Lunar soil water ice volatile water vapor collection device and collection method

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of in-situ detection technology of lunar water ice, specifically disclosing a device and method for collecting volatile water vapor from lunar water ice. The device includes a bottom vacuum chamber, an intermediate connecting pipe, a conveying pipe, a collecting pipe, a pressure monitoring instrument, a first inlet valve, and a second inlet valve. The bottom vacuum chamber, the intermediate connecting pipe, the conveying pipe, and the collecting pipe are connected in series along the flow direction of volatile water vapor from lunar water ice. The first inlet valve is located between the bottom vacuum chamber and the conveying pipe; the second inlet valve is located between the conveying pipe and the collecting pipe; the pressure monitoring instrument is used to monitor the pressure value inside the bottom vacuum chamber in real time. This collection device and method can construct a controllable pressure gradient by alternately opening and closing the valves, transforming the natural diffusion of water vapor into pressure-driven directional and rapid transport, fundamentally improving the water vapor transport efficiency under the high vacuum environment of the lunar surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of in-situ detection technology of lunar soil water ice, specifically a device and method for collecting volatile water vapor from lunar soil water ice. Background Technology

[0002] In in-situ detection of water ice in lunar soil, heating is often used to evaporate the water ice inside the lunar soil into water vapor, which is then collected and processed. However, the lunar surface is an extreme environment with high vacuum, low temperature, and rapidly changing environmental parameters. Traditional water vapor collection devices have significant defects in the water vapor transport process, with the core problem being low water vapor transport efficiency, which cannot meet the actual needs of in-situ detection of water ice in lunar soil.

[0003] In existing technologies, water vapor transport pipelines are mostly single-through structures without effective pressure control methods. Water vapor moves within the pipeline only by natural diffusion, resulting in a slow transport rate. At the same time, the high vacuum environment on the lunar surface makes it impossible to form a stable driving force between pipelines. Even if some internal environmental factors are controlled, it is difficult to achieve efficient water vapor transport.

[0004] Therefore, how to improve the efficiency of water vapor transport, taking into account the characteristics of the high vacuum environment on the lunar surface, has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a device and method for collecting water vapor from evaporating lunar soil water ice, in order to solve the problem of low transport efficiency of water vapor from evaporating lunar soil water ice in the high vacuum environment of the lunar surface in the prior art, and to realize the directional, rapid and efficient transport and collection of water vapor.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a lunar soil water ice evaporation vapor collection device, comprising: a bottom vacuum chamber, an intermediate connecting pipe, a conveying pipe, a collection pipe, a pressure monitoring instrument, a first inlet valve, and a second inlet valve; the bottom vacuum chamber, the intermediate connecting pipe, the conveying pipe, and the collection pipe are connected in series along the flow direction of lunar soil water ice evaporation vapor; the first inlet valve is disposed between the bottom vacuum chamber and the conveying pipe, and is used to control the connection and disconnection between the bottom vacuum chamber and the conveying pipe; the second inlet valve is disposed between the conveying pipe and the collection pipe, and is used to control the connection and disconnection between the conveying pipe and the collection pipe; the pressure monitoring instrument is connected to the bottom vacuum chamber, and is used to monitor the pressure value inside the bottom vacuum chamber in real time.

[0007] Preferably, the lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device further includes a vacuum protective cover, and the bottom vacuum chamber, the intermediate connecting pipe, the conveying pipe, and the collection pipe are all enclosed inside the vacuum protective cover.

[0008] Further preferably, the lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device also includes a heating unit for heating the bottom vacuum chamber.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment, the lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device also includes a temperature monitoring instrument for real-time monitoring of the temperature inside the bottom vacuum chamber.

[0010] Further preferably, the inside of the collection pipe is equipped with a condensation plate for freezing and collecting water vapor entering the collection pipe.

[0011] Further preferably, the main material of the bottom vacuum chamber, the intermediate connecting pipe, the conveying pipe and the collecting pipe is aluminum alloy, and the surface of the aluminum alloy is oxidized to form a thick and dense aluminum oxide layer.

[0012] Further preferably, the bottom vacuum chamber, the intermediate connecting pipe, the conveying pipe, and the collecting pipe are all smooth pipe structures with no dead airflow angles.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for collecting volatile water vapor from lunar soil water ice, using the above-mentioned lunar soil water ice volatile water vapor collection device, comprising the following steps:

[0014] S1: Adjust the initial pressure inside the vacuum protective cover, bottom vacuum chamber, intermediate connecting pipeline, delivery pipeline, and collection pipeline to the lunar surface ambient pressure, close the first and second air intake valves, and set the initial temperature of the bottom vacuum chamber, intermediate connecting pipeline, delivery pipeline, and collection pipeline.

[0015] S2: The bottom vacuum chamber is used to continuously collect water vapor evaporated by the heating of lunar soil water ice, and the pressure monitoring instrument is used to monitor the pressure value inside the bottom vacuum chamber in real time.

[0016] S3: When the pressure value monitored by the pressure monitor rises to the preset high pressure range or the rate of increase of the pressure value slows down, the first air inlet valve is opened, and water vapor enters the delivery pipeline through the intermediate connecting pipeline under the pressure gradient drive.

[0017] S4: When the pressure value detected by the pressure monitor slows down again, the second air inlet valve is opened and the first air inlet valve is closed simultaneously, and the water vapor inside the delivery pipeline quickly enters the collection pipeline under the pressure gradient drive.

[0018] S5: Close the second air intake valve to complete one water vapor collection cycle;

[0019] S6: Repeat S3~S5 to achieve efficient collection of water vapor in a cyclical manner.

[0020] Preferably, the water vapor collection process also includes the following step: heating the bottom vacuum chamber to create a temperature gradient between the pipes.

[0021] Further optimization includes the following steps in the water vapor collection process: controlling the pressure inside the intermediate connecting pipe, the conveying pipe, and the collecting pipe to be higher than the saturated vapor pressure of water vapor at the corresponding temperature.

[0022] The lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device and collection method provided by the present invention can construct a controllable pressure gradient by controlling the alternating opening and closing of valves, thereby transforming the natural diffusion of water vapor into pressure difference-driven directional and rapid transport, fundamentally improving the water vapor transport efficiency in the high vacuum environment of the lunar surface. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device proposed in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0024] 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.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device, comprising: a bottom vacuum chamber 2, an intermediate connecting pipe 3, a conveying pipe 4, a collection pipe 5, a pressure monitoring instrument 6, a first inlet valve 7, and a second inlet valve 8; the bottom vacuum chamber 2, the intermediate connecting pipe 3, the conveying pipe 4, and the collection pipe 5 are connected in series along the flow direction of lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor; the first inlet valve 7 is disposed between the bottom vacuum chamber 2 and the conveying pipe 4, and is used to control the opening and closing of the bottom vacuum chamber 2 and the conveying pipe 4; the second inlet valve 8 is disposed between the conveying pipe 4 and the collection pipe 5, and is used to control the opening and closing of the conveying pipe 4 and the collection pipe 5; the pressure monitoring instrument 6 is connected to the bottom vacuum chamber 2, and is used to monitor the pressure value inside the bottom vacuum chamber 2 in real time. Preferably, the bottom vacuum chamber is a cylindrical bottom vacuum chamber.

[0026] In this lunar soil water ice evaporation vapor collection device, the bottom vacuum chamber is used to receive the water vapor evaporated by the heated lunar soil water ice, providing a basic closed cavity for the construction of the pressure gradient; the intermediate connecting pipes, conveying pipes, and collecting pipes enable the step-by-step transport of water vapor; the first and second air inlet valves provide key on / off control for the controllable construction of the pressure gradient, and the pressure monitoring instrument provides accurate pressure data for the operation of the valves; by controlling the alternating on / off of the first and second air inlet valves, a controllable pressure gradient can be constructed between the pipes, transforming the natural diffusion of water vapor into pressure difference-driven directional and efficient transport, effectively improving the water vapor transport efficiency in the high vacuum environment of the lunar surface.

[0027] As an improvement to the technical solution, the device also includes a vacuum protective cover 1. The bottom vacuum chamber 2, the intermediate connecting pipe 3, the conveying pipe 4, and the collecting pipe 5 are all enclosed inside the vacuum protective cover 1. The vacuum protective cover is used to isolate the extreme lunar environment from the influence of the internal pipe structure and pressure environment of the device, and to ensure the stable construction of the pressure gradient.

[0028] As an improvement to the technical solution, a heating unit is provided on the outside of the bottom vacuum chamber 2 to heat the bottom vacuum chamber 2, so as to build a temperature gradient between the pipelines and help improve the water vapor transport efficiency. Preferably, the heating unit is a heat-conducting wire 9 wound on the outside of the bottom vacuum chamber 2. Alternatively, a heating unit can also be provided on the outside of the transport pipeline 4.

[0029] As an improvement to the technical solution, the lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device also includes a temperature monitor 10, which is connected to the bottom vacuum chamber 2 and is used to monitor the temperature value inside the bottom vacuum chamber 2 in real time.

[0030] As an improvement to the technical solution, the inside of the collection pipe 5 is provided with a condenser plate 11, which is used to freeze and collect the water vapor entering the collection pipe 5.

[0031] As an improvement to the technical solution, the main materials of the bottom vacuum chamber 2, the intermediate connecting pipe 3, the conveying pipe 4, and the collecting pipe 5 are aluminum alloys, and the surface of the aluminum alloy is specially oxidized to form a thick and dense aluminum oxide layer. Compared with materials such as oxygen-free copper and stainless steel, aluminum alloys are cheaper and lighter, making them easier to carry. They are very suitable for weight-sensitive high vacuum systems. The aluminum oxide layer formed by surface treatment can effectively block gas permeation and is used in high vacuum systems.

[0032] As an improvement to the technical solution, all connection points between the bottom vacuum chamber 2, the intermediate connecting pipe 3, the conveying pipe 4, and the collecting pipe 5 adopt metal sealing structures such as CF flanges to ensure the high vacuum tightness of the device and prevent external air from seeping in or water vapor from leaking.

[0033] As an improvement to the technical solution, the bottom vacuum chamber 2, the intermediate connecting pipe 3, the conveying pipe 4, and the collecting pipe 5 are all smooth pipe structures with no dead airflow angles, thus avoiding water vapor retention and eventual condensation.

[0034] The present invention also provides a method for collecting volatile water vapor from lunar soil water ice, using the above-mentioned lunar soil water ice volatile water vapor collection device, comprising the following steps:

[0035] S1: Adjust the initial pressure inside the vacuum protective cover 1, the bottom vacuum chamber 2, the intermediate connecting pipe 3, the conveying pipe 4, and the collecting pipe 5 to the lunar surface ambient pressure, close the first air intake valve 7 and the second air intake valve 8, and set the initial temperature of the bottom vacuum chamber 2, the intermediate connecting pipe 3, the conveying pipe 4, and the collecting pipe 5 (e.g., 20℃).

[0036] S2: The bottom vacuum chamber 2 is used to continuously collect water vapor evaporated by the heating of lunar soil water ice, and the pressure monitoring instrument 6 is used to monitor the pressure value inside the bottom vacuum chamber 2 in real time. When the first air inlet valve 7 is closed, the pressure inside the bottom vacuum chamber 2 will continue to rise as water vapor accumulates.

[0037] S3: When the pressure value monitored by the pressure monitor 6 rises to the preset high pressure range or the rate of increase of the pressure value slows down, the first air inlet valve 7 is opened. At this time, the bottom vacuum chamber 2 is a high pressure zone and the delivery pipeline 4 is a low pressure zone. A stable pressure gradient is formed between the two. Under the drive of the pressure gradient, water vapor enters the delivery pipeline 4 through the intermediate connecting pipeline 3 to realize the first stage of directional delivery.

[0038] S4: When the conveying pipeline 4 is filled with water vapor and the internal pressure tends to stabilize, that is, when the pressure value monitored by the pressure monitor 6 tends to slow down again, the second air inlet valve 8 is opened and the first air inlet valve 7 is closed simultaneously. At this time, the conveying pipeline 4 is a high-pressure area and the collecting pipeline 5 is a low-pressure area, forming a stable pressure gradient between the two. The water vapor inside the conveying pipeline 4 quickly enters the collecting pipeline 5 under the drive of the pressure gradient.

[0039] S5: Close the second air intake valve 8 to complete one water vapor collection cycle;

[0040] S6: Repeat S3~S5 to achieve efficient collection of water vapor in a cyclical manner.

[0041] This method for collecting water vapor from lunar soil water ice volatilization constructs a controllable pressure gradient by alternately opening and closing valves, transforming the natural diffusion of water vapor into pressure-driven directional and rapid transport, fundamentally improving the water vapor transport efficiency in the high vacuum environment of the lunar surface.

[0042] As an improvement to the technical solution, the water vapor collection process also includes a step of heating the bottom vacuum chamber 2 to build a temperature gradient between the pipes, so that the thermal energy of the water vapor can be converted into kinetic energy, thereby further improving the water vapor transport efficiency.

[0043] As an improvement to the technical solution, during the water vapor collection process, the pressure value inside each pipeline is controlled to always be higher than the saturated vapor pressure of water vapor at the corresponding temperature, so as to prevent water vapor from condensing and stagnating inside the pipeline.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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 device for collecting water vapor from the evaporation of lunar soil water ice, characterized in that, include: The system comprises a bottom vacuum chamber (2), an intermediate connecting pipe (3), a conveying pipe (4), a collecting pipe (5), a pressure monitor (6), a first inlet valve (7), and a second inlet valve (8). The bottom vacuum chamber (2), the intermediate connecting pipe (3), the conveying pipe (4), and the collecting pipe (5) are connected in series along the direction of water vapor evaporation from lunar soil water ice. The first inlet valve (7) is located between the bottom vacuum chamber (2) and the conveying pipe (4) to control the opening and closing of the bottom vacuum chamber (2) and the conveying pipe (4). The second inlet valve (8) is located between the conveying pipe (4) and the collecting pipe (5) to control the opening and closing of the conveying pipe (4) and the collecting pipe (5). The pressure monitor (6) is connected to the bottom vacuum chamber (2) to monitor the pressure value inside the bottom vacuum chamber (2) in real time.

2. The lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a vacuum protective cover (1), and the bottom vacuum chamber (2), the intermediate connecting pipe (3), the conveying pipe (4), and the collecting pipe (5) are all enclosed inside the vacuum protective cover (1).

3. The lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a heating unit for heating the bottom vacuum chamber (2).

4. The lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a temperature monitoring instrument (10) for real-time monitoring of the temperature inside the bottom vacuum chamber (2).

5. The lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inside of the collection pipe (5) is provided with a condenser plate (11) for freezing and collecting water vapor entering the collection pipe (5).

6. The lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main material of the bottom vacuum chamber (2), the intermediate connecting pipe (3), the conveying pipe (4) and the collecting pipe (5) is aluminum alloy, and the surface of the aluminum alloy is oxidized to form a thick and dense aluminum oxide layer.

7. The lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom vacuum chamber (2), the intermediate connecting pipe (3), the conveying pipe (4) and the collecting pipe (5) are all smooth pipe structures with no dead air flow.

8. A method for collecting water vapor from the evaporation of lunar soil water ice, characterized in that, The lunar soil water ice evaporation water vapor collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 comprises the following steps: S1: Adjust the initial pressure inside the vacuum protective cover (1), bottom vacuum chamber (2), intermediate connecting pipe (3), conveying pipe (4), and collection pipe (5) to the lunar surface environment pressure, close the first air inlet valve (7) and the second air inlet valve (8), and set the initial temperature of the bottom vacuum chamber (2), intermediate connecting pipe (3), conveying pipe (4), and collection pipe (5); S2: The bottom vacuum chamber (2) is used to continuously collect water vapor volatilized from the heated lunar soil water ice, and the pressure monitoring instrument (6) is used to monitor the pressure value inside the bottom vacuum chamber (2) in real time. S3: When the pressure value monitored by the pressure monitor (6) rises to the preset high pressure range or the pressure value growth rate slows down, the first air inlet valve (7) is opened, and water vapor enters the delivery pipeline (4) through the intermediate connecting pipeline (3) under the pressure gradient drive. S4: When the pressure value monitored by the pressure monitor (6) slows down again, the second air inlet valve (8) is opened and the first air inlet valve (7) is closed at the same time. The water vapor inside the delivery pipeline (4) enters the collection pipeline (5) quickly under the pressure gradient drive. S5: Close the second air intake valve (8) to complete one water vapor collection cycle; S6: Repeat S3~S5 to achieve efficient collection of water vapor in a cyclical manner.

9. The method for collecting volatile water vapor from lunar soil water ice according to claim 8, characterized in that, The water vapor collection process also includes the following steps: heating the bottom vacuum chamber (2) to build a temperature gradient between the pipes.

10. The method for collecting volatile water vapor from lunar soil water ice according to claim 8, characterized in that, The water vapor collection process also includes the following steps: controlling the pressure inside the intermediate connecting pipe (3), the conveying pipe (4), and the collecting pipe (5) to be higher than the saturated vapor pressure of water vapor at the corresponding temperature.

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