Initial design of laboratories for sustainable habitation

An effective and self-sustainable artificial habitat design is essential for human spaceflight and expansion of mankind into orbit or towards other celestial bodies. There are two approaches that need to be implemented in future sustainable habitats: the use of re-cycling technologies in order to gain experience in closed-loop processes and the primary production of resource materials using In Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) principles. Various products will be provided and, where applicable, recycled in such a system taking into account basic human factors requirements such as crew work load capacity, safety and well-being, namely:     

Supercomputer modeling of hydrogen combustion in rocket engines

Hydrogen being an ecological fuel is very attractive now for rocket engines designers. However, peculiarities of hydrogen combustion kinetics, the presence of zones of inverse dependence of reaction rate on pressure, etc. prevents from using hydrogen engines in all stages not being supported by other types of engines, which often brings the ecological gains back to zero from using hydrogen. Computer aided design of new effective and clean hydrogen engines needs mathematical tools for supercomputer modeling of hydrogen–oxygen components mixing and combustion in rocket engines.The paper presents the results of developing verification and validation of mathematical model making it possible to simulate unsteady processes of ignition and combustion in rocket engines.     

Development of a ground-based space micro-algae photo-bioreactor

The purpose of the research is to develop a photo-bioreactor which may produce algae protein and oxygen for future astronauts in comparatively long-term exploration, and remove carbon dioxide in a controlled ecological life support system. Based on technical parameters and performance requirements, the project planning, design drafting, and manufacture were conducted. Finally, a demonstration test for producing algae was done. Its productivity for micro-algae and performance of the photo-bioreactor were evaluated. The facility has nine subsystems, including the reactor, the illuminating unit, the carbon dioxide (CO₂) production unit and oxygen (O₂) generation unit, etc. The demonstration results showed that the facility worked well, and the parameters, such as energy consumption, volume, and productivity for algae, met with the design requirement. The density of algae in the photo-bioreactor increased from 0.174 g (dry weight) L⁻¹ to 4.064 g (dry weight) L⁻¹ after 7 days growth. The principle of providing CO₂ in the photo-bioreactor for algae and removing O₂ from the culture medium was suitable for the demand of space conditions. The facility has reasonable technical indices, and smooth and dependable performances.     

LHD部件的失效机理与数值计算

通过检测数据的分析,探讨了LID部件潮解失效机制的物理、化学过程。根据质量作用定律,分子运动论和碰撞理论,给出了扩散系数的假定,从而建立了数学模型。利用建立的模型,对半径为P_o的实球体进行了数值计算。计算结果表明:描绘的曲线和拟合公式与试测曲线和回归公式相对比,形式上基本一致。由于部件实际形状并非实球,假设的参数很难与贮存条件一致,因此数值上有差别,这是很自然的。     

TiAl 与TC4 扩散焊接接头的组织与性能

主要对TiAl基金属间化合物与TC4的扩散连接技术进行了研究。通过对钛铝基合金进行热处理,获得了高温性能良好的全片层组织;通过对扩散连接后的接头进行组织结构、力学性能和断口的分析发现,在915℃/80 MPa/1 h的扩散连接条件下,TiAl基合金与TC4实现了冶金结合,在室温、400和500℃下,接头的抗拉强度分别达到了TiAl母材的91.77%、95.27%和99.21%。     

以Ti/V/Cu、V/Cu为中间层的TiAl合金

用真空扩散连接方法对TiAl/Ti/V/Cu/40Cr钢及TiAl/V/Cu/40Cr钢进行了研究。结果表明,以Ti/V/Cu作中间层的接头拉伸强度高于以V/Cu作中间层的接头强度。界面分析显示,Ti/V、V/Cu、Cu/40Cr钢的各个结合界面处未形成金属间化合物,而TiAl/Ti的结合界面上有Ti3Al产生;在TiAl/V的界面上有Ti3Al、Al3V两种金属间化合物产生;界面上脆性金属间化合物的产生是接头发生断裂的原因。     

From Coma Abundances to Nucleus Composition

A major goal of comet research is to determine conditions in the outer solar nebula based on the chemical composition and structure of comet nuclei. The old view was to use coma abundances directly for the chemical composition of the nucleus. However, since the composition of the coma changes with heliocentric distance, r, the new view is that the nucleus composition msut be determined from analysis of coma mixing ratios as a function of r. Taking advantage of new observing technology and the early detection of the very active Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) allows us to determine the coma mixing ratios over a large range of heliocentric distances. In our analysis we assume three sources for the coma gas: (1) the surface of the nucleus (releasing water vapor), (2) the interior of the porous nucleus (releasing many species more volatile than water), and (3) the distributed source (releasing gases from ices and hydrocarbon polycondensates trapped and contained in coma dust). Molecules diffusing inside the nucleus are sublimated by heat transported into the interior. The mixing ratios in the coma are modeled assuming various chemical compositions and structural parameters of the spinning nucleus as it moves in its orbit from large heliocentric distance through perihelion. We have combined several sets of observational data of Comet Hale-Bopp for H₂O (from OH) and CO, covering the spectrum range from radio to UV. Many inconsistencies in the data were uncovered and reported to the observers for a reanalysis. Since post-perihelion data are still sparse, we have combined pre- and post-perihelion data. The resulting mixing ratio of CO relative to H₂O as a function of r is presented with a preliminary analysis that still needs to be expanded further. Our fit to the data indicates that the total CO release rate (from the nucleus and distributed sources) relative to that of H₂O is 30% near perihelion. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

N2O4在氟醚橡胶中扩散和吸附行为的分子动力学模拟

利用全原子分子动力学与巨正则蒙特卡洛模拟方法,研究不同四氧化二氮(N_2O_4)含量、温度和压力对N_2O_4在氟醚橡胶中扩散和吸附行为的影响。结果表明,随着N_2O_4含量增加,体系自由体积越大,因而增加了N_2O_4的扩散速率。当体系压力增大时,体系自由体积逐渐变小,N_2O_4扩散速率减小。此外,温度的上升既提高了自由体积又增大了原子的运动速度,因此提高了N_2O_4的扩散速率,并表现出阿伦尼乌斯关系。进一步地,N_2O_4在氟醚橡胶中的溶解度系数随着温度的上升迅速下降。所以,N_2O_4在氟醚橡胶中的渗透系数随着温度的上升先微弱上升然后迅速下降。     

SPS温度对铜/镍粉/304不锈钢接头组织与剪切强度的影响

采用脉冲放电等离子烧结(SPS)制备了添加镍粉中间层的铜/304不锈钢接头,研究了焊接温度对接头组织及力学性能的影响。结果表明,以镍粉为中间层,可以实现铜与304不锈钢的扩散焊接。铜/镍界面处铜、镍互扩散形成铜/镍界面扩散层,镍/304不锈钢界面处镍、铁互扩散形成镍/铁界面扩散层,铜/镍扩散层厚度大于镍/铁扩散层厚度。在焊接压力为10 MPa、焊接温度为900℃时,铜/304不锈钢接头剪切强度最佳,为98 MPa。铜/304不锈钢接头断口形貌呈韧窝状,断裂均在镍中间层处,接头连接强度受制于镍中间层本身的强度。     

TB2钛合金扩散焊接头强度的影响因素

利用Gleeble-1500型热/力模拟试验机对TB2钛合金在无中间夹层情况下，在不同焊接温度、保温时间、焊接压力条件下进行扩散焊实验，利用金相分析、SEM手段分析了扩散焊接头情况，通过剪切实验，得到了不同实验条件下的扩散焊接头的剪切强度，并对其进行了分析。结果表明，TB2合金扩散焊最佳工艺参数为：扩散焊温度850℃；保温时间30min；连接压力5MPa。接头的最高剪切强度为845MPa。