Design and experimental study of pressure control system in spacecraft airlock module
Air lock module pressure control is a necessary step to balance the pressure inside and outside the spacecraft cabin and achieve the transfer of materials or personnel inside and outside the spacecraft cabin.The two main functions of the air lock module pressure control system are to reduce the pressure when leaving the chamber and increase the pressure when returning to the chamber.There are some methods such as releasing the gas in the chamber to vacuum or storing the gas in the chamber using containers.The control equipment for releasing gas is simple,but the gas is wasted.Gas storage requires temperature control and gas compressing equipment,but the gas is saved.There are some methods such as releasing gas from high-pressure vessels or releasing gas from nearby chamber.This article theoretically analyzes airlock module pressure controlling and provides several technical solutions for designing module pressure control systems.Releasing the gas to vacuum is suitable for spacecraft with a single sealed cabin while storing the gas is suitable for spacecraft with multi sealed cabins.Combined methods are also used in specific conditions.
spacecraftegress and ingress airlockairlock module pressure controldepressurization and repressurization