Soybean cultivation for Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSSs): The effect of hydroponic system and nitrogen source

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of the plant species selected within the European Space Agency (ESA) Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA) project for hydroponic cultivation in Biological Life Support Systems (BLSSs), because of the high nutritional value of seeds. Root symbiosis of soybean with Bradirhizobium japonicum contributes to plant nutrition in soil, providing ammonium through the bacterial fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two hydroponic systems, Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and cultivation on rockwool, and two nitrogen sources in the nutrient solution, nitrate (as Ca(NO₃)₂ and KNO₃) and urea (CO(NH₂)₂), on root symbiosis, plant growth and seeds production of soybean. Plants of cultivar ‘OT8914’, inoculated with B. japonicum strain BUS-2, were grown in a growth chamber, under controlled environmental conditions.     

On the mid-latitude ionospheric storm association with intense geomagnetic storms

The bulk association between ionospheric storms and geomagnetic storms has been studied. Hemispheric features of seasonal variation of ionospheric storms in the mid-latitude were also investigated. 188 intense geomagnetic storms (Dst ≤ 100 nT) that occurred during solar cycles 22 and 23 were considered, of which 143 were observed to be identified with an ionospheric storm. Individual ionospheric storms were identified as maximum deviations of the F2 layer peak electron density from quiet time values. Only ionospheric storms that could clearly be associated with the peak of a geomagnetic storm were considered. Data from two mid-latitude ionosonde stations; one in the northern hemisphere (i.e. Moscow) and the other in the southern hemisphere (Grahamstown) were used to study ionospheric conditions at the time of the individual geomagnetic storms. Results show hemispheric and latitudinal differences in the intensity and nature of ionospheric storms association with different types of geomagnetic storms. These results are significant for our present understanding of the mechanisms which drive the changes in electron density during different types of ionospheric storms.     

Selection and hydroponic growth of potato cultivars for bioregenerative life support systems

As part of the ESA-funded MELiSSA program, Ghent University and the Université catholique de Louvain investigated the suitability, growth and development of four potato cultivars in hydroponic culture under controlled conditions with the aim to incorporate such cultivation system in an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). Potato plants can fulfill three major functions in an ECLSS in space missions: (a) fixation of CO₂ and production of O₂, (b) production of tubers for human nutrition and (c) production of clean water after condensation of the water vapor released from the plants by transpiration. Four cultivars (Annabelle, Bintje, Desiree and Innovator) were selected and grown hydroponically in nutrient film technique (NFT) gullies in a growth chamber under controlled conditions. The plant growth parameters, tuber harvest parameters and results of tuber nutritional analysis of the four cultivars were compared. The four potato cultivars grew well and all produced tubers. The growth period lasted 127 days for all cultivars except for Desiree which needed 145 days. Annabelle (1.45 kg/m²) and Bintje (1.355 kg/m²) were the best performing of the four cultivars. They also produced two times more tubers than Desiree and Innovator. Innovator produced the biggest tubers (20.95 g/tuber) and Desiree the smallest (7.67 g/tuber). The size of Annabelle and Bintje potatoes were intermediate. Bintje plants produced the highest total biomass in term of DW. The highest non-edible biomass was produced by Desiree, which showed both the highest shoot and root DW. The manual length and width measurements were also used to predict the total tuber mass. The energy values of the tubers remained in the range of the 2010 USDA and Souci-Fachmann-Kraut food composition databases. The amount of Ca determined was slightly reduced compared to the USDA value, but close to the Souci-Fachmann-Kraut value. The concentration of Cu, Zn and P were high compared to both databases.     

基于模糊聚类的不同机型分类方法研究

随着航空业飞速发展,飞机的种类越来越多,如何对不同机型进行归类,使飞机的设计、制造、使用、维护、保障等工作变得更加高效,是制造商和运营商亟待解决的问题。文中把飞机设计性能特征指标加以解析化和数量化,给出了模糊聚类分析对不同机型的分类计算方法,并实例分析,得到了不同机型的在不同水平下的相似关系。从而为不同机型的归类、相似机型的选择提供了一种方法,也可以作为飞机设计、营运信息、备件设施共享的依据,该方法可以综合机型多种特征,增强了不同机型分类的精确性、客观性和合理性。     

机场竞争力评价指标体系的构建

本文首先分析总结了机场竞争力的形成机理,在此基础上提出了机场竞争力的评价原则,最后,构建了一套包含4个一级指标、16个二级指标和41个三级指标的机场竞争力评价指标体系,旨在通过这套评价体系对机场的竞争力发展水平进行评估,找出机场竞争力发展过程中的优势不足,为机场在市场竞争中提高竞争力水平和核心竞争力提供科学的参考依据.     

基于遗传算法的飞机经济爬升速度优化方法

为提高宽体飞机的爬升经济性,首先建立了爬升阶段飞行动力学模型和优化目标计算模型,确定了基于速度优化的最佳爬升策略;然后,在最佳爬升策略的基础上,建立了基于遗传算法的双表速爬升优化模型,得到近似最佳爬升策略,并分析了该爬升策略的可行性;最后,以某宽体飞机为例,分析了近似最佳爬升策略的影响因素。研究结果表明:最佳爬升策略相对传统爬升策略经济性提升3%~8%,且改进后的近似爬升策略与最佳爬升策略误差不超过1.4%;飞机重量、温度偏差和成本指数均会影响爬升策略的性能参数。     

液体火箭发动机涡轮泵密封组件静力学特性

为了提高液体火箭发动机涡轮泵端面密封的气检合格率,开展了密封组件的静力学特性分析。采用有限元法建立了密封端面接触分析模型,针对石墨环装配过盈量、弹簧刚度偏差与气检压力3个方面进行了仿真计算,获得了端面变形量和密封压力分布的变化规律。计算结果表明:在0.13 mm过盈量下,石墨环上端面高度差为7.2μm;弹簧刚度偏差量变化引起的动静环端面压力分布最大差值约0.1 MPa;在气检过程中密封端面呈环形的压力分布。     

旋转式唇形密封圈开启特性研究

为研究对唇形密封圈可重复使用至关重要的开启性能,建立了唇形密封圈临界开启判据和仿真计算模型,求解了临界开启转速.研究了弹簧紧箍力、唇口过盈量以及泵入口压力对临界开启转速的影响规律,进行了唇形密封圈水运转试验.结果表明:随着弹簧紧箍力的增加,临界开启转速呈线性增加,推荐弹簧紧箍力取值范围为0.1～0.3 N/mm;当唇口过盈量从0.1 mm增加到0.8 mm时,临界开启转速增加量仅为1％,推荐唇口过盈量取值范围为0.3～0.6 mm;泵入口压力对临界开启转速影响较大,当泵入口压力较高时,可以通过减小弹簧紧箍力来降低临界开启转速;泵入口压力从0.4～0.75 MPa变化时,临界开启转速的理论研究结果与试验研究结果偏差范围为2％～7.2％,表明关于唇形密封圈开启转速的数值计算是正确的.     

航空CFD软件可信度评价指标体系研究进展

按照CFD软件模拟的流速范围、流动特征对CFD软件的可信属性进行划分,形成亚、跨、超、高超流动模拟指标以及所对应的流动特性模拟能力指标,得到CFD软件可信度评价指标;并结合所对应的指标设计出基准级、部件级和系统级三级度量元,制定出CFD软件可信度评价准则和评价方法,建立起一套可用于评价航空CFD软件可信度的评价流程和评价体系。     

某型航空发动机空中降转故障分析

针对某型航空发动机空中降转故障,从改变燃油流量调节器的供油特性方面分析其发生的主要原因,提出了核心排故途径,即改变膜盒组件相关设计参数。