Electrostatic collection of tribocharged lunar dust simulants

    Authors

    N. Afshar-Mohajer; C. Y. Wu;N. Sorloaica-Hickman

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Adv. Powder Technol.

    Keywords

    Lunar dust; Particle collection; Electrostatic field; Tribocharging; Vacuum; Particle charger; MITIGATION; PARTICLES; VACUUM; BENEFICIATION; EXPLORATION; WAVE; Engineering, Chemical

    Abstract

    Levitation and consecutive deposition of naturally charged particles on lunar surface were troublesome in previous NASA explorations. Protecting sensitive surfaces from dust deposition in the limiting condition of the lunar atmosphere is imperative for future space exploration. This study reports experimental investigation of the collection efficiency of an electrostatic lunar dust collector (ELDC). A dual-functional remotely controlled particle charger/dropper was designed for tribocharging 20 mu m lunar dust simulants, and a system of Faraday cup connected to an electrometer working in the nC range was used to measure the particle charges. Tribochargeability of two lunar dust simulants was studied, and the process was found to be the most effective with the JSC-1A samples. Aluminum was verified to be a more effective plate material than stainless steel. For the tested range of electrostatic field strength (0.66-2.6 kV/m), the mass-based and charge-based collection efficiencies were in the range of 0.25-1% and 0.45-1.45% for the low vacuum (10(-1) Torr), and 8-35% and 12-54% for the high vacuum (10(-5) Torr) conditions. The linear relationship between the applied voltage and ELDC collection efficiency predicted by the theoretical model was confirmed, and the collection pattern of the collected particles over the collection plate was consistent with the previously computed charge distribution on the collection plate. Aside from validating the predictability of the theoretical model, this study offers a novel method of particle charging inside a vacuum chamber with a variety of applications for studying chargeability of particles at different temperatures and pressures. (C) 2014 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Advanced Powder Technology

    Volume

    25

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1800

    Last Page

    1807

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000345230000021

    ISSN

    0921-8831

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