RU2190165C2 - Space object air thermostatting system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: rocketry and space engineering; control of temperature and humidity parameters of spacecraft in the course of ground preparation at launch position, especially in winter when air sucked for thermostatting has low temperature and humidity requiring heating and humidification, i.e. proper and reliable conditioning. SUBSTANCE: proposed air thermostatting system is provided with fan, supply pipe line with filter and shut-off and adjusting fittings connecting the inlet of system with vertical pipe line laid over servicing unit and connected with access hatch of spacecraft, 1st and 2nd stage air cooler and refrigerating center connected with them, electric heater, thawing line of air coolers including thawing fan and thawing electric heater and control panel; proposed system is additionally provided with reservoir connected with supply pipe line and heat-insulated air humidifier connected with this reservoir by means of vertical pipe line fitted with adjustable gate; said air humidifier is made in form of steam generator consisting of cylindrical reservoir filled with distilled water and provided with sleeve and level scale, low and high level sensors; secured in lower portion of said reservoir are tubular electric heater units and steam heater made in form of tubular electric heater mounted inside sleeve and closed with hermetic cover; sleeve is connected with supply pipe line through outlet branch pipe and steam line. EFFECT: improved quality; enhanced efficiency and reliability due to humidification of air with pure heated steam free from condensed moisture. 3 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to rocket and space technology and can be used to provide the necessary temperature and humidity conditions of space objects in the process of ground preparation at the starting position, especially in winter conditions, when the atmospheric air taken for thermostating has low temperature and moisture content and requires heating and hydration without drip moisture, that is, high-quality and reliable conditioning.

 A known air-conditioning system in which heat and humidity treatment of atmospheric air is carried out, comprising an air intake device, an insulated valve, an air filter, first heating stage heaters having a bypass channel, control valves, control devices, a mixing chamber in which heated atmospheric air is mixed with the air entering from an air-conditioned room, a droplet separator, an irrigation chamber with nozzles for humidification by spraying water, a second drop it is a separator, a tray into which the sprayed water flows, a second mixing chamber, in which the air coming from the air-conditioned room is mixed again with humidified air, a filter, a heater of the second heating stage with a bypass channel, control valves, control valves, a fan and a distribution network of ducts [ 1].

The advantages of this system include the possibility of air conditioning in residential and industrial premises, in which the air is not contaminated with harmful substances, and the following are among the disadvantages:
- the use of untreated tap water containing various impurities in suspension (small solid particles of lime, calcium, magnesium salts, etc.) that can be carried away by a water-saturated stream, clog nozzles, filters and, having partially passed the latter, be deposited on the surface of structural elements , which is unacceptable for air temperature control of space objects, as it not only reduces the quality, reliability and efficiency of temperature control, but can also lead to violation of the conditions for normal unktsionirovaniya space objects;
- the possibility of drip moisture entering the thermostatically controlled object, which is unacceptable;
- the complexity and low conditioning parameters (pace, performance, thermal power), as a result of which the system cannot be used to provide the necessary temperature and humidity conditions of space objects.

 Known humidification installation with a boiler containing a tank of water, a level regulator, a float switch, an air humidity regulator, a contactor, a humidity sensor (dry and humidified resistance thermometers), a steam pipe and a supply pipe connecting the compressor to the airplane cabin [2].

The advantages of this installation include the simplicity of design and the simplicity of manufacture, and the disadvantages are the following:
- the use of untreated water, causing pollution not only of steam, but also of the surface of the boiler (as well as the inner surface of the tank), which impairs heat transfer from the boiler to water, reduces reliability and efficiency;
- the possibility of drip moisture falling on structural elements (equipment, devices, power sources, etc.), since saturated steam in the tank is neither heated nor overheated, which is unacceptable when thermostating space objects, since this would reduce the quality, reliability and the effectiveness of air temperature control;
- the need for reliable wetting of one of the resistance thermometers, which complicates the operation of psychrometric sensors, and therefore the installation as a whole, which reduces their reliability.

 A heat exchange device for overheating saturated steam is known, comprising a thermally insulated casing with steam supply and exhaust pipes, in which tubular electric heating elements with current-supplying ends brought into the cooling chamber adjacent to the casing are placed [3].

 The advantages of this device include the high tightness of the connection of elements and the simplicity of manufacture.

The disadvantages include the following:
- the presence of a superheater alone is not enough for optimal air temperature control of space objects;
- excessively high parameters of superheated steam created by the device (pressure 0.6-0.8 MPa, temperature 350-380 ^o C) cannot be used for air thermostating. All this taken together does not provide the necessary reliability of thermostating.

An analysis of patents and scientific and technical literature showed that, by the technical nature and the effect achieved, the closest to the proposed invention is an air system for thermostatic control of the head unit (with a space object) at the starting position with an air flow rate of 4 m ³ / s and a temperature from minus 10 to 40 ^o C. This system comprises a unit placed on (tower) servicing the fans for supplying air filter, air first and second stages, the electric heater, the defrost air coolers line comprising Defrost fan and electric defrost heater, supply pipe and side discharge connector removal mechanism, a cooling center located on the ground, in which there are refrigerators, brine tanks for the coolant, a group of pumps, a brine and water piping system with shut-off and control valves and control panels [4 ].

 This air temperature control system of the head unit is selected by us as a prototype of the invention.

 The advantages of the prototype include the ability to provide and maintain a given temperature of thermostatic air supplied to the head unit, and the disadvantages are the inability to provide and maintain air humidity in the required optimal range without artificial humidification of the air with clean steam that does not contain drip moisture, which reduces quality, reliability and the effectiveness of air temperature control, without which it is unthinkable to ensure and maintain the specified temperature and humidity regimes of space objects stations at the stage of their pre-launch preparations.

 The objective of the invention is to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of air temperature control of space objects by humidifying thermostatic air with heated clean steam that does not contain drop moisture.

 The required technical result is achieved due to the fact that the air system of thermostating of space objects, containing a fan, a supply pipe with a filter and shut-off and control valves connecting the system inlet with a vertical pipe laid through the service unit and connected to the entrance hatch of the space object, air coolers first and second stages and associated refrigeration center, electric heater, defrost line for air coolers, including defrost fan and electric defrosting unit and control panels according to the invention are equipped with a reservoir connected to the supply pipe and connected to it by means of a vertical pipe with a valve controlled by a heat-insulated air humidifier, made in the form of a steam generator, consisting of filled with distilled water and equipped with a glass cylindrical tank with a level scale installed on it , sensors of the lower and upper levels, in the lower part of which there are blocks of tubular electric elements fixed in its end walls heaters, and a steam heater, representing a tubular electric heater installed inside the glass and closed on top with a sealed lid, while the glass through the outlet pipe and steam pipe is connected to the supply pipe.

 The authors of the invention are not aware of similar technical solutions, and therefore, according to the authors, the claimed combination of inextricably linked essential features set forth in the claims that achieve the desired technical result meets the criteria of the invention “significant differences” and “positive effect”.

 The invention is illustrated by drawings, where figure 1 shows an air system for thermostating of space objects; figure 2 - callout And in fig. 1 is a layout of a tube connecting a supply pipe 2 to a reservoir 18; figure 3 - callout B in figure 1 - layout in the supply pipe 2 of the output part of the steam pipe 30 (the arrow indicates the direction of flow).

 The system contains a fan 1 installed on the ground, a supply pipe 2 with a filter 3 and shut-off and control valves 4, connecting the system inlet 5 with a vertical pipe 6 with fine filters (the latter are not shown conditionally) laid along the service unit 7 and connected to the access hatch 8 of a space object 9, air coolers of the first 10 and second 11 stages and the associated refrigeration center 12, an electric heater 13, a defrost line 14 of the air coolers 11, including a defrost fan 15 and an electric defrost 16 ki, as well as control panels 17 located in the refrigeration center 12.

 The air temperature control system for space objects is equipped with a reservoir 18 connected to the supply pipe 2 and connected to it by means of a vertical pipe 19 with a heat-insulated humidifier 21 controlled by a valve 20. All equipment is located indoors.

 The humidifier 21 is made in the form of a steam generator, consisting of a cylindrical tank filled with distilled water and equipped with a glass 22 with a scale of 23 levels mounted on it, sensors of the lower 24 and upper 25 levels. In the lower part of the capacity of the humidifier 21, blocks of tubular electric heaters 26 are fixed in its end walls. The steam heater 27 is a tubular electric heater installed inside the cup 22 and closed from above by a sealed cover 28. The cup 22 is connected through the outlet pipe 29 and the steam pipe 30 to the supply pipe 2 .

 The air temperature control system of space objects operates in an open cycle, that is, with the release of air outward.

In summer, atmospheric air has a high temperature and moisture content. Before supplying such air for temperature control, it must be cooled and drained. The air is cooled in two stages: at the first stage, the atmospheric air drawn in by the fan 1 and supplied to the supply pipe 2 passes through the filter 3, where it is cleaned of dust and dirt, cooled in the air cooler 10 of the first stage to a temperature of 2-5 ^o C due to heat exchange with a coolant (a 27-29% solution of calcium chloride) coming from the refrigeration center 12. At the same time, drainage occurs - the moisture (up to 95%) of moisture contained in the intake air is drained and drains into the air cooler tray and is removed.

In the second stage, the air in the air cooler 11 of the second stage is cooled to a temperature below 0 ^o With the loss of moisture on the surface of the air cooler in the form of frost ("snow coat"). As the cross section of the air cooler decreases due to the formation of frost, the air supply from one air cooler switches to another, and to defrost the first of two parallel air coolers 11, the defrost fan 15 and the defrost electric heater 16 are turned on. This air for temperature control is not used and is discharged through the vent valve into the atmosphere.

 Thus, the cooled air, having passed the electric heater 13 (which is turned on as necessary), is fed through the supply pipe 2 and a vertically installed pipe 6 (equipped with fine filters) through the hatch 8 to thermostating the space object 9.

 In winter, atmospheric air has a low temperature and moisture content.

 In cases where the relative humidity is not lower than the minimum permissible value, for example 30%, the air supplied to thermostat is heated in the electric heater 13.

 At the same time, to obtain air with a given “dew point”, it can be preliminarily cooled in air coolers, where moisture drops out.

 In all cases (summer, winter), when the relative humidity of the atmospheric air is below the minimum permissible value or there is a need to increase the relative humidity to the optimal or maximum permissible value, the present invention allows the necessary humidification to be carried out under any climatic and meteorological conditions.

 Before starting work, the supply pipe 2 is connected to the reservoir 18, and then the vertical humidifier 19 through the controlled valve 20 is filled with a humidifier 21 of air with distilled water.

 A controlled valve 20 automatically monitors the level of distilled water, turning off the tubular electric heaters (TENs) 26 when the level decreases according to the signal of the lower level sensor 24 and cutting off the supply of distilled water to the humidifier 21 by the signal of the upper level sensor 25.

 Blocks of tubular electric heaters 26 heat distilled water to a boiling point. The steam formed in this case is heated (if necessary, overheated) in the cup 22 by the steam heater 27 and through the outlet pipe 29 it is supplied to the steam pipe 30 and then mixed with the air supplied by the fan 1 through the supply pipe 2 and the vertical pipe 6 is supplied to the thermostatic control of the space object 9 .

 To control the humidity and temperature of thermostatic air at the service unit 7, a thermohygrometer 31 is installed in front of the entrance hatch 8 of the space object 9 — a temperature and humidity sensor (the same thermohygrometer 32 is installed at the input 5 to the system).

 The secondary device (converter) of the sensor is installed in the refrigeration center 12 in the control panel 17. The controlled parameters of thermostatic air - temperature, dew point temperature and relative humidity - are displayed on the secondary device.

 Supply of the air system for temperature control of space objects connected to the supply pipe 2 by the reservoir 18 and connected to it by means of a vertical pipe 19 with a controlled shutter 20 by a heat-insulated humidifier 21, made in the form of a steam generator, consisting of filled with distilled water and equipped with a glass 22 cylindrical tank installed on it a scale of level 23, sensors of the lower 24 and upper 25 levels, allows, firstly, to have a sufficient supply of clean, distill in the tank 18 soda water that does not contain mechanical impurities that can pollute steam, which improves the quality, reliability and efficiency of air temperature control of space objects, increases the system's readiness for regular operation, and secondly, extruded distilled water from the reservoir 18 through a vertical pipe 19 through a controlled valve 20 into the humidifier 21. This is also facilitated by the fact that the reservoir 18 is located above the humidifier 21. Thirdly, thanks to the controlled valve 20, which automatically monitors the level of distilled water in the humidifier 21, it seems possible to disconnect the heating elements 26 in advance by the signal of the lower level sensor 24 and guarantee their protection against burnout, as well as stop the flow of distilled water by the signal of the upper sensor 25 level and maintain the required volume for the generated steam. All this improves the quality, reliability, technical level and efficiency of the invention.

 The level 23 scale allows you to visually monitor the level of distilled water in the humidifier 21. The use of a cylindrical container for the humidifier 21 of the air allows optimally (for example, staggered) blocks of heating elements 26 to be placed in its lower part, fixing their current-supplying ends in the end walls of the container, and installing a heater 27 inside the glass 22, which increases the compactness of the design and facilitates the operation .

 The fact that the current-supplying ends of the heating elements 26 are closed on top by a sealed cover increases their reliability and safety. The connection of the cup 22 through the outlet pipe 29 and the steam pipe 30 with the supply pipe 2 makes it possible to reliably humidify the air supplied by the fan 1. The section of the supply pipe 2 from the steam inlet point (Fig. 3), including the vertical pipe 6 with fine filters, to the thermo-hygrometer 31 serves as a chamber for mixing steam with air, which also improves the quality and reliability of temperature control.

Thus, the set of essential features set forth in the claims, their indissoluble unity and focus, allow to obtain a significant positive effect, namely to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of air thermostating of space objects by moistening thermostating air with heated clean steam that does not contain drip moisture, and , as shown by theoretical and theoretical studies, to provide the necessary temperature and humidity regimes of space objects (in the range temperature from 5 to 80 ^o C and relative humidity from 25 to 85%) under any climatic and meteorological conditions.

 The invention will be used in full in air thermostatic control systems for space objects of the Cluster-2 type.

Sources of information
1. Theological V.N., Scheglov V.P., Razumov N.N. Heating and ventilation. 2nd edition, revised. and add. - M.: Stroyizdat, 1980, p. 245-246, Fig. Xvi. 2 - analogue.

 2. Bykov L.T., Egorov M.S., Tarasov P.V., High-altitude aircraft equipment. M .: State Publishing House of the defense industry, 1958, p. 90-92, Fig. 2.22 - analogue.

 3. RU 2062963 C1, 06/27/1996, the analogue.

 4. The spaceport. Under the general editorship of A.P. Volsky. M .: Military Publishing, 1977, p. 210-211, fig. 6.2 is a prototype.

 5. RU 2135910 C1, 05.01.98 - analogue.

 6. SU 456120 A, 05.01.75 - analogue.

 7. SU 1783259 A1, 12/23/92 - analogue.

 8. SU 606049 A1, 11.16.76 - analogue.

 9. SU 552472 A1, 08.22.75 - analogue.

 10. SU 422170 A1, 02.03.71 - analogue.

 11. SU 308277 A, 01/09/70 - analog.

 12. RU 569263 A, 10.12.75 - analogue.

 13. SU 681299 A, 12.26.77 - analogue.

 14. US 3287924 A, 1966 - analogue.

 15. Cosmonautics. Encyclopedia. M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1985, 528 p. Thermostating, p. 395 - analog.

 16. Boosters. Under the general editorship of prof. S.O. Osipova. M .: Military Publishing, 1981, 315 p. - no analogues were found.

 17. Space programs, launch vehicles and space objects of the Russian Federation, USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, China, India, Japan, etc. In the book: Cosmonautics. Encyclopedia. M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, p. 180-200 - no analogues were found.

 18. RU 2064733 (1966) - 2074521 A, 02.27.97 - analogues.

 19. Application of France 2186114 A, 1974.

 20. France 2566985 dated 1986, H 05 B 3/28.

 21. US 1980528 (1932) - 3255337 (1966), NK 219-528 - no analogues were found.

 22. EP 62079 from 1981, cl. H 05 B 3/34.

 23. Japan 49-28694, H 05 B 3/34, 1981.

 24. Germany 1440642 (application), N 05 B 3/36, 1973.

 25. Germany 2202208, F 21 H 2/01, 1973.

 26. United Kingdom 1115643, H 05 B 3/34, 1968.

 27. GDR 253470, F 24 J 3/18, 1988.

 28. SU 11884883, F 26 B 23/04, 1985.

Claims (1)

 An air temperature control system for space objects, comprising a fan, a supply pipe with a filter and shut-off and control valves connecting the system inlet with a vertical pipe laid along the service unit and connected to the spacecraft’s inlet hatch, air coolers of the first and second stages and a cooling center associated with them, an electric heater, a defrost line for air coolers, including a defrost fan and an electric defrost heater, and control panels, characterized in that it The reservoir is connected to the supply pipeline and connected to it by means of a vertical pipeline with a valve controlled by a heat-insulated air humidifier, made in the form of a steam generator, consisting of filled with distilled water and equipped with a glass cylindrical tank with a level scale installed on it, lower and upper level sensors, in the lower the parts of which are blocks of tubular electric heaters fixed in its end walls and of a steam heater representing a tube first heater installed inside the glass and sealed closed at the top cover, wherein the glass through the outlet and the steam pipe is connected to the feed conduit.

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