Universal ground-based reduced gravity systems

Abstract

To provide universal ground-based reduced gravity systems.SOLUTION: The present invention provides ground-based reduced gravity systems and methods of using the same to evaluate, synthesize, adapt, alter, process and produce diverse, biological and non-biological, living and non-living, material systems under close-to-true microgravity conditions, such as those existing in space, and other reduced gravity conditions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 894,667, filed August 30, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating or otherwise inducing variable and reduced gravity conditions in the presence of a non-zero, finite gravity force in a surrounding environment within a partitioned region or volume that contains a material system that is affected by or responsive to gravity and is in contact with a non-rotating fluid medium. [Background technology]

[0003] There is a growing interest and need to develop systems, particularly ground systems, capable of creating reduced gravity conditions (<1g). The interest in developing such systems stems, inter alia, from humanity's global space exploration pursuits, the need for specialized research and development ground systems to better understand non-biological and non-living and living biological materials and systems and non-biological materials in reduced gravity environments, the need for advanced manufacturing systems to produce high performance materials, devices and systems for Earth-based applications in reduced gravity and for extreme space environments, and the need for relatively inexpensive, more accessible and practical ground systems that are generally available and scalable for the evaluation, synthesis, processing or production of various material systems in reduced gravity environments.

[0004] So far, there are only a limited number of engineered methods and devices capable of creating conditions capable of reducing the effects of gravity on non-biological material systems, such as polymers, ceramics, metals and their composites, as well as non-biological and biological biological material systems, and hybrid material systems composed of both non-biological and biological materials, while in an environment subject to the influence of a gravitational field. These include methods and devices developed to operate within the terrestrial terrestrial environment and those that operate in the environment of unit gravity (1-g or 9.81 m). 2 The present invention includes methods and apparatus developed to operate above ground, i.e., on the surface of a planet or the Earth, where gravity, gravity, and other forces exist. Examples of terrestrial reduced gravity systems include, among others, drop towers and drop tubes, balloons, aircraft performing parabolic flight patterns, sounding rockets, satellites, and low-orbit space stations, such as the International Space Station (ISS). Examples of terrestrial reduced gravity systems include, among others, levitation systems (acoustic, magnetic, electromagnetic, electrostatic, drop tubes), pulsed EMAG systems, combined electromagnetic (EMAG) / buoyancy systems, random positioning systems, centrifuge systems, suspension systems (for animals), head-up / tilt-down systems, water immersion systems, and fluid rotation systems.

[0005] Existing reduced gravity systems include, among others, cable systems that support test objects in a gravity environment for testing them in simulated weightless conditions; human-operated manufacturing equipment in microgravity; apparatus and methods including hollow launch tubes that launch passenger vehicles with pressurized gas, providing passengers with an experience of G-forces or weightlessness; apparatus and methods for generating magnetic fields to levitate heated and molten materials that are then cooled to more precisely control the material shape; low-power acoustic methods and apparatus for levitating and concentrating aerosols and other small liquid / solid samples; and low or excessive gravity in localized areas such as small containers for the purpose of affecting material synthesis. The present invention includes an apparatus and method for generating a magnetic field capable of simulating an environment; a test chamber suspended within an aircraft performing a parabolic flight path with a self-correcting center of gravity that simulates a reduced gravity environment; an apparatus and method including a statically balanced, adjustable spring device that allows walking in a reduced gravity environment for training, education, entertainment and leisure purposes; a variable gravity field simulator apparatus and method including a horizontally movable cart with a cable attached to a load that experiences the effects of a simulated reduced gravity environment; and an apparatus and method including an interactive tower truck and ride vehicle configured for passenger control during a free-fall descent.

[0006] With respect to materials synthesis and processing, existing systems include apparatus and methods for creating diamagnetic conditions induced by high magnetic fields that allow dynamic control of crystal growth under reduced gravity conditions; apparatus and methods for combining free electrophoresis with multi-stage extraction to improve separation and purification of cells, particles, proteins and solutes; apparatus and methods including devices for generating drop-tube type crystals in electrostatic levitation furnaces that allow solidification of particulate melts during free fall; apparatus and methods including electrostatic levitation furnaces that generate solidification of melts under weightless conditions; and apparatus and methods for creating cast metal objects in space using additive manufacturing processes.

[0007] With regard to cell and tissue bioreactors, existing systems include devices and methods that induce simulated microgravity conditions by utilizing rotating wall vessel bioreactors to grow living cells and tissues. A related system known as the classical clinostat, first introduced by Julius Sachs in 1879, uses a similar rotating system, but these related systems are utilized for seeds and small plants to assess gravitropic responses. However, none of these systems simulate a crucial feature of microgravity, namely the elimination of convective mixing in the liquids and gases around the test specimen. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Thus, there is a need for a versatile terrestrial reduced gravity technology platform that includes a compartmented area or volume, such as a chamber or container subjected to an ambient gravitational field, that contains a gravity-sensitive material system that is immersed in a non-rotating dynamic fluid medium such that a free-fall condition is maintained for extended periods of time.The present invention fills this need. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a reduced gravity system including at least one conduit having at least one lumen in communication with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at an elevation below an elevation of the outlet; a fluid medium flowable through the at least one conduit by a fluid flow inducer; and a partitioned chamber sized to move freely within at least one lumen of the at least one conduit.

[0010] In one embodiment, the at least one conduit is aligned at an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the gravitational force, the angle being between about 1° and 179°. In one embodiment, the at least one conduit is sized to accommodate a partitioned chamber between an inlet and an outlet. In one embodiment, the at least one conduit has an axial length dimension that is greater than the axial length of the partitioned chamber. In one embodiment, the at least one conduit has a length between about 1 cm and 100 m. In one embodiment, the at least one conduit has a width or radius such that the at least one conduit includes an aspect ratio between the axial length and the width or radius that is sized to accommodate a partitioned chamber between an inlet and an outlet. In one embodiment, the at least one conduit has a width between about 1 cm and 10 m. In one embodiment, the aspect ratio is between about 1:1 and 100:1.

[0011] In one embodiment, the fluid medium is selected from among water, oil, gel, air, nitrogen, inert gas, single-phase fluids, multi-phase fluids, and combinations thereof, In one embodiment, the fluid medium is selected with respect to viscosity, density, chemical properties (pH and polarity), and flow deformation behavior (Newtonian or non-Newtonian behavior).

[0012] In one embodiment, the system further includes one or more energy sources, a fluid tank, a sensor, an actuator, and a controller. In one embodiment, the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, positioning devices, accelerometers, gyroscopes, ultrasonic sensors, and capacitive displacement sensors. In one embodiment, the one or more actuators are selected from the group consisting of manual, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric actuators. In one embodiment, the system further includes one or more energy emitters selected from the group consisting of lasers, high and low radiant energy emitters, optical emitters, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasonic transducers, sound wave emitters, radiation emitters, magnetic field emitters, radio wave emitters, x-ray emitters, and electrodes.

[0013] In one embodiment, the partitioned chamber includes an outer enclosure surrounding a hollow interior. The partitioned chamber has a geometric shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a disk, a cylinder, a cube, a cone, a rectangular prism, and a box. In one embodiment, the hollow interior includes a single interior or is partitioned into a multi-compartment interior. In one embodiment, the hollow interior is partitioned into two compartments by a barrier element including a ring sized to fit tightly within the hollow interior, a hollow core sized to fit tightly within a central hole of the ring, and a plug sized to fit tightly within a cavity of the core. In one embodiment, the plug is a gate or valve that can be opened to unblock the cavity of the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. In one embodiment, the plug includes a dissolvable or degradable material that melts or splits over time to unblock the cavity of the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. In one embodiment, the region of the outer enclosure of the partitioned chamber includes a semi-permeable membrane. In one embodiment, the outer enclosure of the partitioned chamber contains a volume of fluid immiscible with the fluid medium flowable through the at least one conduit. In one embodiment, the partitioned chamber has a cross-sectional area that is 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 99% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the at least one lumen. In one embodiment, the at least one conduit and the partitioned chamber are at least partially transparent or translucent.

[0014] In one embodiment, the system further includes one or more energy emitters selected from the group consisting of lasers, high and low radiant energy emitters, optical emitters, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasonic transducers, sound wave emitters, radiation emitters, magnetic field emitters, radio wave emitters, x-ray emitters, and electrodes.

[0015] In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of suspending a chamber in a simulated reduced gravity, the method comprising: providing a reduced gravity system including at least one conduit having at least one lumen extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at an elevation below an elevation of the outlet, and a partitioned chamber sized to fit inside the at least one lumen; aligning the conduit at an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the force of gravity, the angle being between about 1° and 179°; and flowing a fluid into the inlet of the at least one conduit and out of the outlet of the at least one conduit, the fluid having a density lower than a density of the partitioned chamber, the fluid being flowed at a rate that supports the partitioned chamber such that the partitioned chamber is maintained in a constant position inside the conduit.

[0016] In one embodiment, the angle of at least one conduit is varied to modify the amount of gravity experienced by the partitioned chamber. In one embodiment, the fluid is selected for a density lower than the density of the partitioned chamber.

[0017] In one aspect, the invention relates to a compartmented chamber device that includes an outer enclosure surrounding a hollow interior, the compartmented chamber device being configured to simulate a gravitational environment within the hollow interior near a planetary surface.

[0018] In one embodiment, the gravity environment is between about unit gravity and zero gravity. In one embodiment, the hollow interior is partitioned into separate compartments. In one embodiment, the hollow interior is partitioned into two compartments by a barrier element including a ring sized to fit tightly within the hollow interior, a hollow core sized to fit tightly within a central hole of the ring, and a plug sized to fit tightly within a cavity of the core. In one embodiment, the plug is a gate or valve that can be opened to unblock the cavity of the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. In one embodiment, the plug includes a dissolvable or degradable material that melts or splits over time to unblock the cavity of the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. The outer enclosure region of the partitioned chamber includes a semipermeable membrane.

[0019] In one embodiment, the device is configured to support a process selected from the group consisting of materials synthesis and processing; synthesis and processing of new materials; investigation of material structure, properties, processing and behavior; industrial crystallization; thin film deposition and processing; biological and biomaterials synthesis and processing; protein crystallization; pharmaceutical synthesis and processing; cell, tissue and organ growth and regeneration; metal processing; glass synthesis and processing; alloy synthesis and fabrication; manufacturing; ceramics synthesis and processing; polymer synthesis and processing; semiconductor synthesis; materials assembly and self-assembly; optical fiber fabrication, composite synthesis and processing; component, device and system performance evaluation; additive manufacturing; and biomanufacturing.

[0020] In one embodiment, the device is sized for occupancy by animals and humans. In one embodiment, the device is configured to simulate reduced gravity for entertainment. In one embodiment, the device is configured to simulate reduced gravity conditions within a low earth orbit spacecraft.

[0021] The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities of the embodiments shown in the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary reduced gravity conduit system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary partitioned chamber. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary partitioned chamber barrier element (left) and plug (right). [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for suspending a chamber in a simulated reduced gravity. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a schematic of an exemplary reaction chamber. [Figure 6] Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary vertical conduit simulated reduced gravity system. Figure 10 illustrates the experimental setup of the vertical conduit simulated reduced gravity system. [Figure 7] Figure 7 depicts the results of microgravity-responded calcite (left) and unit gravity-responded calcite (right) viewed at 20x via optical microscopy. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 depicts the results of SEM imaging of calcite development using 100% saturated solutions at unit gravity (A, B, C) and microgravity (D, E, F). A and D are at 200x magnification; B and E are at 2500x magnification; C and F are at 10000x magnification. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 illustrates the results of dynamic light scattering (DLS) characterization of calcite developed in unit and microgravity. Graph 1 combines all the data. Graph 2 illustrates only calcite developed using 100% saturated solutions. Graph 3 illustrates only calcite developed using 50% saturated solutions. Graph 4 illustrates only calcite developed using 20% ​​saturated solutions. FIG. 14 illustrates a table summarizing the raw data collected from unit and microgravity calcite formation observations. FIG. 15 illustrates a table summarizing the results of the unit and microgravity calcite formation experiments. [Figure 10] Figure 10 depicts the results of an experiment investigating the effect of substrate material on calcite formation time. The top graph varies the CaCl2 concentration, and the bottom graph varies the Na2CO3 concentration. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 depicts the results of an experiment investigating the effect of pH on calcite formation. [Figure 12] Figure 12 depicts the results of an experiment investigating the effect of temperature on calcite formation. Precursors for A (500x) and B (100x) were at room temperature, and precursors for C (200x) and D (200x) were on ice. B and D are imaged under polarized light. [Figure 13] Figure 13 illustrates the results of SEM imaging of calcite grown on glass and plastic surfaces. A (500x) and B (12000x) are grown on glass. C (1000x) and D (5000x) are grown on plastic. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 depicts the results of dynamic light scattering (DLS) characterization of calcite formed with various precursor concentrations. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 depicts the results of dynamic recording of particle formation and time in solution at unit gravity. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 depicts the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results of calcite and standard CaCO3 and NaCl at unit gravity. [Figure 17]FIG. 17 illustrates the results of SEM imaging of calcite formed under various conditions. A, calcite developed in unit gravity with a 50% saturated solution, imaged at 10,000x. B, calcite developed in microgravity with a 50% saturated solution, imaged at 10,000x. C, calcite developed in unit gravity with a 20% saturated solution, imaged at 10,000x. D, calcite developed in microgravity with a 20% saturated solution, imaged at 10,000x. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 depicts the results of DLS observations on calcite formed under various saturation levels. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 illustrates the results of calcite formation reacted on a reduced gravity aircraft. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The present invention provides terrestrial reduced gravity systems and methods of use for evaluating, synthesizing, adapting, modifying, processing and producing a variety of biological and non-biological, living and non-living material systems in realistic microgravity and other reduced gravity conditions, such as those found in space.

[0024] definition It should be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified for clarity to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while omitting many other elements typically found in the art. Those skilled in the art may recognize that other elements and / or steps are desirable and / or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such changes and modifications to such elements and methods known to those skilled in the art.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined elsewhere, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, exemplary methods and materials are described.

[0026] As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning associated with it in this section.

[0027] The articles "a" and "an" are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, "an element" means one element or more than one element.

[0028] As used herein, the term "about" when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, duration, and the like, is intended to encompass variations of ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, and ±0.1% from the stated value, as such variations are appropriate.

[0029] The term "bounded" as used herein is intended to describe a physical boundary that separates the interior of the chamber from the exterior of the chamber. Thus, a bounded chamber prevents the contents of the chamber from freely leaking out and mixing with materials outside the chamber, and prevents materials outside the chamber from freely entering the chamber and mixing with the contents of the chamber. The physical boundary can be a rigid or flexible enclosure. The physical boundary can also be an interface between two immiscible liquids. It should be understood that the physical boundary can selectively allow particles to enter or exit, such as in the case of semipermeable membranes and ports.

[0030] The term "sealingly" as used herein is intended to describe an air-tight, water-tight fit. A first component that sealably fits within a second component closely positions the first component inside the second component to prevent gases, liquids, and solids from crossing through the sealant fit. A first component that sealably fits within the hollow interior of a second component can serve to divide the hollow interior of the second component into multiple sections such that the gases, liquids, and solids within each section are tightly isolated from the gases, liquids, and solids in each of the other sections.

[0031] Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and shorthand, and should not be considered as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Thus, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all possible subranges and individual numerical values ​​within that range. For example, the description of a range such as 1-6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-4, 2-6, 3-6, and individual numbers within that range, such as 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, 6, and any whole and partial increments therebetween. This is true regardless of the breadth of the range.

[0032] Reduced Gravity System Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary reduced gravity system 100 is depicted. The reduced gravity system 100 includes at least one conduit 102 having at least one lumen 104 running between an inlet 106 and an outlet 108. The lumen 104 is sized to fit into a partitioned chamber 110. The reduced gravity system 100 is configured to receive any suitable fluid through the lumen 104. In various embodiments, the fluid may be a gas, liquid, gel, or combinations thereof. The fluid flow may be a closed circuit, where the same volume of fluid is continuously passed through the conduit 102 in a recirculation mode, or it may be an open circuit, where a source of fluid flows through the conduit 102 in a single pass. In some embodiments, the lumen 104 includes an internal platform or support configured to hold the partitioned chamber 110 in the absence of fluid flow. A suitable internal platform or support does not impede the flow of fluid and may include, without limitation, a mesh or wire plate, or one or more rods that at least partially span the width of the lumen 104.

[0033] In some embodiments, the inlet 106 is positioned at a height lower than the height of the outlet 108 such that fluid flowing through the lumen 104 flows against the pull of gravity, pulling the partitioned chamber 110 located within the lumen 104 towards the inlet 106. This allows the conduit 102 to be installed in any orientation that maintains the relative orientation between the inlet 106 and the outlet 108. For example, the orientation of the conduit 102 can be described in terms of the angle between the longitudinal axis of the conduit 102 and a horizontal plane, where a fully upright conduit 102 is oriented at an angle of 90° from the horizontal plane. In this configuration, the orientation of the conduit 102 can have any desired angle between about 1° and 90° with respect to the horizontal plane. In some embodiments, orienting the conduit 102 at 90° relative to the horizontal plane simulates microgravity within the partitioned chamber 110, while orienting the conduit 102 at an angle between about 1° and 90° relative to the horizontal plane simulates reduced gravity within the partitioned chamber 110.

[0034] The reduced gravity system 100 is configured to simulate microgravity and reduced gravity in the partitioned chamber 110 by providing a flow of fluid that counters the gravitational pull at a rate that supports the gravity of the partitioned chamber 110. In this manner, the partitioned chamber 110 is maintained in a constant position within the conduit 102, essentially in a sustained free fall. To this end, the reduced gravity system 100 may further include one or more fluid flow inducing means (e.g., pumps), energy sources, fluid tanks, sensors, actuators (manual, pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, etc.), controllers (proportional (P), integral (I), derivative (D), and combinations thereof, such as PI, PD, PID, etc., non-embedded or as a microcontroller), etc. In some embodiments, the reduced gravity system 100 may be operated manually, where an operator may manually control the flow rate of fluid through the conduit 102 to maintain the partitioned chamber 110 in a constant position. Manual operation may be aided by adding one or more external or internal markings on the conduits 102 to monitor the position of the partitioned chambers 110. In some embodiments, the reduced gravity system 100 may be operated automatically, where the flow rate of the fluid may be monitored by one or more flow sensors; the partitioned chambers 110 may be monitored by one or more optical sensors, positioning devices, accelerometers, gyroscopes, ultrasonic sensors, capacitive displacement sensors, etc.; and a controller may automatically adjust pump speeds and flow rates to maintain the partitioned chambers 110 in a constant position. Automatic adjustments are useful when the contents of the partitioned chambers 110 are variable, requiring adjustments to the flow rate as the mass changes. In various embodiments, the reduced gravity system 100 may support an array of conduits 102, where each conduit 102 may be monitored and controlled simultaneously, sequentially, or asynchronously.

[0035] In various embodiments, the reduced gravity system 100 can further include one or more energy transmitters. Contemplated energy transmitters include, but are not limited to, lasers, high and low radiant energy, various wavelengths of light, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasound transducers, sound wave emitters, radiation emitters, magnetic field emitters, radio wave emitters, x-ray emitters, electrodes, and the like. The energy transmitters can be selectively aimed at a point, a section or the entirety of the conduit 102, the partitioned chamber 110, or both, to interrogate the conduit 102 and the partitioned chamber 110 with energy. The energy transmitters can be useful in any number of applications, including, but not limited to, electroporation, photoporation, photocrosslinking, heating, radiation therapy, magnetic therapy, and the like.

[0036] The partitioned chamber 110 is a vessel sized to fit and move freely within the lumen 104. The partitioned chamber 110 includes an outer enclosure surrounding a hollow interior. The outer enclosure prevents convective mixing between the contents of the hollow interior and fluid passing through the lumen 104. The hollow interior may be compartmentalized into any number of compartments and configured to accommodate any desired operation, including, but not limited to, reactions, experiments, research, manufacturing processes, fabrication processes, and treatments. Thus, the partitioned chamber 110 encompasses a wide range of vessels, from small containers to rooms and building sizes configured for human occupancy and / or habitation. Although the partitioned chamber 110 is depicted as having a spherical shape, the partitioned chamber 110 is not limited to any particular geometric shape. Contemplated shapes include, but are not limited to, spheres, disks, cubes, boxes, and the like.

[0037] In some embodiments, the partitioned chamber 110 may be compartmentalized to have multiple compartments, each containing one reactant. The compartments may be timed or controlled to release reactants into one another after reduced or microgravity is achieved. In some embodiments, the compartments may be fluidly connected to a main combination chamber, allowing reactants to be combined simultaneously or sequentially after reduced or microgravity is achieved. Contemplated applications of the partitioned chamber 110 include, but are not limited to, materials synthesis and processing; new materials synthesis and processing; investigation of materials structure, properties, processing and behavior; industrial crystallization; thin film deposition and processing; biological and biomaterials synthesis and processing; protein crystallization; pharmaceutical synthesis and processing; cell, tissue and organ growth and regeneration; metal processing; glass synthesis and processing; alloy synthesis and fabrication; manufacturing; ceramic synthesis and processing; polymer synthesis and processing; semiconductor synthesis; materials assembly and self-assembly; fiber optic fabrication, composite synthesis and processing; component, device and system performance evaluation; additive manufacturing; and biomanufacturing.

[0038] In some embodiments, the compartmented chamber 110 is a room or building-sized structure. The compartmented chamber 110 can be scaled to accommodate animal and human occupancy and to include living areas, laboratory areas, storage areas, and the like. Thus, the compartmented chamber 110 can be used as a work base for short-term and long-term microgravity and reduced gravity experiments. In some embodiments, the room or building-sized compartmented chamber 110 can be used to replicate conditions inside a spacecraft, such as a space capsule, space shuttle, or space station. For example, the room or building-sized compartmented chamber 110 can be used to replicate, authenticate, or replace experiments performed in low orbit (e.g., on the International Space Station) or in outer space. In some embodiments, the compartmented chamber 110 can be used for entertainment or training purposes. A terrestrial reduced or microgravity system operating at a room or building scale can be a cost-effective, safe, and more user-friendly way to replicate experiments aboard reduced gravity aircraft to train animals and humans for reduced and microgravity operations or for entertainment.

[0039] 2 and 3, an exemplary partitioned chamber 200 is depicted. The partitioned chamber 200 includes a spherical outer enclosure 202 that encases a hollow interior 204. The hollow interior 204 is partitioned into two halves by a barrier element constructed from a ring 206, a core 208, and a plug 212. In some embodiments, the barrier element may further include a spacer 210 positioned between the ring 206 and the core 208. The ring 206 has a flattened disk shape with an outer diameter sized to fit snugly within the hollow interior 204 and a central hole sized to fit with the core 208. The core 208 includes a hollow cylindrical shape with an outer diameter sized to fit snugly within the hollow inner diameter of the ring 206. The plug 212 is sized to fit snugly within the hollow interior of the core 208. The plug 212 includes a mechanism that temporarily blocks the hollow interior of the core 208 such that upon activation of the mechanism, the plug 212 unblocks the hollow interior of the core 208 and fluidly connects the compartmentalized halves of the hollow interior 204. In some embodiments, the mechanism of the plug 212 is mechanical, such as a gate or valve that opens after a set time has elapsed, either electronically or by remote activation, or after a wind-up mechanism has used up a certain amount of stored energy. In some embodiments, the mechanism of the plug 212 is material-based, such as an ice plug, a dissolvable plug, or a degradable plug that melts or breaks apart over time. In this way, the compartmentalized chamber 200 is configured to store materials in each of the two compartments and mix the two compartments after a certain delay. Providing a delayed mix is ​​necessary if a reaction between two materials is desired after microgravity or reduced gravity conditions are established within the hollow interior 204.

[0040] In various embodiments, the compartmented chamber of the present invention can be modified as needed for a given application. For example, in some embodiments where the compartmented chamber is housing a wired connection, a fluid or material transfer system, or some other temporary or permanent connection to a system external to the reduced gravity system 100 during use, the compartmented chamber can include a tether or conduit that can be temporarily or permanently connected to an external system. The external system can include an energy source, a growth medium circulation system, an air or gas tank, a waste removal system, a specimen transfer system, and the like. In some embodiments, the compartmented chamber can include a semi-permeable outer enclosure or a region of the outer enclosure that includes a semi-permeable membrane. For example, the compartmented chamber can house a cell culture, tissue culture, or some other living organism culture. The compartmented chamber can be suspended in a fluid stream having gas or nutrients that can diffuse across the semi-permeable outer enclosure into the interior of the compartmented chamber. In a similar manner, waste materials and analytes of interest may diffuse from the partitioned chamber across the semi-permeable outer enclosure into the fluid stream for removal or sampling. In some embodiments, the partitioned chamber may contain a pocket of a first fluid suspended in a stream of a second fluid that is immiscible with the first fluid, where the outer enclosure is formed by an immiscible interface between the first and second fluids.

[0041] The reduced gravity system 100 can have any suitable dimensions. For example, in some embodiments, the conduit 102 has an axial length dimension that is greater than the axial length of the partitioned chamber 110. In some embodiments, the conduit 102 has a width or radius such that its aspect ratio in relation to its axial length is sufficient to accommodate the partitioned chamber 110 between the inlet 106 and the outlet 108. In some embodiments, the conduit 102 can have any suitable length (i.e., height) or width, including, but not limited to, a length of about 1 cm to about 100 m or more, and a width of about 1 cm to about 10 m or more. In some embodiments, the conduit 102 has a length-to-width aspect ratio of about 1:1 to about 100:1. Although the conduit 102 is depicted as being tubular in shape, it should be understood that the conduit 102 can have any desired configuration, including a square cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, an oval cross-section, and the like. Similarly, the partitioned chamber can have any suitable dimensions that fit inside the conduit 102. In some embodiments, the conduit 102 can have an annular cross-section, such that the concentric conduits form an innermost lumen open to the atmosphere and a ring-shaped lumen through which fluid can flow. Thus, the partitioned chamber can have a donut shape to fit inside the conduit 102, which has an annular cross-section. In some embodiments, the size of the partitioned chamber can be defined as having a cross-sectional area that is a percentage of the cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen 104. For example, the partitioned chamber can have a cross-sectional area that is 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 99% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen 104.

[0042] The reduced gravity system 100 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as metals, plastics, and polymers, including, but not limited to, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, silicone, PVC, polyethylene, and the like. In some embodiments, some components or portions of some components may be constructed of transparent or translucent materials. The components may be fabricated using any suitable method known in the art. The fabrication method may vary depending on the material used. For example, components that are substantially metal may be milled from a larger block of metal or cast from molten metal. Similarly, components that are substantially plastic or polymer may be milled from a larger block, cast, or injection molded. In some embodiments, the components may be fabricated using 3D printing or other additive manufacturing techniques commonly used in the art. In some embodiments, the method may embed additional components, such as circuits, electrodes, magnets, diodes, and the like, such that the resulting system may be able to pass electricity to support electroporation, photoporation, electrophoresis, magnetic fields, and the like. In various embodiments, coatings, patterns, and other finely constructed features may be applied using techniques such as etching, lithography, deposition, spin coating, dip coating, and the like.

[0043] How to use The present invention also includes methods of using the reduced gravity system to simulate microgravity and reduced gravity conditions. As described elsewhere herein, the reduced gravity system of the present invention has the ability to suspend a partitioned chamber in a flowing fluid against gravity to maintain the partitioned chamber and its contents in a constant state of free fall.

[0044] The unique capabilities of reduced gravity systems provide a diverse group of materials researchers, material processors and product developers with the ability to evaluate partial / reduced gravity analogs and specifically the effects of microgravity on physical, chemical and biological materials and processes in support of the development of new materials and associated manufacturing processes relevant to Earth-bound product applications as well as space exploration and development applications; fabricate engineered materials with more careful control of atomic and molecular structure not achievable under terrestrial conditions; operate and evaluate devices and systems under true microgravity conditions; scale and customize reduced gravity systems; and operate reduced gravity systems in reduced gravity conditions over a wide range of processing time and length scales.

[0045] 4, an exemplary method 300 for suspending a chamber in a simulated reduced gravity is depicted. The method 300 begins at step 302, where a reduced gravity system is provided that includes at least one conduit having at least one lumen extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at an elevation below the elevation of the outlet, and a partitioned chamber sized to fit inside the at least one lumen. At step 304, the longitudinal axis of the conduit is aligned at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, i.e., a plane perpendicular to the force of gravity. The angle can be any desired angle, such as an angle between about 1° and about 179°. In some embodiments, the angle may be 1°, 5°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 45°, 50°, 60°, 70°, 80°, 90°, 100°, 110°, 120°, 130°, 135°, 140°, 150°, 160°, 170°, 175°, 179°, or any angle or range of angles between these values. In some embodiments, the angle of the conduit 102 may be varied to modify the amount of gravity force experienced by the partitioned chamber. In step 206, fluid is caused to flow into the inlet and out of the outlet of the conduit at a rate that supports the partitioned chamber such that the partitioned chamber is maintained in a constant position within the conduit. Contemplated fluids include, but are not limited to, water, cell growth medium, serum, plasma, oil, gel, gas, nitrogen, inert gas, air, single-phase fluids, multi-phase fluids, fluid mixtures, and the like. In some embodiments, the fluids are controllable with respect to temperature, pH, polarity (polar or non-polar), viscosity, density, pressure, chemical properties, flow deformation behavior (Newtonian or non-Newtonian), and the like.

[0046] In some embodiments, the fluid is selected depending on the density and shape of the partitioned chamber. As described elsewhere herein, a feeling of weightlessness can be created in the partitioned chamber after reaching terminal velocity in the fluid flow due to local drag forces supporting the weight of the partitioned chamber. Selection of an appropriate fluid can be done as follows: the mass M falling in the fluid medium at constant temperature is B , diameter DB The free body force diagram for a solid ball of mass M B This shows that the object falls only in the y-axis, and therefore there is no force interaction in the x-axis. In this case, the forces interacting with the object include: (a) buoyant force F b (b) Gravity F, which pulls the object downward toward the center of mass of the Earth g and (c) a drag force D arising from the interaction of the surface area of ​​the object with the medium. The force balance for this system is therefore:

number

[0047] There is no motion in the z or x axes, i.e.

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

[0048] By solving equation 3 for terminal velocity and substituting the various terms, we obtain the following terminal velocity equation for free fall, Equation 7:

number

[0049] Considering Equation 7, we see that the terminal velocity is proportional to the diameter of the spherical object (D B ), object (ρ B ) and medium (ρ M ) and the acceleration of gravity (g), and the drag coefficient (C d ) and medium density (ρ M As long as there is relative motion between the object and the medium, the drag force and the associated drag coefficient C d There exists. d depends on the physical properties of the medium and is related to the Reynolds number (R e ), the Reynolds number, a dimensionless constant defined as the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces, is used to determine the drag force arising from the relative motion of objects immersed in a fluid, including those in free fall. Drag is expressed as R eand the shape of the object. In order to determine the terminal velocity, it is important to define the Reynolds number for the system in question, which can then be expressed as the drag coefficient C for a given object geometry. d can be used to determine.

[0050] Generally speaking, the Reynolds number can be divided into four distinct regions: Region I:R e <0.3;Area II:0.3 <R e <1000;Area III:1000 <R e <200000; and Region IV:R e >20000. For a given domain and object geometry, a modified version of the terminal velocity equation can be applied.

[0051] In Region I, in the example of a spherical object moving through a medium such as gas or liquid, it is the force of gravity (F g ) in the opposite direction to the downward motion caused by the drag force (F d ) Terminal velocity is achieved when the drag force is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the force of gravity pulling on the object. The terminal velocity of an object in Region I is shown in Equation 8, where μ m is the dynamic velocity of the medium, g is the gravitational acceleration as defined above, and D B is the ball diameter, and ρ B means the density of the ball, and ρ M is the density of the medium. The constant 18 represents the value of the drag coefficient at this dynamic condition.

number

[0052] Referring to Equation 8, for a spherical solid object falling freely through a medium in Region I, the terminal velocity of the object depends on the diameter and density of the object. As long as the density of the object exceeds the density of the medium through which it is falling, there will be a terminal velocity associated with the object.

[0053] Within region II, for example objects with larger surface areas and masses, the drag from the air and gravity will be greater. Therefore, the Reynolds number will be different as well and will be higher. For a spherical object, C d can be determined via equation 9 shown below:

number

[0054] In region III, the drag coefficient has an almost constant value with respect to the geometry of the system in free fall. For example, for a spherical object, C d is 0.44, therefore the terminal velocity equation for a spherical object can be modified as shown in Equation 10.

number

[0055] Essentially, the fluid may be selected based on the density of the partitioned chamber, where the density of the partitioned chamber is greater than the density of the fluid. In some embodiments, it may be more feasible to modify the density of the partitioned chamber to be greater than the density of the selected fluid. For example, one or more weights may be added to the partitioned chamber, or the partitioned chamber may be enclosed in a denser enclosure.

[0056] The methods may be useful in the fields of materials science and engineering, research and development linked to materials, component and device manufacturing. Additionally, there are numerous existing and emerging fields and industries that explore, develop, modify and utilize terrestrially manufactured or self-assembled materials, as well as emerging industries that contemplate utilizing manufactured or self-assembled materials in other environments, such as space, among other so-called extreme environments.

[0057] Additional relevant fields include, but are not limited to, physical sciences (e.g., chemistry, biochemistry, physics, geology, geography), life sciences (e.g., biology, developmental biology, microbiology, reproductive biology, immunology, medicine); engineering (e.g., aerospace engineering, bioengineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science and engineering, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering); biotechnology; information / communication technology; microelectronics / electronics, and the like.

[0058] The methods are also useful in manufacturing and fabrication in related industries including, but not limited to, aerospace, automotive, chemical, clothing, construction / housing, cosmetics, energy, healthcare, food, manufacturing, medical devices / technology, micro / nanoelectronics, pharmaceuticals, transportation, etc. Similarly, the methods may be useful in operating, evaluating and validating devices and systems such as analytical instruments, medical devices, bioreactors, among others, under reduced gravity conditions for both terrestrial and space applications. EXAMPLES

[0059] The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following experimental examples. These examples are provided merely as examples and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the present invention should not be considered to be limited in any way to the following examples, but rather to encompass any and all variations that become evident as a result of the teachings provided herein.

[0060] Without further description, it is believed that one of ordinary skill in the art can, using the preceding description and the following illustrative examples, make and utilize the compounds of the present invention and practice the claimed methods. As such, the following examples specifically point out illustrative embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting in any way the remainder of the disclosure.

[0061] Example 1: Investigation of mineralization processes under simulated microgravity free convection-free conditions in a unit gravity environment The following study investigates the feasibility of a test system that simulates microgravity conditions while operating within a unit gravity environment. The study also evaluates the test system by investigating the nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) under microgravity conditions.

[0062] Calcite mineralization One goal of this work was to develop a standard technique for reproducibly carrying out the calcite mineralization reaction, as described in Equation 1 below, under unit gravity for selected chemical precursor concentrations and desired environmental conditions. Additionally, selected characterization techniques were also carried out and are described in further detail below.

number

[0063] Calcite precursor concentration: Effect on nucleation and growth of CaCO3 Stock solutions of CaCl2 (SolA) and NaCO3 (SolB) served as precursors for calcium carbonate (CaCO3) formation. Starting from the solubility limit of calcium chloride (0.0745 g calcium chloride in 1 mL deionized water (DI) and reverse osmosis water), serial dilutions were made up to this calcium chloride saturation level (SolA). Similarly, a series of sodium carbonate solutions (SolB) were made starting from its solubility limit in water (0.0714 g Na2CO3 in 1 mL DI water) at T=25°C and pH=7. Solutions (A and B) were made via dissolution of solid chemicals in DI water and stored in 250 mL glass bottles. The variance of the weight measurements was ±5%.

[0064] The calcite mineralization study conducted under unit gravity conditions was carried out as follows. Using a clean plastic pipette, 2 mL each of SolA and SolB were transferred from the glass bottle containing the precursor stock solution into a clean test tube and gently mixed. The formation of calcite was qualitatively determined as the point when a color change clearly observable to the naked eye occurred in the transparent mixture of SolA and SolB. The formation of calcite was also confirmed quantitatively by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Note that two sets of test tubes were used: one set as a control containing only clear DI water, and another set containing the mixed calcite precursor solution. To enhance the direct visualization of calcite formation, a blue background and a lighting fixture fixed above the reaction were utilized.

[0065] The conditions in the solution as well as at the solution-mineral interface regulate the rates and mechanisms of mineral formation and transformation. Thermodynamic factors govern the mineral crystallization process, which includes the pH of the solution, mineral saturation, ionic strength, temperature, and degree of ion association. In this study, only the effects of the pH of the solution and surface energy on calcite mineral formation were investigated.

[0066] Effect of pH on changes in calcite formation The effect of pH on calcite formation was carried out by varying the pH (5 < pH < 7) of the deionized (DI) water used in the calcite mineralization experiment.

[0067] Effect of surface energy characteristics on calcite nucleation In heterogeneous nucleation of minerals such as calcite, stable solid calcite nuclei form at the solution-mineral interface, i.e., on the walls of the container, and only when activation energy barriers within the system are overcome. Therefore, the potential effect that glass and plastic mixing chambers or test tubes may have on calcite nucleation and growth justified a preliminary investigation of the effect of surface energy properties on calcite nucleation and growth. Calcite nucleation and growth was studied by mixing calcium chloride {CaCl2=0.0018625g / mL} with sodium bicarbonate {Na2CO3=0.001785g / mL} in the presence of different reaction chamber systems and captured using a 1 / 4000(s) camera. Calcite samples for XRD confirmation were collected using a microfiltration separation method.

[0068] Calcite Reaction Chamber Since the aim of this study was to investigate the nucleation and growth of calcite in microgravity conditions in a unit gravity environment, the design of a novel test system was necessary and essential to achieve the goal of this project. The ultimate design objective was to design a reaction housing that would allow the mixing of the two separated calcite precursors to occur in a transparent and robust chamber maintained at terminal velocity conditions. It is equally important that this reaction chamber is capable of initiating the in situ reaction of precursors SolA and SolB only after placing the chamber under microgravity conditions, and that this reaction can then continue under the influence of microgravity. Another crucial design specification is the absence of bulk convective fluid motion in the reaction chamber, which is intended to operate immersed in a dynamic fluid flow system as a practical means of minimizing any external forces, since it would avoid free convection-free conditions that must be maintained as the reaction proceeds.

[0069] One of the dominant concepts for the reaction chamber design considered in the concept generation was a system comprising a two-halved transparent plastic shell housing a tank chamber capable of filling and storing the calcite precursors SolA and SolB in separate compartments until a predefined time has elapsed before inducing mixing of the precursor solutions.

[0070] Transformation of this concept into an experimental reactor test system led to the development of a spherical housing containing two compartments, each with two small access ports, one used to inject the calcite reactant and the other serving as a vent to displace air from the chamber and release it into the atmosphere. The reaction chamber housing was devised by modifying a clear plastic capsule used to store small toys within larger packages for sale at retail stores. An empty clear plastic sphere 15.5 mm in diameter was constructed and two holes were drilled into the top of each half.

[0071] 1 mL of solutions A and B of known concentrations were poured via disposable syringe gauge 18 into each half of the reaction chamber, separated by a temporary barrier in sequence to avoid premature mixing, while allowing air to be displaced and released to the atmosphere through the other hole. After filling the fluid reservoir, both the injection and air displacement ports were sealed with parafilm. Note that it was important to keep the center gravity of the reaction chamber at or very close to the center of the chamber to minimize rotation of the chamber when placed in the flow field and inadvertent mixing of fluids within the reaction chamber. Densities of SolA and SolB were determined using pycnometers and adjusted appropriately if desired.

[0072] A critical design feature required was a reaction chamber element that could function in a manner that would delay triggering mixing of the calcite precursor solutions until such time as was desired, without interfering with the subsequent chemical reaction mechanism once utilized. Such a reaction chamber feature would need to accommodate the delay time required to assemble and prime the reaction chamber with SolA and SolB, while still having additional time to install the chamber in a microgravity testing system (described in more detail below) that allowed for additional time to be used to achieve microgravity conditions prior to mixing of the calcite reactants.

[0073] The design concept that met the required specifications for this reaction chamber feature was a glass tube threaded and fixed into a thin, sturdy circular Plexiglas element. A crucial feature of this composite structure was the ability to temporarily immerse this element into a separate spherical housing having a slightly smaller diameter than the reaction chamber, which was then filled with water and subsequently frozen. It is believed that once this interlayer ice barrier element is frozen, it can then be fitted into the reaction chamber and serve as the reactor mixing delay element.

[0074] Once fully assembled, it was then possible to inject the calcite reaction (SolA / SolB) into the reaction chamber as briefly described above, followed by immediate installation of the reaction chamber in the microgravity test system described below, with sufficient time to allow the test system to achieve microgravity conditions prior to ice melting and subsequent mixing of the reactants. As depicted diagrammatically in Figure 3, left (without ice) and Figure 3, right (with ice), this mid-layer ice barrier element has four components: a solid continuous ice section in the shape of a dumbbell (0.8 mL of HO); a cylindrical core of glass (7.5 × 3 × 4 mm); and a glass tube (1.2 × 1.2 × 1.2 mm). 3 ), a flexible plastic layer, and a rigid Plexiglas plastic ring (1×2×13.5 mm) that is press-fit into the middle section of the reaction chamber housing. 3Each reaction chamber component was wrapped in parafilm to avoid leakage and dilution of the reactants.

[0075] When fully assembled, the reaction chamber has the capacity to hold up to 1 mL of fluid (reactant), remove an equal volume of displaced gas (air), separate reactants for a desired time delay period, and fit within a microgravity-induced fluid experiment system that can accommodate up to a 1.5 cm diameter spherical reactor system as shown in Figure 2. A schematic depiction of the fully assembled reactor chamber is shown in Figure 5.

[0076] It should be noted that the dilution effect of melting the intermediate ice barrier has been accounted for in calcite reaction tests conducted under both unit gravity and simulated microgravity conditions. With the proposed reaction chamber design in mind, the remainder of the Experimental section describes the devised simulated microgravity test system, and the operating procedures and conditions.

[0077] Simulated Microgravity Test Systems and Environments Recalling that the premise of the present investigation was to determine the feasibility of investigating mineral nucleation and growth in a simulated microgravity environment in a manner comparable to the same reaction carried out under unit gravity conditions, it was also necessary to devise a microgravity test system that would allow particles resulting from calcite nucleation and growth to achieve "terminal velocity conditions." Another requirement of these microgravity test systems was that they would be free of appreciable bulk flow conditions within the reaction chamber resulting from external fluid flow perturbations. This requirement would ensure that free convection effects arising from the interior of the reaction chamber operating under a gravity field would essentially be absent under the simulated microgravity conditions.

[0078] With these experimental test specifications now met, an experimental system was designed and utilized in this study that included a vertical rigid conduit that simulated microgravity in a manner similar to the well-known "free fall in an elevator" condition.

[0079] Vertical conduit simulated microgravity system The end goal was to develop a practical bench-top model that would simulate microgravity. One attractive system, shown in Figure 6, operates with unidirectional HO single-pass flow (from a laboratory faucet) and is simple to assemble and disassemble. As such, it can accommodate a reaction chamber housing within a time frame that does not exceed the time for ice melting through the interlayer separation barrier. This test device is extremely simple to build and use. It is constructed with clear plastic tubing (30 x 38 x 360 mm), connectors, and flexible tubing (44 mm diameter, 640 mm and 510 mm long swimming pool drain hose) for flow and visualization. The remaining components included 20 cm of connectors, hose clamps, parafilm, and Teflon tape. Coupled to a sink and water flow, the system allows 1-D flow from bottom to top of the clear tubing path. Changes in reaction chamber density over the reaction time are compensated for by an increase in external flow.

[0080] During operation, a fully prepared and assembled reaction chamber (spherical ball with external weight) was dropped from the top of an easily removable transparent tube into the flow field of the vertical tube test section. Once the reaction chamber was maintained at a fixed height, essentially indicating that terminal velocity had been achieved, direct visualization of calcite formation was used to determine the difference in formation time between unit gravity and simulated microgravity experimental results.

[0081] Material characterization and validation The final goal of this study was to investigate the effect of microgravity on the initial mineralization of calcite. Additional modifications to the reaction chamber housing are likewise required to address density differences resulting from calcite nucleation and growth occurring under microgravity conditions. Specifically, this entails the use of copper paste (density = 7.8 gr / cm) with copper plastic colorant and clear nail polish as additives. 3 This involves modifying the density of the transparent plastic housing of the reaction chamber by adding

[0082] The color change resulting from the Tyndall effect was used to determine the relative calcite formation under both unit and microgravity conditions. The interaction of light with the surface of the particles allows for a color change, which in this case is transparent to white.

[0083] In addition to determining calcite formation by direct visualization techniques, staining methods were used. For calcium-based crystals, Alizarin Red was used, which changes the test fluid from red-orange to dark pink when reacting with calcium. It was therefore used to identify the presence of calcium in the calcite reaction. The limitations of the stain depend on the conditions under which Alizarin was developed as well as its pH sensitivity.

[0084] The distribution of calcite particles included optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (X1-30) (SEM). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was performed using a Beckman Coulten Delsa nanosystem, which provided quantitative real-time kinetic information of calcite nucleation and growth. DLS was used to characterize calcite nucleation and growth, i.e., size and size distribution in real time, in both unit and microgravity conditions. Finally, X-ray diffraction was utilized to confirm the formation of calcite using red powder in the system.

[0085] Simulated microgravity results Figure 7 shows microgravity calcite on the left and unit gravity calcite on the right. The photo was taken through a microscope. It is followed by XRD, SEM and DLS data. The SEM images captured more information about the morphology of the crystals. Figure 8 shows SEM images of the saturated solution and developed calcite. A, D are calcite at 500x magnification, B, E are at 2500x magnification, and C, F are at 10000x magnification. A, B and C were developed in unit gravity while D, E, F were made in simulated microgravity.

[0086] After the experiments were completed, DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering) was performed for unit and microgravity. Figure 9 shows the results of these tests. The raw data collected from the unit and microgravity (vertical conduit) observations are presented in Table 1.

[0087] [Table 1]

[0088] The overall goal of this research project is to assess the feasibility of investigating the effects of microgravity on mineralization systems in a unit gravity environment. To achieve this, it was necessary to devise a prototype experimental test system capable of simulating the microgravity conditions at the time of calcite mineral nucleation and growth. A summary of the most relevant results is detailed as shown in Table 2.

[0089] [Table 2]

[0090] Calcite formation at unit gravity At the start of this project, a series of experiments were performed to investigate the effect of microgravity on calcite nucleation and growth. In this study, direct visual observation of calcite formation was used, which allowed the formation of calcite particles larger than 35 μm based on a clear change in the color of the solution. The time to detect a color change was typically long after the initial nucleation of the mineral. Nucleation and growth of calcite solutions over a wide range of saturation (20-100% saturation) was studied in this way. The results of the direct observation of calcite mineralization are shown in Figure 10. As is evident, the data suggests a power law dependence on the calcite precursor concentration. As shown in Figure 10, as the reactant concentration decreases, the time to first observe calcite formation increases. The site of calcite formation was observed to vary from the walls of the reaction chamber (heterogeneous nucleation) to the solution (homogeneous nucleation) as the reactant concentration increases. Given that the density difference between SolA and SolB is small, a decision was made to mix SolB and SolA whenever SolB was denser.

[0091] During initial testing, significant variation in calcite formation time was observed, which was traced against the pH of the DI water in the system. As shown in Figure 11, even a 1 pH unit difference between the pH of the DI water making up SolA and SolB can significantly alter the calcite formation rate in the form of a reaction delay.

[0092] An initial set of experiments was performed in flat-bottom glass test tubes, which were very meticulously cleaned. Because the heterogeneous nucleation and growth process is influenced by surface energy characteristics, these tests were repeated in plastic tubes. Although the results of these initial experiments shown in FIG. 12 do not show significant differences between the plastic and glass surfaces, the images obtained from the SEM in FIG. 13 do show different crystal morphologies between the glass and plastic surfaces. However, the calcite grain size distribution appeared to be approximately the same between the glass and plastic.

[0093] Another factor that was tested for this series of experiments was the temperature difference of the reactant solutions used for calcite mineralization. In these experiments, stock solution temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius (room temperature) were used. The resulting calcite samples were imaged by SEM and the results obtained are shown in Figure 13. As can be seen, the calcite crystals appear to be similar in morphology, with the only difference being seen in the particle size distribution. Similarly, the calcite precursor at 0°C appeared to produce more crystals compared to the solution kept at room temperature. The results of the dynamic light scattering experiments performed for all calcite precursor concentrations studied are summarized in Figures 14 and 15. The DLS data shows that the nucleation and growth times (time of first appearance in the system) increase with decreasing precursor concentration. Alizarin red staining tests provided a preliminary indication of the presence of calcium in the system. XRD characterization was used to confirm the formation of calcite, which is discussed later in this section.

[0094] Reactor Housing Design A series of alternative reactor housing design concepts have been developed for the purpose of materials synthesis, where the synthesis involved the study of calcite mineralization under microgravity test conditions in a unit gravity test environment. The overarching goal of this part of the study was to develop a reactor housing capable of maintaining the isolation of reactants until test conditions were established. The reactor housing was selected to be spherical to enhance flow stability, where each half of the sphere had two access holes, one for injecting the solutions (SolA or SolB) and the other for displacing air. The middle section of the reactor was sealed using a plastic insert with a transport tube that was initially blocked with ice so that SolA and SolB could mix only after unit gravity and microgravity conditions were established and before the calcite precursors reacted. With this design, there was an approximate 98 second delay from the time the isolated SolA and SolB reactant solutions were set up in the spherical reactor to the time the reactor was placed in simulated microgravity. Ice was chosen because there was a need for a degradable material to isolate reactants without interfering with the reaction. A series of different degradable designs were investigated, but most presented difficulties, mainly with initial nucleation. In the final design, the core of the system is a glass tube with ice in a dumbbell shape as shown in Figure 16. Based on this design, the volume of ice required to keep the channel closed for up to 180(s) is approximately 0.8 mL. Another design criterion for this study was the tuning of the terminal velocity in relation to particle size and frequency.

[0095] Simulated microgravity system and results A vertical flow conduit capable of achieving terminal velocity for calcite mineralization was designed. Experimental microgravity simulations were performed with this system, and the collected samples were then analyzed. Three calcite saturation conditions were selected: 20%, 50%, and 100% saturation.

[0096] Optical and scanning electron microscopy were performed on the samples. The results from optical microscopy are presented in Figure 8, which shows a change in particle number and shape between unit and microgravity conditions. Furthermore, the SEM results revealed certain morphological differences of the particles (Figure 17). More specifically, the saturated unit gravity samples showed a more defined geometry (cubic morphology), while the microgravity samples showed a more spherical shape. The XRD results showed the presence of organic material that was not calcite in the microgravity samples (Figure 9); the reason for this observation may be contamination. In Figure 9, for the 50% saturated test condition at unit gravity, the crystals are mostly of cubic morphology, while in microgravity, there is a change between cubic and spherical shapes similar to that seen in the 100% saturated microgravity test results. Sections C and D represent cubic geometry for unit gravity and very irregular geometry for the microgravity samples.

[0097] Results from DLS performed after the unit and microgravity experiments were completed (Figure 18) indicated that saturated solutions provided larger diameter calcite particles in unit gravity than in microgravity. Simulated microgravity at 50% saturation resulted in even more particles being produced than in unit gravity, and a similar trend exists for the 20% saturation results.

[0098] Results from direct visual observations provided in FIG. 14 indicated a significant time delay for calcite mineralization between unit gravity and microgravity in all cases. The calculated terminal velocities were based on the assumption that an equal and opposing force should counteract gravity, achieved in this case by water flowing in the opposite direction at a rate to maintain the spherical reactor at a constant height while suspended in the central section of a vertical pipe to simulate microgravity conditions. Results from these experiments (highlighted in FIG. 15) indicated that the terminal velocities for saturated conditions were about 11% lower than the theoretical value in the simulated microgravity conditions. Recognizing the various sources of experimental error (e.g. the parafilm used to close the system has an error of + / - 0.02 gr, the syringes used to transfer chemicals have an error of + / - 0.1 mL as well as the risk of air bubbles in the system that can directly affect the average density of the reactor housing), the results shown in FIG. 18 do not appear to be artifacts.

[0099] As mentioned earlier, the final goal was to develop a microgravity system and validate the results against prior data, as reproduced in Figure 19. This figure shows the relationship between the parameter τ and the fast DLS versus 1 / ln(1+σ) 2, where σ is the degree of saturation. In this figure, it is shown that the slope of the line in microgravity is four times larger than the slope of the line in unit gravity. For the results obtained from the vertical conduit system reported herein, these results are consistent with the results from (SEM and optical) microscopy (see FIG. 14). For the data presented in FIG. 15 and FIG. 18, it was not possible to perform DLS in situ. Therefore, there was a time lag between the time of the microgravity run and the time when the DLS data was recorded. The XRD results indicated that the difference between microgravity and unit gravity could affect the nucleation and growth process. Finally, as shown in FIG. 18, for the results first obtained in unit gravity conditions, there was a significant time lag between unit gravity and microgravity. These results are consistent with the results shown in FIG. 19 obtained from the ground parabolic flight system.

[0100] The disclosures of any patents, patent applications and publications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Although the present invention has been disclosed in connection with specific embodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations of the present invention may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include all such embodiments and equivalent variations. The present disclosure also includes the following aspects. [Aspect 1] at least one conduit having at least one lumen in communication with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at an elevation below an elevation of the outlet; a fluid medium flowable through the at least one conduit by a fluid flow inducer; a partitioned chamber sized to move freely within the at least one lumen of the at least one conduit; , a reduced gravity system. [Aspect 2] 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit is aligned at an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the gravitational force, the angle being between about 1° and 179°. [Aspect 3] 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the at least one conduit is sized to accommodate the partitioned chamber between the inlet and the outlet. Aspect 4 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the at least one conduit has an axial length dimension greater than an axial length of the partitioned chamber. Aspect 5 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the at least one conduit has a length of about 1 cm to 100 m. Aspect 6 The system of embodiment 1, wherein the at least one conduit has a width or radius such that the at least one conduit includes an aspect ratio between its axial length and width or radius sized to accommodate the partitioned chamber between the inlet and the outlet. Aspect 7 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the at least one conduit has a width of about 1 cm to 10 m. Aspect 8 7. The system of embodiment 6, wherein the aspect ratio is about 1:1 to 100:1. Aspect 9 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the fluid medium is selected from among water, oil, gel, air, nitrogen, inert gas, single-phase fluids, multi-phase fluids, and combinations thereof. Aspect 10 10. The system of embodiment 9, wherein the fluid medium is selected with respect to viscosity, density, chemical properties (pH and polarity), and flow deformation behavior (Newtonian or non-Newtonian behavior). Aspect 11 The system of embodiment 1, further comprising one or more energy sources, fluid tanks, sensors, actuators and controllers. Aspect 12 The system of embodiment 11, wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of an optical sensor, a positioning device, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an ultrasonic sensor, and a capacitive displacement sensor. Aspect 13 12. The system of embodiment 11, wherein the one or more actuators are selected from among manual, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric actuators. Aspect 14 The system of embodiment 1, further comprising one or more energy emitters selected from the group consisting of lasers, high and low radiant energy emitters, optical emitters, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasonic transducers, sound wave emitters, radiation emitters, magnetic field emitters, radio wave emitters, X-ray emitters and electrodes. Aspect 15 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the partitioned chamber comprises an outer enclosure enclosing a hollow interior. Aspect 16 16. The system of embodiment 15, wherein the partitioned chamber has a geometric shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a disk, a cylinder, a cube, a cone, a rectangular prism, and a box. Aspect 17 16. The system of embodiment 15, wherein the hollow interior comprises a single interior or is compartmentalized into a multi-compartment interior. Aspect 18 The system of embodiment 17, wherein the hollow interior is partitioned into two compartments by a barrier element including a ring sized to fit tightly within the hollow interior, a hollow core sized to fit tightly within a central hole of the ring, and a plug sized to fit tightly within a cavity of the core. Aspect 19 20. The system of embodiment 18, wherein the plug is a gate or valve that can be opened to unblock the cavity of the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. Aspect 20 20. The system of embodiment 18, wherein the plug comprises a dissolvable or degradable material that melts or splits over time to unblock the cavity in the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. Aspect 21 16. The system of embodiment 15, wherein the outer enclosure region of the partitioned chamber comprises a semi-permeable membrane. Aspect 22 16. The system of embodiment 15, wherein the outer enclosure of the partitioned chamber contains a volume of fluid immiscible with the fluid medium flowable through the at least one conduit. Aspect 23 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the partitioned chamber has a cross-sectional area that is 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 99% of a cross-sectional area of ​​the at least one lumen. Aspect 24 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the at least one conduit and the partitioned chamber are at least partially transparent or translucent. Aspect 25 The system of embodiment 1, wherein the system further includes one or more energy emitters selected from the group consisting of lasers, high and low radiant energy emitters, optical emitters, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasonic transducers, sound wave emitters, radiation emitters, magnetic field emitters, radio wave emitters, X-ray emitters and electrodes. Aspect 26 1. A method for suspending a chamber in a simulated reduced gravity, comprising: providing a reduced gravity system including at least one conduit having at least one lumen extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at an elevation below an elevation of the outlet, and a partitioned chamber sized to fit within the interior of the at least one lumen; aligning the conduit at an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the force of attraction, the angle being between about 1° and 179°; flowing a fluid into the inlet of the at least one conduit and out of the outlet of the at least one conduit, the fluid having a density lower than a density of the partitioned chamber, the fluid being flowed at a rate that supports the partitioned chamber in a manner such that the partitioned chamber is maintained in a constant position within the conduit; The method includes: Aspect 27 27. The method of embodiment 26, wherein the angle of the at least one conduit is varied to modify the amount of gravity experienced by the partitioned chamber. Aspect 28 27. The method of embodiment 26, wherein the fluid is selected for a density lower than a density of the partitioned chamber. Aspect 29 1. A partitioned chamber device comprising an outer enclosure surrounding a hollow interior, A compartmented chamber device configured to simulate a gravitational environment within said hollow interior near a planetary surface. Aspect 30 30. The device of embodiment 29, wherein the gravity environment is between approximately unit gravity and zero gravity. Aspect 31 30. The device of embodiment 29, wherein the hollow interior is compartmentalized into individual compartments. Aspect 32 The device of embodiment 31, wherein the hollow interior is partitioned into two compartments by a barrier element including a ring sized to fit tightly within the hollow interior, a hollow core sized to fit tightly within a central hole of the ring, and a plug sized to fit tightly within a cavity of the core. Aspect 33 33. The device of embodiment 32, wherein the plug is a gate or valve that can be opened to unblock the cavity in the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. Aspect 34

[0039] A device as described in embodiment 32, wherein the plug comprises a dissolvable or degradable material that melts or splits over time to unblock the cavity in the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. Aspect 35 30. The device of embodiment 29, wherein a region of the outer enclosure of the partitioned chamber comprises a semi-permeable membrane. Aspect 36 The device of embodiment 29 is configured to support a process selected from the group consisting of materials synthesis and processing; synthesis and processing of new materials; investigation of material structure, properties, processing and behavior; industrial crystallization; thin film deposition and processing; biological and biomaterials synthesis and processing; protein crystallization; pharmaceutical synthesis and processing; cell, tissue and organ growth and regeneration; metal processing; glass synthesis and processing; alloy synthesis and fabrication; manufacturing; ceramic synthesis and processing; polymer synthesis and processing; semiconductor synthesis; material assembly and self-assembly; optical fiber fabrication, composite synthesis and processing; component, device and system performance evaluation; additive manufacturing; and biomanufacturing. Aspect 37 The device of embodiment 29, wherein the device is sized for occupancy by animals and humans. Aspect 38 A device as described in embodiment 37, configured to simulate reduced gravity for entertainment purposes. Aspect 39 38. The device of embodiment 37, configured to simulate reduced gravity conditions within a low-orbit spacecraft.

Claims

1. at least one conduit having at least one lumen in communication with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at an elevation below an elevation of the outlet; a fluid medium flowable through the at least one conduit by a fluid flow inducer; a partitioned chamber sized to move freely within the at least one lumen of the at least one conduit; Including, 13. A reduced gravity system, wherein the partitioned chamber is partitioned into at least first and second compartments by a barrier element, the barrier element configured to fluidly connect the first and second compartments after a delay.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit is aligned at an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the force of gravity, the angle being between about 1° and 179°.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit is sized to accommodate the partitioned chamber between the inlet and the outlet.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit has an axial length dimension greater than an axial length of the partitioned chamber.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit has a length of about 1 cm to 100 m.

6. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit has a width or radius such that the at least one conduit includes an aspect ratio between an axial length and a width or radius that is sized to accommodate the partitioned chamber between the inlet and the outlet.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit has a width of about 1 cm to 10 m.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the aspect ratio is between about 1:1 and 100:

1.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid medium is selected from the group consisting of water, oil, gel, air, nitrogen, inert gas, single phase fluids, multi-phase fluids, and combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the fluid medium is selected for viscosity, density, chemical properties (pH and polarity), and flow deformation behavior (Newtonian or non-Newtonian behavior).

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of an energy source, a fluid tank, a sensor, an actuator, and a controller.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of an optical sensor, a positioning device, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an ultrasonic sensor, and a capacitive displacement sensor.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more actuators are selected from among manual, pneumatic, hydraulic and electric actuators.

14. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more energy emitters selected from the group consisting of lasers, high and low radiant energy emitters, optical emitters, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasonic transducers, sound wave emitters, radiation emitters, magnetic field emitters, radio wave emitters, x-ray emitters and electrodes.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit and the partitioned chamber are at least partially transparent or translucent.

16. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more energy emitters selected from the group consisting of lasers, high and low radiant energy emitters, optical emitters, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasonic transducers, sound wave emitters, radiation emitters, magnetic field emitters, radio wave emitters, x-ray emitters and electrodes.

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