Species and Temperature Exchange in the Atmosphere of “Bion-M” Spacecraft
- Paper number
IAC-07-A2.2.02
- Author
Prof. Nickolay N. Smirnov, Moscow Lomonosov State University, Russia
- Coauthor
Mrs. Anfisa E. Kazakova, Central Specialised Design Bureau of, Russia
- Coauthor
Dr. Oleg Ivashnyov, Moscow Lomonosov State University, Russia
- Coauthor
Mrs. Valentina Nerchenko, Moscow Lomonosov State University, Russia
- Year
2007
- Abstract
On going flights of Foton satellites allow to carry out research in the following domains: effect of space flight and outer space factors such as microgravity, artificial gravity and space radiation on physical processes and biological organisms. Experts from many Russian and foreign scientific institutions participated in the research. Over a period of time from 1973 to 1997 there were launched 11 BION satellites designed by the Central Specialized Design Bureau for carrying out fundamental and applied research in the field of space biology, medicine, radio physics and radiobiology with participation of specialists from the foreign countries. Every BION spacecraft was designed to perform a special research programme and enabled to install the payload elements with a mass of up to 700 kg inside the reentry capsule and outside the S/C - up to 200kg. An active life was in the range from 5 to 22 days depending on the tasks of the flight, scientific hardware being installed and biological objects. The necessity to proceed further fundamental research in space biology in order to get diagnosis of particular vital functions in weightlessness and higher radiation conditions which take place during the flight to the Moon and Mars has brought to the new requirements for the spacecraft. To meet this task the spacecraft was modified and its design characteristics were improved. It concerns improvement of the control system, power supply system, scientific data transmission to the ground stations within the Russian territory and the stations situated abroad. It's a real task now to provide the circular orbit with an average height of 450 km and a lifetime of 45-60 days as well as to chose more suitable landing area due to the lane offset. The BION S/C will be launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome. The new tasks need the improvement of the life support system, enabling to guarantee necessary air quality and thermal conditions within the capsule. The goal of the present investigation was in developing a numerical simulator aimed at determining gas concentration and temperature fields established inside the scientific module of the spacecraft “Bion-M” and to perform optimization studies, which could meet strong requirements for air quality and temperature range allowable for operation of different biological experiments. To make concentration and thermal fields more uniform within the module special fans will be used to facilitate convection. Extra CO2 generated in scientific experiments as well as extra heat will be absorbed by the gas filling the capsule and transported by convective flows to the life support devices, which absorb the extra heat and CO2 and provides oxygen. The goal of the project was to develop a mathematical model of the convective flows, heat and species concentration exchange processes inside the capsule filled in with scientific equipment, and to perform optimization studies. The gravitational convection was not essential due to its low velocities under small mean temperature gradients present in the capsule, and relatively high convective velocities induced by fans. Being unable to resolve all the equipment and connecting cables in its detailed composition, and in order to avoid difficulties with boundary conditions needed on all impermeable boundaries we developed the concept of quasi-permeable medium, which was implemented to perform numerical simulations of convective flows of multi-component gas mixture inside the module accounting for the sources and sinks of different air components, which could be consumed and/or exhausted by biological objects in each experimental apparatus inside the capsule. The balance between heat and species sources and sinks allows determining the quasi-steady concentration and temperature fields inside the capsule. The present investigation was supported in parts by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant 06-08-00009) and by the grant of the President of Russian Federation (8270.2006.1).
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-A2.2.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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