Space dissipated liquid drop catcher
The droplet trap designed based on the principle of electrowetting solves the problem of droplet escape in the microgravity environment of space, and achieves efficient collection and management, making it suitable for droplet collection and transportation in the space environment.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422741499.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-11-11
AI Technical Summary
In the microgravity environment of space, droplets are difficult to settle, leading to their escape and affecting equipment operation and astronaut safety. Existing technologies are insufficient for effective capture and management.
The droplet trap, designed based on the principle of electrowetting, combines interdigitated electrode layers and Teflon hydrophobic layers. A microcontroller controls the electrode connection state to achieve droplet adsorption, transport, and detachment. The electrode layer is fabricated using magnetron sputtering and laser etching.
It can efficiently capture droplets under microgravity in space, with a compact structure, low power consumption, simple operation, readily available and easy-to-process materials, and is suitable for different size ranges.
Smart Images
Figure CN223559862U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The utility model relates to microfluid control technical field, specifically, especially, a kind of space stray droplet catcher. BACKGROUND
[0002] In space environment such as space cabin and space station, water resources are very valuable, and the management of droplets is crucial. Due to the special environment of microgravity, droplets will not naturally settle on Earth as they do. This makes droplets easy to escape in space, cannot be utilized, and has potential danger. This not only may affect the normal operation of space equipment, but also may have adverse effects on the working and living environment of astronauts. For example, it may adhere to the surface of optical equipment, affecting performance; enter the internal electronic equipment, causing short circuit and other faults; or be accidentally inhaled into the trachea when breathing, endangering human safety.
[0003] Currently, the existing droplet processing technology has certain limitations in space environment. The traditional gravity sedimentation method cannot be used, and some simple manual adsorption methods are troublesome and often ineffective, which cannot effectively capture droplets. In addition, the requirements for equipment in space environment are very strict, and factors such as weight, volume, reliability and operation convenience of the equipment need to be considered.
[0004] In summary, there is an urgent need for an efficient stray droplet catcher specially designed for space microgravity environment to ensure the smooth progress of space exploration and space activities such as space stations. UTILITY MODEL CONTENT
[0005] According to the above-mentioned technical problem that the existing droplet processing technology has certain limitations in space environment, the utility model provides a droplet catcher suitable for capturing stray droplets in space microgravity environment through the principle of electrowetting. It can effectively capture and collect stray droplets in microgravity environment, realize the transportation and centralized recovery of droplets.
[0006] The technical means adopted by the utility model are as follows:
[0007] A space stray droplet catcher, comprising an electrowetting module, a microcontroller and a battery;
[0008] The electrowetting module comprises a substrate, an interdigital electrode layer and a Teflon hydrophobic layer;
[0009] The substrate surface has a conductive layer, and the interdigital electrode layer is located on the surface of the conductive layer; The Teflon hydrophobic layer is located on the surface of the interdigital electrode;
[0010] The plug-in electrode layer comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged in sequence and at intervals along the length direction of the substrate, and each electrode is arranged along the width direction of the substrate; each electrode in the plug-in electrode layer is sequentially labeled along the length direction of the substrate and is electrically connected to the microcontroller through a lead wire, the microcontroller is used for controlling the connection or disconnection between the electrodes with odd numbers and the positive electrode of the battery, and is also used for controlling the connection or disconnection between the electrodes with even numbers and the negative electrode of the battery.
[0011] Further, the working state of the droplet trap includes a water absorption state, a transport state and a separation state.
[0012] When the droplet trap is in the water absorption state, the power supply is turned on, the microcontroller controls the electrodes with odd numbers to be electrically connected to the positive electrode of the battery and controls the electrodes with even numbers to be electrically connected to the negative electrode of the battery, and the droplets can be adhered to the surface of the droplet trap.
[0013] When the droplet trap is in the transport state, the power supply is turned on, the microcontroller controls each electrode to be sequentially disconnected from the power supply in the order of the label, and the droplets on the surface of the droplet trap can be collected at the electrode that is disconnected last.
[0014] When the droplet trap is in the separation state, the power supply is turned off.
[0015] Further, the microcontroller adopts a time sequence switch.
[0016] Further, the surface of the substrate is prepared with the conductive layer by magnetron sputtering, and the surface of the conductive layer is prepared with the plug-in electrode layer by laser etching.
[0017] Further, the thickness of the plug-in electrode layer is 100nm-500nm.
[0018] Further, the thickness of the Teflon hydrophobic layer is 2-10um.
[0019] Further, the plug-in electrode layer comprises 22 electrodes.
[0020] Compared with the prior art, the space droplet trap has the following advantages:
[0021] 1. The space droplet trap can adjust the working state of the trap by adjusting the connection between each electrode and the power supply, thereby effectively trapping the scattered droplets, and the operation is simple.
[0022] 2. The space-faring droplet trap has compact structure, the thickness of the electrode and the Teflon hydrophobic layer is extremely thin, the mass of the substrate is increased as little as possible, and the size of the electrode can be adjusted according to actual requirements, and better droplet collection effect can be realized under different size ranges.
[0023] 3. The space-faring droplet trap has compact structure, the thickness of the electrode and the Teflon hydrophobic layer is extremely thin, the mass of the substrate is increased as little as possible, and the size of the electrode can be adjusted according to actual requirements, and better droplet collection effect can be realized under different size ranges.
[0024] 4. The materials of the space-faring droplet trap are easy to obtain and process.
[0025] Based on the above reasons, the utility model can be widely popularized in the field of space-faring droplet traps. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical scheme in the embodiments of the utility model or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiment or the prior art description will be briefly introduced below, and obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the utility model, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained without creative labor.
[0027] Figure 1 The utility model discloses a space-faring droplet trap structure schematic view.
[0028] Figure 2 The utility model discloses a space-faring droplet trap in the water absorption state front view.
[0029] Figure 3 The utility model discloses a space-faring droplet trap in the water absorption state side view.
[0030] Figure 4 The utility model discloses a space-faring droplet trap in the water absorption state front view.
[0031] Figure 5 The utility model discloses a space-faring droplet trap in the water absorption state side view.
[0032] Figure 6 The utility model discloses a space-faring droplet trap in the water absorption state front view.
[0033] Figure 7 The utility model discloses a space-faring droplet trap in the water absorption state side view.
[0034] In the figure: 1-22, electrodes; 23, electrowetting module; 24, microcontroller; 25, battery; 26, adjustment switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] It should be noted that the embodiments and the features in the embodiments in the present application can be combined with each other without conflict. The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and in combination with the embodiments.
[0036] To make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in combination with the drawings of the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. The description of the at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative, but not as any limitation on the present application and its application or use. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of protection of the present application.
[0037] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing the specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and it should also be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in the specification, there is a feature, step, operation, device, component and / or combination thereof.
[0038] Unless specifically stated otherwise, the relative arrangement of the components and steps illustrated in these embodiments, numerical expressions, and numerical values are not meant to limit the scope of the present application. At the same time, it should be clear that the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn in accordance with the actual proportion relationship. The technology, methods and devices known to those skilled in the relevant art can not be discussed in detail, but in appropriate cases, the technology, methods and devices should be considered as part of the authorized specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific value should be interpreted as merely exemplary, and not as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments can have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numbers and letters represent similar items in the following drawings, so once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.
[0039] In the description of the utility model, it needs to understand that the orientation words such as " front, rear, upper, lower, left, right " " horizontal, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal " and " top, bottom " and the orientation or position relation indicated usually are based on the orientation or position relation shown in the drawing, just for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description, under the condition without making opposite statement, these orientation words do not indicate and imply that the device or element must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, therefore can not be understood as the limitation of the protection scope of the utility model: the orientation words " inner, outer " refer to the inner and outer of the contour of each component itself.
[0040] For the convenience of description, spatial relative terms such as "over", "above", "upper surface", "upper" and the like can be used herein to describe the spatial position relationship of one device or feature with other devices or features as shown in the drawings. It should be understood that the spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations in use or operation in addition to the orientation of the device described in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawing is inverted, the device described as "above" or "over" other devices or structures will be positioned "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below" orientations. The device can also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein are interpreted accordingly.
[0041] In addition, it needs to be explained that the use of "first", "second" and the like to limit parts is only for the convenience of distinguishing the corresponding parts, and the above words have no special meaning unless otherwise stated, therefore can not be understood as the limitation of the protection scope of the utility model.
[0042] Embodiment 1
[0043] As Figure 1 shown, the utility model provides a kind of space escape droplet trap, including electro wetting module 23, microcontroller 24 and battery 25;
[0044] The electro wetting module 23 includes substrate, interdigital electrode layer and Teflon hydrophobic layer;
[0045] The surface of the substrate has conductive layer, and the interdigital electrode layer is located on the surface of the conductive layer;The Teflon hydrophobic layer is located on the surface of the interdigital electrode;The Teflon hydrophobic layer is as the dielectric layer and hydrophobic layer of the droplet trap;Droplet is in hydrophobic state when on the surface of the Teflon hydrophobic layer, according to dielectric wetting principle, when the electrode of the interdigital electrode layer is applied potential, droplet diffuses, and contact angle decreases, so that medium surface can be wetted.
[0046] The interdigital electrode layer comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged in sequence along the length direction of the substrate, and each electrode is arranged along the width direction of the substrate; each electrode in the interdigital electrode layer is sequentially labeled along the length direction of the substrate and is electrically connected to the microcontroller 24 through a lead wire, and the microcontroller 24 is used to control the connection or disconnection between the electrodes with odd numbers and the positive electrode of the battery 25, and is also used to control the connection or disconnection between the electrodes with even numbers and the negative electrode of the battery 25.
[0047] Further, the working state of the droplet trap includes a water absorption state, a transport state and a detachment state.
[0048] When the droplet trap is in the water absorption state, the power supply 25 is turned on, the microcontroller 24 controls the electrodes with odd numbers to be electrically connected to the positive electrode of the battery 25 and controls the electrodes with even numbers to be electrically connected to the negative electrode of the battery 25, and the droplets can adhere to the surface of the droplet trap; in the water absorption state, by moving or waving the droplet trap, the space-escaping droplets can adhere to the surface of the droplet trap under the action of the electrowetting principle and will not be detached again, thereby achieving the purpose of trapping droplets.
[0049] When the droplet trap is in the transport state, the power supply 25 is turned on, and the microcontroller 24 controls each electrode to be sequentially disconnected from the power supply 25 in the order of the label, and the droplets on the surface of the droplet trap can be collected at the last disconnected electrode; in the transport state, the droplets adhering to the surface of the electrode will move in the direction of the disconnection order and be oriented to the same side of the droplet trap to form a large droplet.
[0050] When the droplet trap is in the detachment state, the power supply 25 is turned off; in the detachment state, a large droplet can be collected by placing a container under the droplet container.
[0051] Further, the microcontroller 24 adopts a time sequence switch.
[0052] Further, the surface of the substrate is prepared with the conductive layer by magnetron sputtering, and the surface of the conductive layer is prepared with the interdigital electrode layer by laser etching.
[0053] Further, the thickness of the interdigital electrode layer is 100nm-500nm, and since the thickness of the interdigital electrode layer is very thin, it will not burden and affect the quality and thickness of the substrate.
[0054] Further, the thickness of the Teflon hydrophobic layer is 2μm-10μm.
[0055] Further, after preparing the conductive layer and the interdigitated electrode layer on the substrate surface, the substrate surface with the interdigitated electrode layer is subjected to plasma treatment, and then a Teflon solution is spin-coated onto the interdigitated electrode layer surface. After drying in an oven or on a heating table, the Teflon hydrophobic layer is obtained. The Teflon solution used to prepare the Teflon hydrophobic layer is obtained by dissolving commercial Teflon AF1601X powder in FC-40 under heating. The spin coater used to spin-coate the Teflon solution has a rotation speed of 1000-3000 rpm.
[0056] Furthermore, the microcontroller 24 is provided with an adjustment switch 26 for switching the working state of the droplet trap.
[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the interdigitated electrode layer includes 22 electrodes 1-22; as shown Figures 2-7 As shown in the figure, the specific process of using the droplet trap provided in this embodiment to capture escaping droplets in the air of the spacecraft is as follows:
[0058] When the power supply 25 is turned on to provide DC power, the microcontroller 24 connects electrodes 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21 to the positive terminal of electrode 25, and electrodes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 to the negative terminal of electrode 25. At this time, the droplet collector is in a water-absorbing state. By moving and waving the droplet collector, droplets escaping from the air in the space capsule can be captured on the surface.
[0059] After the droplet adsorption is complete, the microcontroller 24 sequentially disconnects the electrodes from the power supply 25 in the order of electrodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22. During the power-off process, the droplet collector is in a transport state. For example, in the first 0-0.1 seconds, electrode 1 is disconnected from the power supply 25, while its adjacent electrode 2 remains connected to the power supply 25. Under these conditions, the droplets above electrodes 1 and 2 will exhibit obvious asymmetric forces on both sides. According to the principle of electrowetting, the droplet / substrate force on the side with electrowetting effect is much greater than that on the side without electrowetting effect. Therefore, when the droplets experience uneven forces on both sides, they will move toward electrode 22. Similar to the above process, when the power is turned off in sequence according to 1-22, all droplets will be directed to one side of electrode 22 and converge into a large droplet.
[0060] Finally, when all the droplets complete the directional transport and collection, the collected droplets need to be loaded into the designated container, at this time, the power supply 25 is powered off, all electrodes are powered off, and the droplet collector is in a disengaged state. Since the surface of the droplet collector is the Teflon hydrophobic layer, the force between the droplets and the surface of the Teflon hydrophobic layer is small without power, and the large droplets after coalescence can be directly collected by the designated container.
[0061] Finally, it should be noted that the above examples are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and not to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the foregoing examples can still be modified, or some or all of the technical features can be replaced by equivalents. The modifications or replacements do not change the essence of the corresponding technical solutions beyond the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.
Claims
1. A space-escape droplet trap, characterized in that, Includes an electrowetting module, a microcontroller, and a battery; The electrowetting module includes a substrate, an interdigitated electrode layer, and a Teflon hydrophobic layer; The substrate has a conductive layer on its surface, and the interdigitated electrode layer is located on the surface of the conductive layer; the Teflon hydrophobic layer is located on the surface of the interdigitated electrode. The interdigitated electrode layer includes a plurality of electrodes arranged at intervals along the length of the substrate, and each electrode is arranged along the width of the substrate. Each electrode in the interdigitated electrode layer is numbered along the length of the substrate and is electrically connected to the microcontroller via a lead. The microcontroller is used to control the connection or disconnection between the odd-numbered electrodes and the positive terminal of the battery, and also to control the connection or disconnection between the even-numbered electrodes and the negative terminal of the battery.
2. The space-escape droplet trap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The droplet collector operates in three states: water absorption, transport, and detachment. When the droplet collector is in the water absorption state, the battery is turned on, and the microcontroller controls the electrodes with odd numbers to be electrically connected to the positive terminal of the battery, and controls the electrodes with even numbers to be electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery, so that the droplets can adhere to the surface of the droplet collector. When the droplet collector is in transport mode, the battery is turned on, and the microcontroller controls each electrode to disconnect from the battery in sequence according to the numbering order, so that the droplets on the surface of the droplet collector can collect at the last electrode that is de-energized. When the droplet collector is in the disengaged state, the battery is de-energized.
3. The space-escape droplet trap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microcontroller uses a timing switch.
4. The space-escape droplet trap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive layer is prepared on the surface of the substrate by magnetron sputtering, and the interdigitated electrode layer is prepared on the surface of the conductive layer by laser etching.
5. The space-escape droplet trap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the interdigitated electrode layer is 100nm-500nm.
6. The space-escape droplet trap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the Teflon hydrophobic layer is 2μm-10μm.
7. The space-escape droplet trap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The interdigitated electrode layer comprises 22 electrodes.