Evolution of a phase separated gravity independent bioreactor.

The evolution of a phase-separated gravity-independent bioreactor is described. The initial prototype, a zero head-space manifold silicone membrane based reactor, maintained large diffusional resistances. Obtaining oxygen transfer rates needed to support carbon-recycling aerobic microbes is impossible if large resistances are maintained. Next generation designs (Mark I and II) mimic heat exchanger design to promote turbulence at the tubing-liquid interface, thereby reducing liquid and gas side diffusional resistances. While oxygen transfer rates increased by a factor of ten, liquid channeling prevented further increases. To overcome these problems, a Mark III reactor was developed which maintains inverted phases, i.e., media flows inside the silicone tubing, oxygen gas is applied external to the tubing. This enhances design through changes in gas side driving force concentration and liquid side turbulence levels. Combining an applied external pressure of four atmospheres with increased Reynolds numbers resulted in oxygen transfer intensities of 232 mmol O2/l/h (1000 times greater than first prototype and comparable to a conventional fermenter). A 1.0 liter Mark III reactor can potentially deliver oxygen supplies necessary to support cell cultures needed to recycle a 10 astronaut carbon load continuously.     

中性气体释放人工产生气辉

电离层中分子性的离子与电子的复合要比氧离子与电子的辐射性复合快得多,因此火箭发动机产生的尾气和空间等离子体主动实验中主动释放的中性气体会对电离层有很大的影响,这么大的电离层扰动现象在过去的实验中经常可以观测到.根据中性气体在热层背景中的扩散方程,考虑电离层F区主要的离子化学反应,研究了H2,H2O和CO2气体在电离层高度上的扩散过程和电离层对所释放气体的响应,计算了气辉的体发射系数和发射强度.结果表明,中性气体在电离层高度上扩散非常迅速,在F区的一些高度上,主要正离子成分由O+转变为其他分子离子,且在释放过程中伴随气辉发射,发射气辉的波长和特征与释放物质的种类有关.      

超临界压力RP-3壁面结焦对流阻的影响

实验研究了长时间加热条件下航空煤油RP-3在微细不锈钢管内流动过程中结焦对流动及换热的影响规律。实验中系统压力保持为5 MPa,燃油质量流量为3 g/s。在燃油溶解氧达到饱和的条件下,实验段进出口油温分别为130℃和450℃。实验从开始到终止持续36 h。实验结果表明,随着时间的增长,管内的结焦量不断增加。由于壁面结焦现象对管内流动和换热产生严重的影响,管内各段换热在实验前期迅速恶化逐渐趋于稳定,管内流阻随着实验时间的增加持续增长。管内流动阻力随着时间的增长呈现出"快速增长→平稳增长→急速增长"的过程。另外,基于实验结果,提出了一种影响系数作为判断结焦对换热器单管影响的工程模型。      

相变装置二维方腔内空穴分布规律研究

为了解微重力条件下空穴对相变传热过程的影响,在焓法的基础上增加了基于温度排序算法的空穴模型,在求解过程分析了温度场和空穴之间的相互作用;建立了相变装置的二维模型;研究了空穴在周期外热流条件下的移动规律。结果表明,从初始时刻到第8个轨道周期,低温区空穴逐渐消失并在高温区出现,空穴沿等温线方向扩散并最终积聚在高温边界附近,空穴的移动使传热路径上的热阻增大,导致相变装置冷热边界的传热温差增加了3℃。     

Mammalian cell cultivation in space.

Equipment used in space for the cultivation of mammalian cells does not meet the usual standard of earth bound bioreactors. Thus, the development of a space worthy bioreactor is mandatory for two reasons: First, to investigate the effect on single cells of the space environment in general and microgravity conditions in particular, and second, to provide researchers on long term missions and the Space Station with cell material. However, expertise for this venture is not at hand. A small and simple device for animal cell culture experiments aboard Spacelab (Dynamic Cell Culture System; DCCS) was developed. It provides 2 cell culture chambers, one is operated as a batch system, the other one as a perfusion system. The cell chambers have a volume of 200 microliters. Medium exchange is achieved with an automatic osmotic pump. The system is neither mechanically stirred nor equipped with sensors. Oxygen for cell growth is provided by a gas chamber that is adjacent to the cell chambers. The oxygen gradient produced by the growing cells serves to maintain the oxygen influx by diffusion. Hamster kidney cells growing on microcarriers were used to test the biological performance of the DCCS. On ground tests suggest that this system is feasible.     

Mass and heat exchange in liquids enclosed in containing walls at zero gravity

The dominant phenomena in miscible binary mixtures of melts are the four transport processes (thermal diffusion, heat transfer, concentration diffusion and diffusive heat transfer). In binary melts with no perfect solubility of the components in solid and liquid phase also internal Marangoni convections driven by interfacial forces seem to be possible.     

Development of a CELSS bioreactor: oxygen transfer and micromixing in parabolic flight.

The gas exchange portion of a phase-separated loop bioreactor was tested with respect to oxygen mass transfer and micromixing in accelerations of 0.01g, 1g, and 2g. A plot of the overall mass transfer coefficient versus gravity indicates the rate of oxygen transfer does not change as a function of acceleration. Also, it was determined that the micromixing did not exhibit significant changes in the various gravitational fields. These observations indicate the loop bioreactor should function independent of acceleration.     

C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE: test results of an artificial (man-made) aquatic ecosystem.

The original Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.) is a long-term multi-generation research facility for experiments with aquatic animals and plants in a space station the development of which is surrounded by a large international scientific program. In addition, a miniaturized laboratory prototype, the C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE, with a total volume of about 10-12 liters for a Spacelab middeck locker was developed and a first version was tested successfully for two weeks with a population of fishes (Xiphophorus helleri) in the animal tank and a Ceratophyllum spec. in the illuminated higher plant growth chamber. The water recycling system consisted of a bacteria filter and a mechanical filter and the silastic tubing gas exchanger was separated by valves for the utilization in emergency cases only. Data were collected with the acquisition module of the original C.E.B.A.S. process control system. In addition, an optimized version was tested for 7 weeks with fishes and plants and thereafter with fish and with plants only for 2 and 1 weeks, resp.. The paper presents the relevant water parameters (e.g., pH, pressure, temperature, oxygen saturation, flow rate, ion concentrations) during the test period as well as morphological and physiological data of the enclosed animals and plants. On the basis of the given results the possible role of the C.E.B.A.S. system as a scientific tool in artificial ecosystem research and for the development of a combined animal-plant intensive aquaculture system and its utilization in bioregenerative life support is discussed.     

高超声速热流高精度数值模拟方法

通过高超声速下钝锥热流的计算,对影响热流计算精度的因素进行了综合研究.获得了壁面法向网格Re数对热流计算的影响规律.采用边界高阶插值,提高了热流计算精度.用Roe和AUSM(Advection Upstream Splitting Method)+格式搭配minmod和混合limiter两种限制器,探讨了空间离散方法及限制器的耗散性对热流结果的影响.应用五阶WENO(Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory)方法,对高阶格式计算热流的性能进行了细致研究,最终确立了网格依赖小,热流精度高的计算方法.研究认为:高阶格式不但可以放宽热流计算对网格Re数的限制,同时使得格式对本身计算方法的依赖性也变小.      

氧在钒中基本热力学行为的第一性原理研究

钒(V)是核聚变反应堆结构材料的重要候选材料。实验表明杂质氧(O)会对V的结构和力学性能产生极大的影响。采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法研究了O在V中热力学稳定性、扩散特性以及与缺陷空位的相互作用。O在V中易于占据八面体间隙位,其溶解能为-4.942 eV。O在间隙位的最佳扩散路径为八面体间隙位→四面体间隙位→八面体间隙位,扩散激活能为1.728 eV,在此基础上对不同温度下的扩散系数在文中给出了详细分析。O在V中与空位存在很强的吸引相互作用,1个O原子和2个O原子被空位捕获时的捕获能分别为-0.484 eV和-0.510 eV。当O原子的数量超过3,其捕获能变为正值0.382 eV,因此单空位最多能够结合2个O原子,这意味着"O_1-vacancy"和"O_2-vacancy"团簇在V中很容易形成。这些研究结果将对V基合金在核聚变反应堆中的最终应用具有一定的参考价值。     

氯离子和温度对铝合金在冷却液中腐蚀的影响

分别采用了动电位极化法、电化学阻抗法研究了不同温度下、不同氯离子浓度下防锈铝在模拟冷却液中的腐蚀行为,采用金相显微镜和扫描电镜对极化后防锈铝的表面特征进行了观察和记录。结果表明,氯离子吸附在防锈铝氧化膜表面,对氧化膜表面造成破坏。在一定温度下（30℃）,当氯离子浓度超过0.01mol/L时,中间产物吸附作用就会增强,阻抗谱中低频区出现感抗弧,点蚀萌生。随着氯离子浓度增高（超过0.01mol/L）,防锈铝的腐蚀加剧,耐腐蚀性能下降。随着温度的升高,阴极和阳极反应阻力变小,阳极金属铝的溶解和阴极氧还原速度增大,腐蚀速度增大。温度升高的同时,溶解氧含量下降,阴极反应受到抑制。与此同时扩散过程在整个腐蚀反应过程中的支配性降低,中间产物在氧化膜表面的吸附作用增强,从而导致低频容抗弧的出现。温度对点蚀形貌的影响主要体现在影响单个点蚀坑的几何大小,促进点蚀坑的生长。      

日冕冲浪形成的磁流体动力学模拟

应用二维时变可压缩磁流体动力学模拟,数值研究了双极-单极磁场中电阻撕裂模不稳定性引起的磁场重联过程,用于模拟日冕冲浪的形成.结果表明,在包含有三区——双极场、电流片和单极场的磁静力平衡初态下,双极场和单极场中的磁力线将会直接重联,磁场演变成鞭状(whip)结构.由弯曲磁力线支撑的等离子体团向上运动到最高位置后,逐渐下落和弥散.等离子体团上升速度可达到0.10v_A(v_A为双极场中的Alfv'én速度).模拟结果证实日冕冲浪的形成可能与双极-单极场中的磁场重联密切相关.      

Growth of wheat under one tenth of the atmospheric pressure.

Wheat plants were grown in twin closed growth chambers under normal and reduced atmospheric pressures. For the first 22 days from sowing, the reduced pressure was maintained at 200 hPa, and at 100 hPa for the remaining 27 days until harvest. These pressures were obtained by evacuation of the chamber and adding oxygen (170 and 79 hPa respectively) and carbon dioxide (0.65 and 1.0 hPa respectively; about 2 and 3 times above the control). Eighty-seven per cent of the final dry mass was produce under 100 hPa treatment. Growth and development of wheat are not negatively affected by low pressure treatment. Compared to the control, final dry mass increased by 76%, leaf number by 133%, and ear number by 35%, probably due to elevation of CO2. Shortening of shoot parts and increases in chlorophyll and proteins content are not in accordance with a predicted CO2 effect and could be attributed to the N2 removal and the subsequent alteration in gas diffusion rate.     

钛合金表面低氧压熔结Al-Si涂层及抗氧化能力

采用低氧压高温快速熔结技术在Ti-6Al-4V合金表面成功地制备出抗高温氧化的Al-Si熔结涂层.与Si改性渗涂层相比,这种工艺相对简单,不需要经过长时间的扩散就能形成足够厚度的Al-Si熔结涂层,省时节能,且涂层中抗氧化元素铝、硅的浓度可通过调整粉末的混合比例来进行控制.X射线检测表明涂层主要由Ti₅Si₃和TiAl₃组成.在923K空气中52h循环氧化试验结果表明:低氧压熔结Al-Si涂层在前10h的氧化过程中氧化增重较快,而在随后的氧化过程中氧化增重较为缓慢,而Si改性渗涂层在氧化过程中一直保持着较高的氧化速率.      

Irradiated ignition of solid materials in reduced pressure atmosphere with various oxygen concentrations – for fire safety in space habitats

Effects of sub-atmospheric ambient pressure and oxygen content on irradiated ignition characteristics of solid combustibles were examined experimentally in order to elucidate the flammability and chance of fire in depressurized systems and give ideas for the fire safety and fire fighting strategies for such environments. Thin cellulosic paper was used as the solid combustible since cellulose is one of major organic compounds and flammables in the nature. Applied atmospheres consisted of inert gases (either CO₂ or N₂) and oxygen at various mixture ratios. Total ambient pressure (P) was varied from 101 kPa (standard atmospheric pressure, P₀) to 20 kPa. Ignition was initiated by external thermal radiation with CO₂ laser (10 W total; 21.3 W/cm² of the corresponding peak flux) onto the solid surface. Thermal degradation of the solid produced combustible gaseous products (e.g. CO, H₂, or other low weight of HCs) and these products mixed with ambient oxygen to form the combustible mixture over the solid. Heat transfer from the irradiated surface into the mixture accelerated the exothermic reaction in the gas phase and finally thermal runaway (ignition) was achieved. A digital video camera was used to analyze the ignition characteristics. Flammability maps in partial pressure of oxygen (ppO₂) and normalized ambient pressure (P/P₀) plane were made to reveal the fire hazard in depressurized environments. Results showed that a wider flammable range was obtained in sub-atmospherics conditions. In middle pressure range (101–40 kPa), the required ppO₂ for ignition decreased almost linearly as the total pressure decreased, indicating that higher fire risk is expected. In lower pressure range (<40 kPa), the required partial pressure of oxygen increased dramatically, then ignition was eventually not achieved at pressures less than 20 kPa under the conditions studied here. The findings suggest that it might be difficult to satisfy safety in space agriculture since it has been reported that higher oxygen concentrations are preferable for plant growth in depressurized environments. Our results imply that there is an optimum pressure level to achieve less fire chance with acceptable plant growth. An increase of the flammable range in middle pressure level might be explained by following two effects: one is a physical effect, such as a weak convective thermal removal from ignitable domain (near the hot surface) to the ambient of atmosphere, and the other is chemical effect which causes so-called “explosion peninsula” as a result of depleting radical consumption due to third-body recombination reaction. Further studies are necessary to determine the controlling factor on the observed flammable trend in depressurized conditions.     

Analytical MHD model of three-dimensional time-dependent reconnection in a compressible plasma

We describe and analyse a model of three-dimensional time-varying reconnection in which the effect of surface waves is neglected. Reconnection is assumed to be caused by a localized decrease of the plasma conductivity inside the diffusion region. The localized dissipation gives rise to an electric field E^*, which determines the reconnection rate. As a result, the current sheet decays into a system of large-amplitude MHD waves, which propagate along the current sheet and thereby induce perturbations in the surrounding medium. Our model is applied to the case of reconnection at the magnetopause, in particular to the signatures referred to as FTEs (flux transfer events).     

Towards multi-dimensional space weather modeling for energetic oxygen ions in the earth''s inner magnetosphere: Equilibrium configuration

We report the first 3+1 dimensional model development for energetic atomic oxygen ions in the Earth's radiation belts. Energetic Oxygen ions cans be supplied to the Earth's Inner magnetosphere from the sun (as a component of solar wind and solar energetic particles), from anomalous cosmic rays, and from acceleration processes acting on ionospheric atomic oxygen ions. We have built a multi-dimensional oxygen ion model in the following free parameters: geomagnetic L-shell, the magnetic moment, the second adiabatic invariant, and the discrete charge state number. Quiet time, steady state oxygen ion distributions have been obtained numerically from an assumed outer radiation zone boundary condition at L=7, average values of the radial diffusion coefficients, and standard values for the exospheric neutral densities due to the MSIS-86 upper atmosphere and exosphere neutral thermal particle density model. Average distributions of free electrons in the plasmasphere were also assumed with a mean plasmapause location just beyond L=4. We included the six lowest ionic charge states of atomic oxygen (¹⁶O) based on an existing charge exchange cross section compilation by Spjeldvik and Fritz (1978). Computed oxygen ion distributions include the resulting equilibrium structure of energy oxygen ions between 10 KeV and 100 MeV.     

分子筛氧浓缩器非等温吸附模型

介绍了机载分子筛产氧系统OBMSOGS(OnBoard Molecular Sieve Oxygen Generating system)的工作原理和变压吸附PSA(Pressure Swing Adsorption)的基本理论,建立了分子筛氧浓缩器MSOC(Molecular Sieve Oxygen Concentrator)的数学模型.模型考虑了筛床的传热传质、压力变化和吸附热引起的吸附等温梯度的变化等因素对吸附性能的影响.动力方程采用线性推动力方程,采用混合Langmuir吸附等温理论计算吸附量.用所建立的数学模型对MSOC的吸附过程进行了模拟并对结果进行了分析.     

Eddy mixing and composition variations of earth's upper atmosphere

Solar radiation intensity variations lead to eddy diffusion coefficient variations and are closely connected with variations of both neutral atmosphere constituents in which only eddy mixing (helium) plays a determining part and those in which photochemical processes (atomic oxygen) are also significant. A possible mechanism of the semiannual density variation occurrence in the Earth's upper atmosphere is obtained.     

EFFECTS OF CONVECTIVE FLUID MOTION UPON OXIDE CRYSTAL GROWTH IN HIGH TEMPERATURE SOLUTION

For understanding of the influence of convective flow on crystal growth, space high temperature in situ observation instrument (SHITISOI) is dedicated to visualize and record the whole growth process of oxide crystals in high temperature up to 1000°C. Model experiments using transparent liquids such as KNbO3 and a mix ture of Li2B4O7+KNbO3 were chosen to investigate effects on ground and in space.On the earth, an investigation of growth kinetics of KNbO3 crystal related to two different states of convection: diffusive-advective flow and diffusive-convective flow,has been performed. The per unit length of a step e is calculated from the exper imental data for two different states of convection. Analyses of these data show the effect of buoyancy convection is to enhance the sharpness of the interface. The growth of KNbO3 crystals from solution of KNbO3+Li2B4O7 was investigated in space. The streamlines of the steady thermocapillary convection in Li2B4O7 solvent was observed. Due to thermocapillary convection, KNbO3 crystal grains grew and filled the whole solution homogeneously. Earth-based quenching experiments are de signed in order to study polyhedral instability of KNbO3 crystal, which is controlled by diffusion mechanism limitation. In all cases, when the crystal was nucleated near air/solution surface, it lost its polyhedral stability and varied from polyhedrons to dedrites. The thickness of diffusion mechanism limitation layer is about 60μm.