General-purpose ground-based gravity reduction system

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 of related applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 894,667, filed August 30, 2019, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

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

[0003] There is a growing interest in and need for the development of systems, specifically ground systems, that can create reduced gravity conditions (<1g). This interest stems from, among other things, humanity's global pursuit of space exploration, the need for specialized research and development ground systems to gain a deeper understanding of non-biological materials and non-biological and biological materials and systems 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 environments 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] To date, only a limited number of engineering methods and devices exist that are capable of creating conditions that can reduce the effects of gravity on non-biological material systems such as polymers, ceramics, metals and their composites, as well as on non-biological and biological material systems, and hybrid material systems composed of both non-biological and biological materials, while they are in an environment under the influence of a gravitational field. These include methods and devices developed to operate in the terrestrial environment, and under a unit gravity (1-g or 9.81m). 2 This includes methods and devices developed to operate on the ground where gravity exists, i.e., on the surface of a planet or the surface of the Earth. 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-Earth 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, centrifugal 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 to test them in simulated weightless conditions; manufacturing equipment operated by humans in microgravity; apparatus and methods including hollow launch tubes that launch passenger vehicles with pressurized gas to provide passengers with a G-force or weightless experience; apparatus and methods that generate a magnetic field to levitate heated and molten material, and then cool it 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 influencing material synthesis. Apparatus and methods 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 to simulate a reduced gravity environment; apparatus and methods including a statically balanced, adjustable spring device enabling a walk in a reduced gravity environment for training, education, entertainment and leisure purposes; variable gravity field simulator apparatus and methods including a horizontally movable trolley with a cable attached to a load to experience the effects of a simulated reduced gravity environment; apparatus and methods including an interactive tower track and ride-on bicycle configured for passenger control during free-fall descent.

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

[0007] Regarding bioreactors for cells and tissues, existing systems include apparatus and methods for inducing microgravity conditions simulated by utilizing rotating wall container bioreactors to grow living cells and tissues. Related systems known as the classical clinostat, first introduced by Julius Sachs in 1879, use a similar rotating system, and these related systems are used for seeds and miniature plants to assess gravitropic reactions. However, none of these systems simulate the crucial feature of microgravity, namely the elimination of convection-induced mixing in liquids and gases around the test material. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a general-purpose ground-based reduced gravity technology platform that includes a partitioned area or volume, such as a chamber or container attached to an ambient gravity field, for housing a gravity-affected material system immersed in a non-rotating dynamic fluid medium, so that free-fall conditions are maintained over long periods of time. The present invention satisfies this need. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a gravity reduction system comprising: a conduit having at least one lumen in communication with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at a height below the height of the outlet; a fluid medium flowable through the at least one conduit by a fluid flow induction device; and a partitioned chamber sized to move freely inside the at least one lumen of the at least one conduit.

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

[0011] In one embodiment, the fluid medium is selected from water, oil, gel, air, nitrogen, inert gas, single-phase fluid, multiphase fluid, 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 behavior or non-Newtonian behavior).

[0012] In one embodiment, the system further comprises one or more energy sources, fluid tanks, sensors, actuators, and controllers. 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 manual, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric actuators. In one embodiment, the system further comprises one or more energy emitters selected from the group consisting of lasers, high and low radiant energy emitters, light emitters, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasonic transducers, acoustic 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 right-angle 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 tightly fit within the hollow interior, a hollow core sized to tightly fit into the central hole of the ring, and a plug sized to tightly fit into the cavity of the core. In one embodiment, the plug is a gate or valve that can be opened to decontaminate the cavity of the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. In one embodiment, the plug contains a soluble or decomposable material that melts or breaks down over time to decontaminate 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 semipermeable membrane. In one embodiment, the outer enclosure of the partitioned chamber contains a constant volume of fluid that is immiscible with a fluid medium that can flow through 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 ​​at least one lumen. In one embodiment, 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 present invention relates to a method for suspending a chamber within simulated reduced gravity, the method comprising: providing a reduced gravity system comprising at least one conduit having at least one lumen extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is positioned at a height below the height of the outlet, and a partitioned chamber sized to fit inside the at least one lumen; aligning the conduit at a fixed angle relative to a plane perpendicular to gravitational force, wherein the angle is from about 1° to 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, wherein the fluid has a density lower than the density of the partitioned chamber, and the fluid is flowed at a flow rate that supports the partitioned chamber in such a manner that the partitioned chamber is maintained in a constant position inside the conduit.

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

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

[0018] In one embodiment, the gravitational environment is approximately between unit gravity and zero gravity. In one embodiment, the hollow interior is divided into separate compartments. In one embodiment, the hollow interior is divided into two compartments by a barrier element including a ring sized to tightly fit within the hollow interior, a hollow core sized to tightly fit into the central hole of the ring, and a plug sized to tightly fit into the cavity of the core. In one embodiment, the plug is a gate or valve that can be opened to decontaminate the cavity of the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. In one embodiment, the plug contains a soluble or decomposable material that melts or breaks down over time to decontaminate 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: material synthesis and processing; synthesis and processing of new materials; investigation of the structure, properties, processing and behavior of materials; industrial crystallization; deposition and processing of thin films; synthesis and processing of biological and biomaterials; protein crystallization; synthesis and processing of pharmaceuticals; growth and regeneration of cells, tissues and organs; processing of metals; synthesis and processing of glass; synthesis and fabrication of alloys; manufacturing; synthesis and processing of ceramics; synthesis and processing of polymers; synthesis of semiconductors; material assembly and self-assembly; fabrication of optical fibers, synthesis and processing of composite materials; performance evaluation of components, devices and systems; additive manufacturing; and biomanufacturing.

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

[0021] The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exact arrangements and means of the embodiments shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0022] [Figure 1] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary reduced gravity conduit system. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an exemplary partitioned chamber. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary partitioned chamber barrier element (left) and plug (right). [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for suspending a chamber in simulated reduced gravity. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary reaction chamber. [Figure 6] Figure 6 depicts a simulated reduced gravity system for an exemplary vertical conduit. [Figure 10] Figure 10 depicts an experimental setup of a simulated reduced gravity system for a vertical conduit. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the results of microgravity-induced calcite (left) and unit gravity-induced calcite (right) as viewed at 20x magnification using an optical microscope. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows SEM imaging results of calcite development using 100% saturated solution under unit gravity (A, B, C) and microgravity (D, E, F). A and D are at 200x magnification; B and E are at 2500x magnification; and C and F are at 10000x magnification. [Figure 9]Figure 9 shows the results of the dynamic light scattering (DLS) characterization of calcite developed under unit gravity and microgravity. Graph 1 is a combination of all data. Graph 2 shows only calcite developed using a 100% saturated solution. Graph 3 shows only calcite developed using a 50% saturated solution. Graph 4 shows only calcite developed using a 20% saturated solution. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a table summarizing the raw data collected from observations of calcite formation under unit gravity and microgravity. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a table summarizing the results of experiments forming calcite under unit gravity and microgravity. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows the results of an experiment investigating the effect of substrate material on calcite formation time. The upper graph shows the results of varying CaCl2 concentration, and the lower graph shows the results of varying Na2CO3 concentration. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows the results of an experiment investigating the effect of pH on calcite formation. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows the results of an experiment investigating the effect of temperature on calcite formation. The precursors for A (500x) and B (100x) were at room temperature, while the precursors for C (200x) and D (200x) were on ice. B and D are imaged under polarized light. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows SEM images 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] Figure 14 shows the results of dynamic light scattering (DLS) characterization of calcite formed using various precursor concentrations. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows the results of the dynamic recording of particle formation and time in a solution under unit gravity. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) of calcite and standard CaCO3 and NaCl under unit gravity. [Figure 17]Figure 17 shows the results of SEM imaging of calcite formed under various conditions. A is calcite developed in a 50% saturated solution under unit gravity, imaged at 10,000x magnification. B is calcite developed in a 50% saturated solution under microgravity, imaged at 10,000x magnification. C is calcite developed in a 20% saturated solution under unit gravity, imaged at 10,000x magnification. D is calcite developed in a 20% saturated solution under microgravity, imaged at 10,000x magnification. [Figure 18] Figure 18 shows the results of DLS observations for calcite formed under various saturation levels. [Figure 19] Figure 19 shows the results of calcite formation carried out on a reduced-gravity aircraft. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] The present invention provides a terrestrial reduced gravity system and methods for using it to evaluate, synthesize, adapt, modify, process, and produce various biological and non-biological material systems under near-realistic microgravity conditions, such as those found in space, and other reduced gravity conditions.

[0024] definition It should be understood that the drawings and descriptions of this invention have been simplified for clarity, omitting many other elements commonly found in the art, while illustrating only those elements appropriate for clearly understanding the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize that other elements and / or steps are desirable and / or required for implementing the invention. However, such elements and steps are not discussed herein because they are well known in the art and do not contribute to a better understanding of the invention. The disclosure herein is directed toward 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 those generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. In the practice or testing of the present invention, any methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein may be used, but 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" in this specification refer to one or more (i.e., at least one) grammatical objects of the article. For example, "an element" refers to one or more elements.

[0028] In this specification, when referring to measurable values ​​such as quantity or duration, the term "about" is intended to encompass variations of ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, and ±0.1% from the specified value, as these are considered appropriate.

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

[0030] As used herein, the term “sealingly” is intended to describe an airtight, watertight fit. A first component that seals tightly fits into a second component positions the first component snugly inside the second component to prevent gases, liquids, and solids from traversing the seally fit. A first component that seals tightly fits inside the hollow interior of a second component can help divide the hollow interior of the second component into multiple sections, so that the gases, liquids, and solids within each section are tightly isolated from the gases, liquids, and solids within each other section.

[0031] Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention may be presented in range format. It should be understood that range format is merely for convenience and abbreviation and should not be considered an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Therefore, a range description should be considered to specifically disclose all possible subranges and individual numbers within those ranges. For example, a range description such as 1 to 6 should be considered to specifically disclose subranges such as 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 3 to 6, and individual numbers within those ranges, such as 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, 6, and any whole and partial increments between them. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

[0032] Reduced gravity system Referring here to Figure 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 a combination thereof. The fluid flow may be a closed circuit in which the same volume of fluid is continuously passed through the conduit 102 in a recirculation mode, or an open circuit in which a fluid source 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. Suitable internal platforms or supports may not include, but are not limited to, a mesh or wire plate, or one or more rods that at least partially span the width of the lumen 104, and do not obstruct the fluid flow.

[0033] In some embodiments, the inlet 106 is positioned at a lower height than the outlet 108, so that the fluid flowing through the lumen 104 flows against the gravitational pull, and a partitioned chamber 110 located inside the lumen 104 is pulled by gravity toward the inlet 106. This allows the conduit 102 to be installed in any orientation that maintains its relative position 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 the horizontal plane, where a perfectly 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 approximately 1° and 90° in relation to the horizontal plane. In some embodiments, when the conduit 102 is oriented at 90° relative to the horizontal plane, microgravity is simulated within the partitioned chamber 110, while when the conduit 102 is oriented at an angle of approximately 1° to 90° relative to the horizontal plane, reduced gravity is simulated within the partitioned chamber 110.

[0034] The gravity reduction system 100 is configured to simulate microgravity and gravity reduction within the partitioned chamber 110 by providing a fluid flow that counteracts the gravitational pull at a velocity that supports the gravity of the partitioned chamber 110. In this way, the partitioned chamber 110 is maintained in a constant position inside the conduit 102, essentially in sustained free fall. For this purpose, the gravity reduction system 100 may further include one or more fluid flow inducing means (e.g., a pump), an energy source, a fluid tank, sensors, actuators (manual, pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, etc.), a controller (proportional (P), integral (I), differential (D), and combinations thereof such as PI, PD, PID, etc., as non-embedded or microcontrollers). In some embodiments, the gravity reduction system 100 may be manually operated, where an operator can manually control the flow rate of fluid through the conduit 102 to maintain the partitioned chamber 110 in a constant position. Manual operation can be assisted by adding one or more external or internal markings on the conduit 102 to monitor the position of the partitioned chamber 110. In some embodiments, the gravity reduction system 100 can be operated automatically, where the fluid flow rate can be monitored by one or more flow sensors; the partitioned chamber 110 can be monitored by one or more optical sensors, positioning devices, accelerometers, gyroscopes, ultrasonic sensors, capacitive displacement sensors, etc.; and a controller can automatically adjust the pump speed and flow rate to maintain the partitioned chamber 110 in a constant position. Automatic adjustment is useful when the contents of the partitioned chamber 110 are variable and adjustment to the flow rate is required as the mass changes. In various embodiments, the gravity reduction system 100 can support an array of conduits 102, where each conduit 102 can be monitored and controlled simultaneously, sequentially, or asynchronously.

[0035] In various embodiments, the gravity reduction system 100 may further include one or more energy transmitters. Envisioned energy transmitters include, but are not limited to, lasers, high and low radiant energies, light of various wavelengths, infrared emitters, ultraviolet emitters, ultrasonic transducers, sound wave emitters, radiation emitters, magnetic field emitters, radio wave emitters, X-ray emitters, electrodes, and the like. To intergate energy to the conduit 102 and the partitioned chamber 110, the energy transmitter can be selectively aimed at a single point, section, or the entire conduit 102, the partitioned chamber 110, or both. The energy transmitter may be useful in any number of application areas, but are not limited to, electroporation, photoporation, photocrosslinking, heating, radiotherapy, magnetic therapy, and the like.

[0036] The partitioned chamber 110 is a container sized to fit inside the lumen 104 and move freely. The partitioned chamber 110 includes an outer enclosure surrounding the hollow interior. The outer enclosure prevents convective mixing between the contents of the hollow interior and the fluid passing through the lumen 104. The hollow interior can be partitioned into any number of compartments and is configured to accommodate any desired work, including but not limited to reactions, experiments, research, manufacturing processes, fabrication processes, and treatments. Thus, the partitioned chamber 110 encompasses a wide range of containers, from small containers to rooms and building sizes configured to be occupied and / or inhabited by humans. Although the partitioned chamber 110 is depicted as having a spherical shape, the partitioned chamber 110 is not limited to any particular geometric shape. Intended shapes include, but are not limited to, spheres, disks, cubes, boxes, etc.

[0037] In some embodiments, the partitioned chamber 110 may be divided to have multiple compartments, each containing one reactant. The compartments may be timed or controlled to release reactants into each other after reduced gravity or microgravity is achieved. In some embodiments, the compartments may be fluid-coupled to a main combination chamber, thus allowing reactants to be combined simultaneously or sequentially after reduced gravity or microgravity is achieved. The intended application fields of the partitioned chamber 110 include, but are not limited to: synthesis and processing of materials; synthesis and processing of new materials; investigation of the structure, properties, processing and behavior of materials; industrial crystallization; deposition and processing of thin films; synthesis and processing of biological and biomaterials; protein crystallization; synthesis and processing of pharmaceuticals; growth and regeneration of cells, tissues and organs; processing of metals; synthesis and processing of glass; synthesis and fabrication of alloys; manufacturing; synthesis and processing of ceramics; synthesis and processing of polymers; synthesis of semiconductors; assembly and self-assembly of materials; fabrication of optical fibers, synthesis and processing of composite materials; performance evaluation of components, devices and systems; additive manufacturing; and biomanufacturing.

[0038] In some embodiments, the partitioned chamber 110 is a room or building-sized structure. The partitioned chamber 110 is expandable or contractible to accommodate animals and humans and to include living areas, laboratory areas, storage areas, etc. Thus, the partitioned chamber 110 can be used as a work base for short-term and long-term microgravity and reduced gravity experiments. In some embodiments, a room or building-sized partitioned chamber 110 can be used to replicate the conditions inside a spacecraft such as a space capsule, space shuttle, or space station. For example, a room or building-sized partitioned chamber 110 can be used to replicate, certify, or replace experiments conducted in low Earth orbit (e.g., on the International Space Station) or in outer space. In some embodiments, the partitioned chamber 110 can be used for recreational or training purposes. A ground-based reduced gravity or microgravity system operating on a room or building scale may be a cost-effective, safe, and more user-friendly way to train animals and humans for reduced gravity and microgravity work or to replicate experiments involving boarding reduced gravity aircraft for entertainment.

[0039] Referring here to Figures 2 and 3, an exemplary partitioned chamber 200 is depicted. The partitioned chamber 200 includes a spherical outer enclosure 202 that encloses a hollow interior 204. The hollow interior 204 is divided 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 disc shape with an outer diameter sized to tightly fit into the interior of the hollow interior 204 and a central hole sized to fit into the core 208. The core 208 includes a hollow cylindrical shape with an outer diameter sized to tightly fit into the hollow inner diameter of the ring 206. The plug 212 is sized to tightly fit into the hollow interior of the core 208. The plug 212 includes a mechanism that temporarily seals the hollow interior of the core 208, so that when the mechanism is activated, the plug 212 releases the blockage from the hollow interior of the core 208, fluidizing the partitioned halves of the hollow interior 204. In some embodiments, the mechanism of the plug 212 is mechanical, for example, a gate or valve that opens by electronic or remote activation after a set time has elapsed, or a screw-type mechanism that opens after a certain amount of stored energy has been depleted. In some embodiments, the mechanism of the plug 212 is material-based, for example, an ice plug, a soluble plug, or a decomposable plug that melts or breaks down over time. Thus, the partitioned chamber 200 is configured to store material in each of two compartments and mix the two compartments after a certain delay. Providing delayed mixing is necessary when a reaction between the two materials is desired after microgravity or reduced gravity conditions have been established inside the hollow interior 204.

[0040] In various embodiments, the partitioned chamber of the present invention can be modified as needed for a particular field of application. For example, in some embodiments where the partitioned chamber houses operations requiring wired connections, fluid or material transfer systems, or some other temporary or permanent connections to systems outside the gravity reduction system 100 in use, the partitioned chamber may include tethers or conduits that can be temporarily or permanently connected to the external system. The external system may include energy sources, growth medium circulation systems, air or gas tanks, waste removal systems, specimen transfer systems, and the like. In some embodiments, the partitioned chamber may include a region of an outer enclosure including a semipermeable outer enclosure or a semipermeable membrane. For example, the partitioned chamber may house cell cultures, tissue cultures, or some other living organism cultures. The partitioned chamber may be suspended in a fluid flow having gases or nutrients that can diffuse into the interior of the partitioned chamber across the semipermeable outer enclosure. Similarly, the waste material and analytes in question may diffuse into the fluid flow across a semipermeable outer enclosure from a partitioned chamber for removal or sampling. In some embodiments, the partitioned chamber may include a pocket of the first fluid suspended in a flow 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 gravity reduction system 100 can have any suitable dimensions. For example, in some embodiments, the conduit 102 has an axial length scale 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, non-limitingly including 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 having a tubular shape, it should be understood that the conduit 102 can have any desired configuration, including square, rectangular, oval, etc. Similarly, the partitioned chamber can have any suitable dimensions that fit inside the conduit 102. In some embodiments, the conduit 102 may have an annular cross-section, so that the concentric conduits form an innermost lumen open to the atmosphere and a ring-shaped lumen through which fluid can flow. Therefore, the partitioned chamber may have a donut shape to fit inside the conduit 102 having 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 certain percentage of the cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen 104. For example, the partitioned chamber may 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 gravity reduction system 100 can be constructed from any suitable material, such as metals, plastics, and polymers, including, but not limited to, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, silicone, PVC, polyethylene, etc. In some embodiments, some components or parts of some components can be constructed from transparent or translucent materials. Components can be manufactured using any suitable method known in the art. The manufacturing method may vary depending on the material used. For example, components that are substantially metal can be milled from a larger metal block or cast from molten metal. Similarly, components that are substantially plastic or polymer can be milled from a larger block, cast, or injection molded. In some embodiments, components can be manufactured using 3D printing or other additive manufacturing techniques commonly used in the art. In some embodiments, the method can incorporate additional components, such as circuits, electrodes, magnets, diodes, etc., so that the resulting system can be electrically assisted in electroporation, photoporation, electrophoresis, magnetic fields, etc. In various embodiments, coatings, patterns, and other finely constructed features can be applied using techniques such as etching, lithography, deposition, spin coating, and immersion coating.

[0043] How to use The present invention also includes methods of using a 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 fluid flowing against gravity, thereby maintaining 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 the effects of partial / reduced gravity analogues and, in particular, microgravity on physical, chemical, and biological materials and processes; to fabricate engineered materials with more precise control over atomic and molecular structures than is possible under terrestrial conditions; to operate and evaluate devices and systems under true microgravity conditions; to scale and customize reduced gravity systems; and to operate reduced gravity systems under reduced gravity conditions across a wide range of processing time and length scales.

[0045] Referring here to Figure 4, an exemplary method 300 for suspending a chamber within simulated reduced gravity is depicted. Method 300 begins in step 302, where a reduced gravity system is provided, comprising at least one conduit having at least one lumen extending between an inlet and an outlet, with the inlet positioned at a height below the height of the outlet, and a partitioned chamber sized to fit inside the at least one lumen. In step 304, the longitudinal axis of the conduit is aligned at a certain angle in relation to a horizontal plane, i.e., a plane perpendicular to gravity. This angle can be any desired angle, such as an angle of about 1° to 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 can be varied to alter the amount of gravity acting on the partitioned chamber. In step 206, fluid is flowed into the inlet and out of the outlet of the conduit at a flow rate that supports the partitioned chamber so that the partitioned chamber is maintained in a constant position inside the conduit. The intended fluids are not limited to water, cell growth medium, serum, plasma, oil, gel, gas, nitrogen, inert gas, air, single-phase fluid, multi-phase fluid, fluid mixtures, etc. In some embodiments, the fluid is controllable in terms of temperature, pH, polarity (polarized or nonpolar), viscosity, density, pressure, chemical properties, and flow deformation behavior (Newtonian or non-Newtonian fluid).

[0046] In some embodiments, the fluid is selected depending on the density and shape of the partitioned chamber. As described elsewhere in this specification, a feeling of weightlessness can be generated within the partitioned chamber after the fluid reaches terminal velocity due to local drag supporting the weight of the partitioned chamber. The appropriate fluid selection can be made as follows: i.e., a mass M falling in a fluid medium at a constant temperature B , diameter DB For the solid ball, the free-body force diagram shows that the object with mass M B falls only within the y-axis, and therefore there are no force interactions along the x-axis. In this case, the forces interacting with the object include (a) buoyant force F b , (b) gravitational force F that pulls the object downward toward the center of mass of the Earth g ; and (c) drag D arising from the interaction between the surface area of the object and the medium. Accordingly, the force balance of this system is as follows:

Formula

[0047] There is no movement along the z-axis or the x-axis, that is

Formula

Formula

Formula

Formula

Formula

number

number

number

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

number

[0049] Considering Equation 7, the terminal velocity is equal to the diameter (D) of the spherical object. B ), object (ρ B ) and medium (ρ M ) is directly proportional to the density difference between them and the gravitational acceleration (g), and the drag coefficient (C d ) and medium density (ρ M It can be seen that it is inversely proportional to ). As long as there is relative motion between the object and the medium, the drag force and the associated drag coefficient C d C exists. d This depends on the physical properties of the medium, and the Reynolds number (R) of the medium. e It is also directly proportional to R. The Reynolds number, a dimensionless constant defined as the ratio of inertial force to viscous force, is used to determine the drag force arising from the relative motion of an object immersed in a fluid, including one in free fall. The drag force is R eAnd it depends on 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, and in this case, for a given object geometry, this is used as the drag coefficient C. d It can be used for making decisions.

[0050] Generally speaking, the Reynolds number is divided into four distinct regions, namely region I:R. e <0.3;Area II:0.3 <R e <1000;Area III:1000 <R e <200000; and region IV:R e It can be divided into >20,000 segments. A modified version of the terminal velocity equation can be applied to a given region and object geometry.

[0051] In region I, in the example of a spherical object moving through a medium such as a gas or liquid, it is affected by gravity (F g A resistance force (F) acts in the opposite direction to the downward movement caused by ) d ) is subjected to. Terminal velocity is achieved when the drag force is equal in magnitude to gravity pulling the object, but in the opposite direction. The terminal velocity of an object in region I is given by equation 8, where μ m is the dynamic velocity of the medium, g is the acceleration due to gravity as defined above, and D B ρ is the diameter of the ball, B ρ represents the density of the balls. M is the density of the medium. The constant 18 represents the value of the drag coefficient under these dynamic conditions.

number

[0052] Referring to Equation 8, for a spherical solid object free-falling through a medium within region I, the object's terminal velocity depends on its diameter and density. As long as the object's density exceeds the density of the medium through which it falls, a terminal velocity exists associated with the object.

[0053] Within region II, for objects with larger surface area and mass, the drag from the air and gravity are greater. Consequently, the Reynolds number also differs and becomes higher. For spherical objects, C d This can be determined via equation 9 shown below:

number

[0054] In region III, the drag coefficient has a nearly constant value in relation to the geometry of the system in free fall. For example, in the case of a spherical object, C d Since this is 0.44, the terminal velocity equation for a spherical object can therefore 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 can be added to the partitioned chamber, or the partitioned chamber can be enclosed within a denser enclosure.

[0056] This method may be useful in fields of materials science and engineering, research, and development related to the manufacture of materials, components, and devices. Furthermore, there are numerous existing and emerging fields and industries that investigate, develop, modify, and utilize manufactured or self-assembled materials on Earth, as well as emerging industries that intend to utilize manufactured or self-assembled materials in other so-called extreme environments, such as space.

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

[0058] The method is also useful in manufacturing and production in related industries, including but not limited to aerospace, automotive, chemical, apparel, construction / housing, cosmetics, energy, healthcare, food, manufacturing, medical devices / technology, micro / nanoelectronics, pharmaceuticals, and transportation. Similarly, the method may be useful for operating, evaluating, and verifying devices and systems, particularly analytical instruments, medical devices, and bioreactors, under reduced gravity conditions for both terrestrial and space applications. [Examples]

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

[0060] It is believed that those skilled in the art can, without further explanation, use the above description and the following exemplary examples to prepare and utilize the compounds of the present invention and to practice the claimed methods. Therefore, the following examples specifically illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and should not be considered to limit the remainder of this disclosure in any way.

[0061] Example 1: Investigation of the mineralization process under simulated microgravity conditions without free convection in a unit gravity environment. The following study investigates the feasibility of a test system that simulates microgravity conditions while working within a unit gravity environment. The study also evaluates the test system by examining the nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) under microgravity conditions.

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

number

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

[0064] The calcite mineralization study conducted under unit gravity conditions was performed as follows. Using a clean plastic pipette, 2 mL each of both 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 in time when a clearly observable color change to the naked eye occurred in the transparent mixture of SolA and SolB. The formation of calcite was likewise quantitatively confirmed 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 direct visualization of calcite formation, a blue background and a lighting fixture fixed above the reaction were utilized.

[0065] The rates and mechanisms of mineral formation and transformation are regulated by the conditions in the solution as well as at the solution-mineral interface. Thermodynamic factors regulate the mineral crystallization process, which include the pH of the solution, mineral saturation, ionic strength, temperature, and the degree of ion association. In this study, only the effects of solution pH 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 properties on calcite nucleation In heterogeneous nucleation of minerals such as calcite, stable solid calcite nuclei form only at the solution-mineral interface, i.e., on the container walls, and only when the activation energy barrier within the system is overcome. Therefore, the potential effect that glass and plastic mixing chambers, i.e., 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 were studied by mixing calcium chloride {CaCl2 = 0.0018625 g / mL} with sodium bicarbonate {Na2CO3 = 0.001785 g / 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 The objective of this study was to investigate calcite nucleation and growth under microgravity conditions in a unit gravity environment; therefore, the design of a novel test system was necessary and essential to achieve the goals of this project. The ultimate goal of the design was to create a reaction housing that would allow mixing of two separated calcite precursors to occur within a transparent, robust chamber maintained at terminal velocity conditions. Similarly, it was equally important that this reaction chamber could initiate the in situ reaction of precursors SolA and SolB only after the chamber had been placed under microgravity conditions, and that this reaction could then continue under the influence of microgravity. Another crucial design specification was the absence of bulk convective fluid motion in the reaction chamber, which was intended to operate immersed in a dynamic fluid flow system as a practical means of minimizing any external forces, because this would avoid conditions without free convection that would need to be maintained as the reaction progressed.

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

[0070] By adapting this concept to an experimental reactor test system, a spherical housing was developed containing two compartments, each with two small access ports, one used for injecting calcite reactants and the other serving as a vent for displacing air from the chamber and releasing it into the atmosphere. The reaction chamber housing was conceived by modifying a clear plastic capsule used to store small toys in larger packaging for retail sales. It consisted of an empty clear plastic sphere with a diameter of 15.5 mm, with two holes drilled at the top of each half.

[0071] To avoid premature mixing, 1 mL of solutions A and B of known concentrations were injected into each half of the reaction chamber, which was sequentially separated by a temporary barrier to allow air to be displaced and released into the atmosphere through the other port, via a disposable syringe gauge 18. After filling the fluid tank, both the injection and air displacement ports were sealed with Parafilm. It should be noted that it was important to maintain the central gravity of the reaction chamber in or near its pole to minimize chamber rotation and accidental fluid mixing within the reaction chamber when placed in a fluid field. The densities of SolA and SolB were determined using gravity bottles and adjusted as desired.

[0072] A crucial design feature required was a reaction chamber element that could function in a way that would delay the induction of mixing of the calcite precursor solution until the desired time, without interfering with the subsequent chemical reaction mechanism once it had been utilized. Such a reaction chamber feature would need to accommodate the delay time required to assemble the reaction chamber and prime it with Sol A and Sol B, while still allowing for additional time to set up the chamber within a microgravity test system (described further below) that allows for additional time to achieve microgravity conditions prior to mixing the calcite reactants.

[0073] The design concept that met the specifications required for this reaction chamber feature was a glass tube fixed through a thin, sturdy circular plexiglass element. A crucial feature of this composite structure was its ability to temporarily immerse this element in a separate spherical housing, which had a diameter slightly smaller than the reaction chamber and was then filled with water and subsequently frozen. Once this intermediate ice barrier element was frozen, it was envisioned that it could then be fitted snugly into the reaction chamber and serve as a reactor mixing delay element.

[0074] Once fully assembled, the calcite reaction (SolA / SolB) was then injected into the reaction chamber as briefly described above, and subsequently, with sufficient time for the test system to achieve microgravity conditions prior to the melting of the ice and subsequent mixing of the reactants, the reaction chamber could be immediately placed within the microgravity test system described below. As schematically depicted in Figure 3 left (without ice) and Figure 3 right (with ice), this intermediate ice barrier element consists of four components: a dumbbell-shaped solid continuous ice section (0.8 mL of H2O), a cylindrical glass core (7.5 × 3 × 4 mm) 3 ), a flexible plastic layer, and a rigid plexiglass plastic ring (1 × 2 × 13.5 mm) pressure-fitted into the intermediate section of the reaction chamber housing. 3) consisted of each reaction chamber component, which was wrapped in Parafilm to prevent leakage and dilution of the reactants.

[0075] When fully assembled, the reaction chamber has the ability to hold up to 1 mL of fluid (reactants), remove an equal volume of displaced gas (air), separate the reactants for a desired time delay period, and fit within a microgravity-induced fluid experiment system capable of accommodating a spherical reactor system up to 1.5 cm in diameter, 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 due to the dissolution of the intermediate ice barrier has been explained in calcite reaction tests conducted under both unit gravity and simulated microgravity conditions. In the design of the intended reaction chamber, the remainder of the Experiment section describes the devised simulated microgravity test system, as well as the operating procedures and conditions.

[0077] Simulated microgravity test system and environment Recalling that the premise of this study was to determine the feasibility of investigating mineral nucleation and growth in a simulated microgravity environment in a manner comparable to the same reaction occurring under unit gravity conditions, it was equally necessary to devise a microgravity test system that would allow particles generated from calcite nucleation and growth to achieve "terminal velocity conditions." Another requirement for these microgravity test systems was that they would be free from perceptible bulk flow conditions arising from external fluid flow perturbations within the reaction chamber. This requirement is thought to ensure that the free convection effects originating from within the reaction chamber operating under a gravity field are essentially absent under simulated microgravity conditions.

[0078] Now that these experimental test specifications have been met, this study designed and utilized an experimental system that included a vertically rigid conduit simulating microgravity in a manner similar to the well-known "free fall in an elevator" conditions.

[0079] A simulated microgravity system in a vertical conduit. The ultimate goal was to develop a practical benchtop model that simulates microgravity. One intriguing system, shown in Figure 6, operates with a unidirectional single-pass H2O flow (from a laboratory cock) and is simple to assemble and disassemble. Therefore, it can accommodate the reaction chamber housing within a timeframe that does not exceed the time required for ice melting by the intermediate layer separation barrier. This test device is extremely simple to construct and use. It is constructed from a transparent plastic tube (30 × 38 × 360 mm) for flow and visualization, connectors, and flexible tubing (swimming pool drain hoses with a diameter of 44 mm and lengths of 640 mm and 510 mm). The remaining components included a 20 cm connector, hose clamps, Parafilm, and Teflon® tape. Connected to a sink and water flow, the system allows for a 1-D flow from the bottom to the top of the transparent tube path. Changes in reaction chamber density over the entire reaction time are compensated for by an increase in external flow.

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

[0081] Characterization and verification of materials The ultimate goal of this study was to investigate the effect of microgravity on the initial mineralization of calcite. To address the density differences arising from calcite nucleation and growth under microgravity conditions, additional modifications to the reaction chamber housing were also necessary. Specifically, this inevitably involved the addition of a copper paste (density = 7.8g / cm³) containing copper plastic coloring and clear nail polish as additives. 3 Adding this involves modifying the density of the transparent plastic housing of the reaction chamber.

[0082] By utilizing the color change resulting from the Tyndall effect, we determined the relative formation of calcite under both unit gravity and microgravity conditions. The interaction between the particle surface and light enables the color change, in which case the color change is from transparent to white.

[0083] In addition to determining calcite formation using direct visualization techniques, staining methods were employed. For calcium-based crystals, Alizarin Red was used, which changes the test fluid from reddish-orange to dark pink when it reacts with calcium. Therefore, it was used to identify the presence of calcium in the calcite reaction. Limitations on staining depend on the conditions under which Alizarin is developed and its pH sensitivity.

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

[0085] Results of simulated microgravity Figure 7 shows microgravity-grown calcite on the left and unit gravity-grown calcite on the right. This photograph was taken through a microscope. XRD, SEM, and DLS data follow. The SEM image captured more information about the crystal morphology. Figure 8 shows SEM images of saturated solution and developed calcite. A and D are calcite at 500x magnification, B and E at 2500x magnification, and C and F at 10000x magnification. A, B, and C were developed under unit gravity, while D, E, and F were fabricated under simulated microgravity.

[0086] After the experiment was completed, dynamic light scattering (DLS) was performed under unit gravity and microgravity conditions. Figure 9 shows the results of these tests. The raw data collected by observing under unit gravity and microgravity (vertical conduit) are presented in Table 1.

[0087] [Table 1]

[0088] The overall ultimate goal of this research project is to assess the feasibility of investigating the effects of microgravity on mineralization systems within a unit gravity environment. To achieve this, it was necessary to devise a prototype experimental test system capable of simulating the microgravity conditions during the nucleation and growth phases of calcite minerals. The most relevant results are summarized in detail in Table 2.

[0089] [Table 2]

[0090] Formation of calcite under unit gravity At the start of this project, a series of experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of microgravity on calcite nucleation and growth. This study utilized direct visual observation of calcite formation, which allowed for the formation of calcite particles larger than 35 μm based on a clear change in the solution's color. The time at which the color change was detected was typically long after the initial nucleation of the mineral. Nucleation and growth of calcite solutions over a wide range of saturation (20–100%) were thus studied. The results obtained from direct observation of calcite mineralization are shown in Figure 10. As is evident from the figure, the data suggest a power law dependence on the calcite precursor concentration. As shown in Figure 10, the time at which calcite formation was first observed increased as the reactant concentration decreased. The site of calcite formation was observed to shift from the reaction chamber wall (heterogeneous nucleation) to the solution (homogeneous nucleation) as the reactant concentration increased. When the density difference between SolA and SolB is small, and SolB has a higher density, the decision is always made to mix SolB and SolA.

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

[0092] The initial experimental setup was performed in flat-bottomed glass test tubes. These glass test tubes were thoroughly cleaned. Since heterogeneous nucleation and growth processes are influenced by surface energy properties, these tests were repeated in plastic tubes. Although the results of these initial experiments, shown in Figure 12, did not show significant differences between the plastic and glass surfaces, the SEM images in Figure 13 clearly show different crystal morphologies between the glass and plastic surfaces. However, the calcite grain size distribution appeared to be almost identical between the glass and plastic.

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

[0094] Reactor housing design A series of alternative reactor housing design concepts have been developed for the purpose of material synthesis. Here, material synthesis was related to the study of calcite mineralization under microgravity test conditions in a unit gravity test environment. The most important ultimate goal of this part of the research was to develop a reactor housing that could maintain the isolation of reactants until the test conditions were established. The reactor housing was chosen to be spherical to enhance flow stability, with each half of the sphere having two access holes: one for injecting the solution (SolA or SolB) and the other for displacing air. The intermediate section of the reactor was sealed with a plastic insert that had a transport tube initially sealed with ice so that SolA and SolB could be mixed only after unit gravity and microgravity conditions were established and before the calcite precursor reacted. In this design, there was a delay of approximately 98 seconds from the time the isolated SolA and SolB reactant solutions were set up in the spherical reactor until the reactor was placed in the simulated microgravity environment. Ice was chosen because there was a need for a decomposable material to isolate reactants without interfering with the reaction. A series of different decomposable designs were studied, but most presented difficulties, mainly due to initial nucleation. In the final design, the core of the system is a glass tube with dumbbell-shaped ice, 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 systems and results We designed a vertical flow conduit capable of achieving the terminal velocity required for calcite mineralization. Experimental microgravity simulations were performed using this system, followed by analysis of collected samples. Three calcite saturation conditions were selected: 20%, 50%, and 100% saturation.

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

[0097] Results obtained from DLS (Figure 18) conducted after unit gravity and microgravity experiments indicated that saturated solutions provided larger diameter calcite particles at unit gravity than at microgravity. Simulated microgravity at 50% saturation resulted in the generation of even more particles than at unit gravity, and a similar trend was observed in the 20% saturation results.

[0098] The results obtained from direct visual observations, provided in Figure 14, indicated a significant time delay for calcite mineralization between unit gravity and microgravity in all cases. The calculated terminal velocity was based on the assumption that equal opposing forces should neutralize gravity, achieved in this case by water flowing in the opposite direction at a flow rate to maintain the spherical reactor at a constant height while suspended in the central section of a vertical pipe to simulate microgravity conditions. The results obtained from these experiments (highlighted in Figure 15) indicated that the terminal velocity under saturation conditions was approximately 11% lower than the theoretical value under simulated microgravity conditions. Recognizing the various sources of experimental error (e.g., Parafilm used to close the system has an error of + / - 0.02 gr, syringes used to transfer chemicals have an error of + / - 0.1 mL, and there is a risk of bubble formation in the system which can directly affect the average density of the reactor housing), the results shown in Figure 18 do not appear to be artifacts.

[0099] As mentioned earlier, the ultimate goal was to develop a microgravity system and verify the results against prior data, as reproduced in Figure 19. This figure shows the parameter τ as a comparison between fast DLS and 1 / ln(1+σ). 2The nucleation times were collected via [method / equation], where σ represents the degree of saturation. In this figure, it is indicated that the gradient of the line in microgravity is four times greater than the gradient of the line in unit gravity. For the results obtained from the vertical conduit system reported herein, these results are consistent with the results obtained by (SEM and optical) microscopy (see Figure 14). In the data presented in Figures 15 and 18, it was not possible to perform DLS in situ. Therefore, there was a time lag between the time of microgravity execution 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 processes. Ultimately, as shown in Figure 18, for the results initially obtained under unit gravity conditions, there was a significant time delay between unit gravity and microgravity. These results are consistent with the results shown in Figure 19 obtained from the ground parabolic flight system.

[0100] Any patents, patent applications, and publications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Although the present invention has been disclosed in relation to specific embodiments, it is evident 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 invention. The appended claims are intended to be deemed to encompass all such embodiments and equivalent variations. This disclosure also includes the following aspects: [Aspect 1] A conduit having at least one lumen in communication with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is positioned at a height below the height of the outlet; A fluid medium that can flow through at least one conduit by a fluid flow induction device; A partitioned chamber sized to move freely within the at least one lumen of the at least one conduit; A gravity reduction system, including [Aspect 2] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein at least one of the conduits is aligned at a certain angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to gravity, and the angle is approximately 1° to 179°. [Aspect 3] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein at least one conduit is sized to accommodate the partitioned chamber between the inlet and the outlet. [Aspect 4] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein at least one conduit has an axial length scale greater than the axial length of the partitioned chamber. [Aspect 5] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein at least one conduit has a length of about 1 cm to 100 m. [Aspect 6] The system according to 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 an axial length and a width or radius that is sized to accommodate the partitioned chamber between the inlet and the outlet. [Aspect 7] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein at least one of the conduits has a width of approximately 1 cm to 10 m. [Aspect 8] The system according to embodiment 6, wherein the aspect ratio is approximately 1:1 to 100:1. [Aspect 9] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein the fluid medium is selected from water, oil, gel, air, nitrogen, inert gas, single-phase fluid, multi-phase fluid, and combinations thereof. [Aspect 10] The system according to 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 according to embodiment 1, further comprising one or more energy sources, a fluid tank, a sensor, an actuator, and a controller. [Aspect 12] The system according to embodiment 11, wherein one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, positioning devices, accelerometers, gyroscopes, ultrasonic sensors, and capacitive displacement sensors. [Aspect 13] The system according to embodiment 11, wherein one or more actuators are selected from among manual, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric actuators. [Aspect 14] The system according to 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] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein the partitioned chamber includes an outer enclosure surrounding the hollow interior. [Aspect 16] The system according to 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 right-angle prism, and a box. [Aspect 17] The system according to embodiment 15, wherein the hollow interior includes a single interior or is divided into multiple compartments. [Aspect 18] The system according to embodiment 17, wherein the hollow interior is divided into two compartments by a barrier element comprising a ring sized to fit snugly into the hollow interior, a hollow core sized to fit snugly into the central hole of the ring, and a plug sized to fit snugly into the cavity of the core. [Aspect 19] The system according to embodiment 18, wherein the plug is a gate or valve that can be opened to de-block the cavity in the core and to fluidly connect the two compartments. [Aspect 20] The system according to embodiment 18, wherein the plug contains a soluble or decomposable material that melts or breaks down over time to decontaminate the cavity in the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. [Aspect 21] The system according to embodiment 15, wherein the region of the outer enclosure of the partitioned chamber includes a semipermeable membrane. [Aspect 22] The system according to embodiment 15, wherein the outer enclosure of the partitioned chamber contains a constant volume of fluid that is immiscible with the fluid medium and is flowable through the at least one conduit. [Aspect 23] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein 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. [Aspect 24] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein the at least one conduit and the partitioned chamber are at least partially transparent or translucent. [Aspect 25] The system according to 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] In a method for suspending a chamber in simulated reduced gravity, A step of providing a gravity reduction system comprising: at least one conduit having at least one lumen extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at a height below the height of the outlet; and a partitioned chamber sized to fit inside the at least one lumen; A step of aligning the conduits at a certain angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to the gravitational force, wherein the angle is approximately 1° to 179°; A step of flowing a fluid into the inlet of at least one conduit and out of the outlet of at least one conduit, wherein the fluid has a density lower than the density of the partitioned chamber, and the fluid is flowed at a flow rate that supports the partitioned chamber in such a way that the partitioned chamber is maintained in a constant position inside the conduit; A method that includes this. [Aspect 27] The method according to embodiment 26, wherein the angle of the at least one conduit is varied in order to alter the amount of gravity experienced by the partitioned chamber. [Aspect 28] The method according to embodiment 26, wherein the fluid is selected with respect to a density lower than the density of the partitioned chamber. [Aspect 29] In a partitioned chamber device including an outer enclosure surrounding a hollow interior, A partitioned chamber device configured to simulate the gravitational environment within the hollow interior near the surface of a planet. [Aspect 30] The device according to embodiment 29, wherein the gravitational environment is approximately between unit gravity and zero gravity. [Aspect 31] The device according to embodiment 29, wherein the hollow interior is divided into individual compartments. [Aspect 32] The device according to embodiment 31, wherein the hollow interior is divided into two compartments by a barrier element comprising a ring sized to fit snugly into the hollow interior, a hollow core sized to fit snugly into the central hole of the ring, and a plug sized to fit snugly into the cavity of the core. [Aspect 33] The device according to embodiment 32, wherein the plug is a gate or valve that can be opened to de-block the cavity of the core and to fluidly connect the two compartments. [Aspect 34] The device according to embodiment 32, wherein the plug comprises a soluble or decomposable material that melts or breaks down over time to decontaminate the cavity of the core and fluidly connect the two compartments. [Aspect 35] The device according to embodiment 29, wherein the region of the outer enclosure of the partitioned chamber includes a semipermeable membrane. [Aspect 36] The device according to embodiment 29, configured to support processes selected from the group consisting of: synthesis and processing of materials; synthesis and processing of new materials; investigation of the structure, properties, processing and behavior of materials; industrial crystallization; deposition and processing of thin films; synthesis and processing of biological and biomaterials; crystallization of proteins; synthesis and processing of pharmaceuticals; growth and regeneration of cells, tissues and organs; processing of metals; synthesis and processing of glass; synthesis and fabrication of alloys; manufacturing; synthesis and processing of ceramics; synthesis and processing of polymers; synthesis of semiconductors; assembly and self-assembly of materials; fabrication of optical fibers, synthesis and processing of composite materials; performance evaluation of components, devices and systems; additive manufacturing; and biomanufacturing. [Aspect 37] The device according to embodiment 29, which is sized for use by animals and humans. [Aspect 38] The device according to embodiment 37, configured to simulate reduced gravity for entertainment purposes. [Aspect 39] The device according to embodiment 37, configured to simulate reduced gravity conditions inside a low Earth orbit spacecraft.

Claims

1. In a method for suspending a chamber in simulated reduced gravity, A step of providing a reduced gravity system comprising: at least one conduit having at least one lumen extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being positioned at a height below the height of the outlet; and a partitioned chamber sized to fit inside the at least one lumen; A step of aligning the conduits at a certain angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to gravity, wherein the angle is approximately 1° to 179°; A step of flowing a fluid into the inlet of at least one conduit and out of the outlet of at least one conduit, wherein the fluid has a density lower than the density of the partitioned chamber, and the fluid is flowed at a flow rate that supports the partitioned chamber in such a way that the partitioned chamber is maintained in a permanent position inside the conduit; Includes, A method wherein the angle of the at least one conduit is varied in order to alter the amount of gravity experienced by the partitioned chamber.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is selected with respect to a density lower than the density of the partitioned chamber.

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