In preparation for the Russian Luna-Glob and Luna-Resurs missions we combined our compact timeof-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) with a chemical pre-separation of the species by gas chromatography (GC). Combined measurements with both instruments were successfully performed with the laboratory prototype of the mass spectrometer and a flight-like gas chromatograph. The system was tested both with a mix of hydrocarbons and a mixture of noble gases. Due to its capability to record mass spectra over the full mass range at once with high sensitivity and a dynamic range of up to 10 6 within 1s, the TOF-MS system is a valuable extension of the GC analysis. The combined GC-MS complex is able to detect concentrations of volatile species in the soil sample of about 2·10 -9 by mass.
Optimization of mass spectrometers using the adaptive particle swarm algorithm (APSA) is described along with implementations for ion optical simulations and various time-of-flight (TOF) instruments. The need for in situ self optimization is addressed through discussion of the reflectron TOF mass spectrometer (RTOF) on the European Space Agency mission Rosetta. In addition, a tool for optimization of laboratory mass spectrometers is presented and tested on two different instruments. After the application of APSA optimization, a substantial increase in performance for mass spectrometers that have manually been tuned for several weeks or months is demonstrated.
The reduction of global CO2 emissions requires cross-sectoral measures to reduce fossil energy consumptions and to strengthen the expansion of renewable energy sources. One element for this purpose are thermal energy storage systems. They enable, due to their time-decoupled operation, increases in systemic efficiency and flexibility in various industrial and power plant processes. In the electricity and heat sector such solutions are already commercially available for large-scale applications or are focused in diverse R&D projects, but are largely new in the transport sector. By transferring existing concepts specifically to the requirements for the heat supply of battery electric vehicles, efficiency improvements can also be achieved in the transport sector. The idea is to provide the required heat for the interior during cold seasons via a previously electrical heated thermal energy storage system. Thus, battery capacities can be saved, and the effective range of the vehicle can be increased. Basic prerequisites for this concept are high systemic storage densities and high performances, which must be justified to commercial battery powered PTC-elements. Compared to large-scale applications, this results in new challenges and design solutions needing finally a proof of concept and experimental tests under vehicle typical specifications. For the first time, a novel thermal energy storage system based on ceramic honeycombs with integrated heating wires and a double-walled, thermally insulated storage containment was developed and constructively realized. This storage system meets all the requirements for the heat supply, reaches high systemic storage and power densities and allows due to its high flexibility a bifunctional operation use: a cyclic storage and a conventional heating mode. In the focused storage operation, high-temperature heat is generated electrically through heating wires during the charging period and transferred efficiently via thermal radiation to the ceramic honeycombs. During the discharging period (driving) the stored thermal energy is used for heating the interior by a bypass control system at defined temperatures with high thermal output. The systematic measurement campaigns and successful model validations confirm high electrical heating powers of 6.8 kW during the charging period and a heat supply with a thermal output of 5 kW over more than 30 min during the discharging period. Despite current infrastructure and test rig restrictions, high systemic storage densities of 155 Wh/kg with constant discharging outlet temperatures are reached. Compared to battery powered heating systems, the experimental results for the developed thermal energy storage system confirm an excellent level of competitiveness due to its high performance, operational flexibility and low-cost materials.
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