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Lunar-Martian Dust Simulation Apparatus. Tyrel Ellis Jonathon Pierson Matt Merritt. Problem Statement. Develop, construct and test a method for production of electrically charged particles to be used for the NASA dust experiments. Background Information.
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Lunar-Martian Dust Simulation Apparatus Tyrel Ellis Jonathon Pierson Matt Merritt
Problem Statement • Develop, construct and test a method for production of electrically charged particles to be used for the NASA dust experiments.
Background Information • Electrostatically charged particles pose significant threat to human health and machine reliability during Martian/Lunar exploration and habitation. • Collision of particles with space suits, vehicles and machinery can transfer charge leading to rapid adhesion. • The proposed project will explore concepts of an active surface with integrated dust sensors and dust detachment and removal actuators to provide mitigation of dust particles with minimal energy expenditures.
Particle Specifications • Ranges from 0.01 to 100 microns in diameter.
Atmosphere Conditions Martian Atmosphere: surface level pressure = 600Pa Lunar Atmosphere: One trillionth the density of Earth’s atmosphere
Proposed Solution : Overview • We will be charging the particles using the triboelectric effect. • We will be determining the charge with the ESPART analyzer • The particles will be delivered by a CO2 propulsion system
System Diagram Triboeletric Charger ESPART Sensor Delivery System UVM Test Chamber
Charging • Charging will occur through a triboelectric effect caused by tumbling the particles in a tumbler. • Possible materials include: • Teflon with stainless steel beads • Glass • Charge-to-mass ratio (Q/m) of JSC-1 Mars stimulant ranged between 6.42 and 11.75 micro-coulombs per gram (Sharma)
ESPART Analyzer • The Electrical Single Particle Aerodynamic Relaxation Time Analyzer • The ESPART analyzer uses the principle of Stokes’ Law and Laser Doppler Effect in determining the particle size and charge. • As a particle travels through air it experiences a drag force which is proportional to the diameter of the particle, given by Stokes’ Law. Charge also effects its diameter given.
ESPART Sensor: How it Works • The MiniLDV emits two laser beams that when a particle travels through the intersection of the beams, they are read by the receiving lens and a sinusoidal wave is formed. • The larger the charge of the particle the larger its signature is.
CO2 Delivery • We will use compressed CO2 to deliver the charged particles into the UVM test chamber • CO2 is used to: • Keep humidity low • Simulate the Martian environment • Keep the vacuum stable
Unknown Future Circumstances • We may need to put the entire system in a vacuum in order to keep the particles charged once the charge is attained • The ESPART analyzer is large, so we may need a separate vacuum chamber to house our device