference capability of communication. It is also equipped with a hardware watchdog chip and a voltage monitoring chip. The hardware watchdog chip can automatically reset when the main control chip crashes, and the voltage monitoring chip monitors the module's power supply voltage in real time to avoid communication failures caused by abnormal voltage, thus ensuring the stability and continuity of system communication.

[0055] Motor drive module: Provides drive for power components such as engine 103 and cooling fan 105 of vortex compressor mechanism 100. It adopts a three-phase full-bridge inverter circuit design and selects N-MOSFET with low on-resistance power switching transistors to reduce drive energy consumption. It achieves precise speed regulation of motor through FOC (field-oriented control) algorithm and is equipped with a three-phase brushless DC motor drive IC with integrated gate drive and protection logic to achieve active protection against faults such as overcurrent, overvoltage, and phase loss.

[0056] Power supply module: Provides power to the entire electrical control module and all actuators. It has built-in reverse connection protection, overvoltage protection and overcurrent protection circuits, which can effectively prevent circuit damage in complex extraterrestrial power supply environments. It adopts a combination of high-current step-down converter and low-dropout linear regulator to provide stable power supply at different voltage levels according to the power supply requirements of each module, so as to meet the power supply requirements of different modules such as main control chip, sensors, motor drive and so on.

[0057] Data acquisition module: Used to periodically poll and collect monitoring data such as pressure and temperature from sensor modules, and at the same time collect system operating status data (such as motor speed, electrolytic current / voltage, etc.). The raw data is processed by moving average filtering to remove abnormal data and improve data reliability. The processed data is transmitted to the main control chip for regulation and stored in the local cache for easy follow-up.

[0058] Display module: An OLED display screen is embedded in the control box's operation panel to dynamically display the system's real-time operating status parameters, including gas compression pressure, electrolysis temperature, motor speed, oxygen production, and the working status of each component. It can also display the system's fault codes, facilitating on-site operation and maintenance by extraterrestrial personnel.

[0059] The overall system workflow in this embodiment Raw material gas collection and pretreatment: The gas collection and pretreatment device efficiently collects high-concentration CO2 from the Martian atmosphere at a pressure of about 6 mbar by means of an air intake structure adapted to the thin atmosphere of Mars. At the same time, it completes the dust removal and filtration pretreatment of the raw material gas to remove impurities such as sand and dust, so as to provide clean raw material gas for subsequent compression. Multi-stage pressurization and flow stabilization: The pre-treated CO2 is fed into the vortex compression mechanism 100. The engine 103 converts the rotational motion into the eccentric revolution motion of the vortex track 102b through the transmission crankshaft 102c. The variable working chamber formed by the engagement of the vortex track 102b and the stationary disk cover 104 completes the intake, multi-stage compression and discharge of CO2. During the compression process, the cooling fan 105 continuously dissipates heat. The pressure stabilization buffer volume and the optimized air path layout reduce airflow pulsation, and finally output a stable high-pressure CO2 airflow. High-temperature electrochemical decomposition for oxygen production: High-pressure CO2 gas flows through a high-pressure resistant and corrosion-resistant sealed gas pipeline 300 into the electrolysis stack 204 of the oxygen generating unit 200. Under the combined action of high temperature of 800℃, applied potential and catalyst, CO2 undergoes a decomposition reaction at the electrolysis cathode to generate carbon monoxide and oxygen ions. The oxygen ions migrate to the electrolysis anode and combine to generate gaseous oxygen. Product separation and recycling: Oxygen is released and collected from the electrolytic anode chamber 204b to provide an oxygen source for the maintenance of extraterrestrial life; carbon monoxide and unreacted CO2 are discharged from the electrolytic cathode chamber 204c, where the unreacted CO2 is returned to the gas collection and pretreatment device to participate in the compression and electrolysis cycle again, and carbon monoxide is collected separately to maintain the reducing environment of the system. Full-process control and monitoring: The electrical control module collects system parameters such as pressure, temperature, and motor speed in real time through the sensor module. After data processing, the main control chip issues control commands to adjust the operating status of engine 103 and cooling fan 105 through the motor drive module, so as to realize the adaptive operation of the system. At the same time, the display module dynamically displays the operating parameters, the communication module realizes remote monitoring, and various protection circuits and chips realize active fault protection of the system, ensuring the long-term, reliable and autonomous operation of the entire life support system in the extreme environment of Mars.

[0060] The present invention and its embodiments have been described above. This description is not restrictive, and the accompanying drawings are only one embodiment of the present invention; the actual structure is not limited thereto. In conclusion, if those skilled in the art are inspired by this description and design similar structures and embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, such designs should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gas compression and generation apparatus for extraterrestrial life support, characterized by, It includes a vortex compressor mechanism (100) and an oxygen generator mechanism (200) connected in sequence. The vortex compression mechanism (100) is connected to the gas collection and pretreatment device, and is used to perform multi-stage pressurization on the pretreated dilute CO2 and output a stable airflow. The oxygen generating mechanism (200) is used to electrochemically decompose pressurized CO2 into oxygen and carbon monoxide under high temperature conditions, and to separate and collect the products. The vortex compression mechanism (100) includes: a housing structure (101); a moving disk vortex track assembly (102) disposed within the housing structure (101); an engine (103) disposed at both ends of the housing structure (101) and drivenly connected to the input and output ends of the moving disk vortex track assembly (102); the stationary disk cover (104) is connected to the moving disk vortex track assembly (102) via several idler shafts and fasteners (106); the housing structure (101) is also provided with heat dissipation holes (107) and a cooling fan (105). The moving disc scroll track assembly (102) includes: an idler shaft housing (102a) connected to the idler shaft and fastener (106); a scroll track (102b) rotatably disposed in the idler shaft housing (102a); and a drive crankshaft (102c) connecting the scroll track (102b) and the engine (103).

2. A gas compression and generation apparatus for extraterrestrial life support according to claim 1, characterized in that: The idler shaft and fastener (106) include an eccentric idler shaft (106a) disposed in the idler shaft housing (102a) and a plurality of bearings (106b) disposed on the top of the eccentric idler shaft (106a); the bearings (106b) are embedded in the corresponding mounting holes on the stationary disc cover (104).

3. A gas compression and generation apparatus for extraterrestrial life support according to claim 1, wherein: The vortex profile of the vortex track (102b) is based on the involute of a circle, and its tooth tip profile is modified to form a double-sided asymmetrical profile; the end face of the vortex tooth is provided with a sealing groove, and a sealing strip made of self-lubricating material is embedded in the sealing groove; a wear-resistant plate is added to the bottom plane of the vortex track (102b); the sealing strip adopts a self-tightening sealing or back pressure balance sealing structure.

4. A gas compression and generation apparatus for extraterrestrial life support according to claim 1, wherein: The drive crankshaft (102c) is fastened to the vortex track (102b) by bolts; the drive crankshaft (102c) is connected to the engine (103) by a flexible coupling.

5. A gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to claim 2, characterized in that: The static plate cover (104) is provided with a gas transmission pipe (300) that communicates with the oxygen generating mechanism (200); the gas transmission pipe (300) is provided with multiple layers of filter membrane; the gas transmission pipe (300) is a high-pressure resistant and corrosion-resistant sealed pipeline.

6. A gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The oxygen generating mechanism (200) includes: an electrolytic cell shell; an electrolytic component disposed within the electrolytic cell shell; a vortex compressor (100) connected to the inlet of the electrolytic component via a gas delivery pipe (300); and an outlet of the electrolytic component connected to a plurality of outlet pipes extending out of the electrolytic cell shell.

7. A gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to claim 6, characterized in that, The electrolysis assembly includes: a detachably connected electrolytic cell base (201) and an electrolytic cell top cover (202); an electrolytic cell shell (203) disposed within the electrolytic cell base (201); an electrolysis stack (204) disposed within the electrolytic cell shell (203); an electrolytic cell top fixing cover (205) connected to the top of the electrolytic cell shell (203); and several layers of electrolytic anode chambers (204b) and electrolytic cathode chambers (204c) are staggered from top to bottom within the electrolysis stack (204).

8. A gas compression and generation device for extraterrestrial life support according to claim 7, characterized in that, The electrolytic anode chamber (204b) and electrolytic cathode chamber (204c) are respectively equipped with an electrolytic anode plate (204d) and an electrolytic cathode plate (204e); the electrolytic anode chamber (204b) is used to release and collect oxygen; the outlet of the electrolytic cathode chamber (204c) is used to discharge carbon monoxide and unreacted CO2, wherein the unreacted CO2 is returned to the gas collection and pretreatment device to re-enter the cycle, and carbon monoxide is collected separately to maintain the reducing environment of the system.

9. A life support system capable of autonomous oxygen production in a low-pressure CO2 environment on an extraterrestrial planet, characterized in that, Includes the gas compression and generation equipment (100, 200) as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; and an electrical control module; The electrical control module includes an STM32 series main control chip, which has the ability to resist single-event effects and multiple communication interfaces; The sensor module includes a pressure sensing unit and a temperature sensing unit; the pressure sensing unit amplifies the signal through an instrumentation amplifier and filters the noise through a multi-stage active low-pass filter before inputting it into the main control chip; The temperature sensing unit is driven by a constant current source and converted into a temperature value using a lookup table method; The communication module uses an isolated CAN transceiver and is equipped with a hardware watchdog chip and a voltage monitoring chip. The motor drive module adopts a three-phase full-bridge inverter circuit, with low on-resistance N-MOSFETs as power switches. It is driven by the FOC algorithm and equipped with a three-phase brushless DC motor drive IC with integrated gate drive and protection logic.

10. The autonomous oxygen-generating life support system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The electrical control module also includes: The power module is equipped with reverse connection protection, overvoltage protection and overcurrent protection circuits, and supplies power to different modules through a high-current step-down converter and a low-dropout linear regulator. The data acquisition module is used to periodically poll and collect sensor data and perform moving average filtering. The display module uses an OLED display screen to dynamically display system operating status parameters.

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