Thermally evolved gas analysis (TEGA) of hyperarid soils doped with microorganisms from the Atacama Desert in southern Peru: Implications for the Phoenix mission

TEGA, one of several instruments on board of the Phoenix Lander, performed differential scanning calorimetry and evolved gas analysis of soil samples and ice, collected from the surface and subsurface at a northern landing site on Mars. TEGA is a combination of a high temperature furnace and a mass spectrometer (MS) that was used to analyze samples delivered to the instrument via a robotic arm. The samples were heated at a programmed ramp rate up to 1000 °C. The power required for heating can be carefully and continuously monitored (scanning calorimetry). The evolved gases generated during the process can be analyzed with the evolved gas analyzer (a magnetic sector mass spectrometer) in order to determine the composition of gases released as a function of temperature. Our laboratory has developed a sample characterization method using a pyrolyzer integrated to a quadrupole mass spectrometer to support the interpretations of TEGA data. Here we examine the evolved gas properties of six types of hyperarid soils from the Pampas de La Joya in southern Peru (a possible analog to Mars), to which we have added with microorganisms (Salmonella typhimurium, Micrococcus luteus, and Candida albicans) in order to investigate the effect of the soil matrix on the TEGA response. Between 20 and 40 mg of soil, with or without ∼5 mg of lyophilized microorganism biomass (dry weight), were placed in the pyrolyzer and heated from room temperature to 1200 °C in 1 h at a heating rate of 20 °C/min. The volatiles released were transferred to a MS using helium as a carrier gas. The quadrupole MS was ran in scan mode from 10 to 200 m/z. In addition, ∼20 mg of each microorganism without a soil matrix were analyzed. As expected, there were significant differences in the gases released from microorganism samples with or without a soil matrix, under similar heating conditions. Furthermore, samples from the most arid environments had significant differences compared with less arid soils. Organic carbon released in the form of CO₂ (ion 44 m/z) from microorganisms evolved at temperatures of ∼326.0 ± 19.5 °C, showing characteristic patterns for each one. Others ions such as 41, 78 and 91 m/z were also found. Interestingly, during the thermal process, the release of CO₂ increased and ions previously found disappeared, demonstrating a high-oxidant activity in the soil matrix when it was subjected to high temperature. Finally, samples of soil show CO₂ evolved up to 650 °C consistent with thermal decomposition of carbonates. These results indicate that organics mixed with these hyperarid soils are oxidized to CO₂. Our results suggest the existence of at least two types of oxidants in these soils, a thermolabile oxidant which is highly oxidative and other thermostable oxidant which has a minor oxidative activity and that survives the heat-treatment. Furthermore, we find that the interaction of biomass added to soil samples gives a different set of breakdown gases than organics resident in the soil. The nature of oxidant(s) present in the soils from Pampas de La Joya is still unknown.     

Analysis of long-endurance station-keeping flight scenarios for stratospheric airships in the presence of thermal effects

The ability to achieve long-endurance station-keeping flights makes stratospheric airships desirable platforms for the provision of communication and surveillance services. To maintain long-endurance flights, it is necessary to consider the problem of energy consumption. In this paper, we discuss long-endurance flight scenarios of stratospheric airships in the presence of thermal effects. The balance between buoyancy and gravity is influenced by thermal effects during the diurnal cycle. We perform a theoretical analysis based on the helium’s mass, pressure differential, and altitude as the main factors. To verify the effectiveness of the control over the pressure differential and the altitude, three long-endurance flight scenarios are proposed and compared. Then, the corresponding optimization problems are constructed to determine the energy-minimum flight. Finally, further efforts are made to reduce energy consumption. The realization and limitations of two strategies for improvement are analyzed. A comparison with other scenarios shows the effectiveness of energy conservation. The study in this paper thus provides a reference for station-keeping applications of stratospheric airships.     

Microstructure,thermophysical property and ablation behavior of high thermal conductivity carbon/carbon composites after heat-treatment

Uni-directional carbon/carbon composites with high thermal conductivity are suitable to supply continuous thermal protection for future reentry vehicles since they could reduce surface temperature and ablation rates simultaneously in harsh environments. In this work, the high thermal conductivity carbon/carbon composites were prepared by chemical vapor infiltration. After heat-treatment, both their open porosity and internal friction increase due to the fiber/matrix thermal expansion mismatch; while their thermal conductive performance become better due to more complete carbon structure. With raising heat-treatment temperature from 1800 °C to 2450 °C, the mass and linear ablation rates of C/C composites with fibers vertical to the oxyacetylene torch for 60 s decrease from 0.66 mg/s and 2.95 μm/s to 0.51 mg/s and 2.05 μm/s respectively. The improved ablation resistance is resulted from the increased thermal conductivity from 282 to 508 W/(m·K) and more carbon fibers exposed to the flame during ablation, which have better oxidation resistance than those of carbon matrix. While such ablation rates become larger for composites with fibers parallel to the flame, from 1.02 mg/s and 3.73 μm/s to 1.28 mg/s and 5.01 μm/s respectively since the ablation occurred more easily through gaps at the fiber/matrix interfaces, which become larger and are always exposed to the flame for this case.     

倾斜轨道卫星活动天线热控特点分析

对某低轨倾斜圆轨道卫星的外热流环境进行了分析。用蒙特卡罗法计算了卫星六个表面的外热流。研究了该轨道条件下舱外活动天线热控特点,提出了该类卫星活动天线的热控设计原则和初步方案。     

Thermal drill sampling system onboard high-velocity impactors for exploring the subsurface of Europa

The planned Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM) will provide a unique opportunity to place scientific instruments onto the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa in the late 2020s. After the Galileo mission, this will be a long awaited chance to have a close glimpse into some of the mysteries of this moon. Care must be taken in the choice of in-situ science that will be undertaken on the surface.     

固体材料热物性参数智能测试系统设计与研制

为实现厚度较薄固体板状材料热物性的准确测试。基于平行热线法基本原理,将温度测点由原来与热线平行布置,改为试样厚度方向布置,并考虑热穿透效应的影响,利用数值解法结合计算机编程直接测算材料热导率及热扩散率。研制了热物性智能测试系统,对硼硅玻璃、石棉、硅藻土耐火砖等进行热物性测试实验,结果表明与国家标准测试方法测试值和文献值较为吻合。考虑热穿透效应的影响,通过适当的数据处理手段,不用通过熔融加厚也可实现薄固体板状材料热物性的准确测试,有效拓展了热线法应用范围。     

某涡喷发动机涡轮导向器的热应力分析

应用有限元方法建立了某涡轮喷气发动机涡轮导向器有限元计算模型,根据实测的温度边界条件计算了涡轮导向器温度分布,在此基础上对涡轮导向器进行了热应力分析。其结果为涡轮导向器叶片设计改进提供了依据。     

3,3′-二硝基-4,4′-氧化偶氮呋咱(DNOAF)的热分解特性

采用热重实验(TG)、差示扫描量热实验(DSC)和气体(固体)原位反应池/快速扫描傅里叶变换红外光谱(RSFTIR)联用技术,研究了3,3′-二硝基-4,4′-氧化偶氮呋咱(DNOAF)的热分解特性。结果表明:DNOAF的热分解特性对压强敏感,随着压强的升高,DNOAF的热分解放热峰温呈降低趋势。其热分解气体中具有红外活性的有CO2,N2O,NO,NO2,CO和DNOAF蒸汽;凝聚相热分解产物主要为碳,其中还含有少量的氰酸酯基-O-C≡N。在实验基础上提出了DNOAF的热分解历程,DNOAF的热分解首先发生在呋咱环间的C-N键,然后是呋咱环的开环分解。     

过渡金属/稀土金属氧化物纳米粒子催化AP热分解研究

1引言纳米材料由于特殊的表面特性而作为催化剂被广泛地研究。按一定的比例将不同的催化剂进行掺杂混合,有可能获得优于单一催化剂的催化性能。如Cu-Zn纳米催化剂就可替代昂贵的铂或钯催化剂实现对某些有机化合物氢化反应的催化[1]。随着纳米技术的发展,纳米过渡金属氧化物[2](     

电子封装用SiCp/ZL101复合材料热膨胀性能研究

采用无压渗透法制备了SiCp／ZL101复合材料，测定了SiCF／ZL101复合材料在25℃-400℃区间的线膨胀系数值，运用理论模型对复合材料的线膨胀系数进行了计算，分析了热膨胀性能的影响因素。结果表明，复合材料的线膨胀系数比基体合金显著降低，Turner模型对SiCp／ZL101复合材料线膨胀系数的计算值与实验值相接近，复合材料热应力引起线膨胀性能的变化随温度的不同而不同。