Multifunctional chambered radiation shields and systems and related methods
View Patent ↗Radiation shields include an outer composite wall, an inner composite wall, and an enclosed fuel chamber disposed between the inner and outer composite walls. A fuel may be contained within the enclosed fuel chamber. Spacecraft include one or more such radiation shields, and may further include a fuel cell and a conduit providing fluid communication between the fuel chamber of the radiation shield and the fuel cell. Methods of forming a radiation shield system include forming an enclosed fuel chamber between an outer composite wall and an inner composite wall of a radiation shield, and providing fuel within the enclosed fuel chamber.
1. A radiation shield comprising:
an outer composite wall comprising a first layer of composite material;
an inner composite wall comprising a second layer of composite material;
an enclosed fuel chamber disposed between the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall, the enclosed fuel chamber containing fuel;
a polymer radiation shield layer disposed on a side of the inner composite wall opposite the enclosed fuel chamber;
a fiber-reinforced composite fail safe layer disposed between the inner composite wall and the polymer radiation shield layer; and
wherein the first layer of composite material and the second layer of composite material have compositions impeding transmission of primary and secondary radiation therethrough, and the fiber-reinforced composite fail safe layer is more resistant to transverse loading relative to the first layer of composite material and the second layer of composite material.
2. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises electrochemical fuel.
3. The radiation shield of claim 2 , wherein the electrochemical fuel comprises liquid hydrogen.
4. The radiation shield of claim 1 , further comprising at least one port located and configured to provide fluid communication between the enclosed fuel chamber and an exterior of the radiation shield through at least one of the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall.
5. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall comprises a fabric reinforcing phase disposed within a matrix phase.
6. The radiation shield of claim 1 , further comprising a porous body within the enclosed fuel chamber, the porous body comprising a three-dimensional network of open pores.
7. The radiation shield of claim 6 , wherein the fuel comprises liquefied hydrogen deuteride disposed within the open pores of the porous body.
8. The radiation shield of claim 1 , further comprising at least one interior composite wall disposed between the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall.
9. The radiation shield of claim 8 , further comprising an additional enclosed chamber disposed between the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall, the enclosed fuel chamber disposed on a first side of the at least one interior composite wall, and the additional enclosed chamber disposed on an opposite second side of the interior composite wall.
10. The radiation shield of claim 8 , wherein the additional enclosed chamber comprises a vacuum chamber.
11. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fiber-reinforced composite fail safe layer is configured to resist micro-meteorite impacts.
12. The radiation shield of claim 1 , further comprising at least one insulating layer disposed on or over a side of the enclosed fuel chamber.
13. The radiation shield of claim 1 , further comprising a thermal control coating on a surface of the outer composite wall.
14. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the polymer radiation shield layer comprises borated polyethylene.
15. A spacecraft, comprising:
a radiation shield forming at least one wall of the spacecraft, the radiation shield including:
an outer composite wall comprising a first layer of composite material;
an inner composite wall comprising a second layer of composite material;
an enclosed fuel chamber disposed between the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall;
at least one fuel port located and configured to provide fluid communication between the enclosed fuel chamber and the exterior of the radiation shield through at least one of the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall; and
wherein the first composite layer and the second composite layer have compositions impeding transmission of primary and secondary radiation therethrough;
a fuel cell; and
at least one conduit providing fluid communication between the enclosed fuel chamber and the fuel cell.
16. The spacecraft of claim 15 , further comprising an electrochemical fuel within the enclosed fuel chamber.
17. The spacecraft of claim 15 , further comprising:
an additional enclosed chamber disposed between the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall of the radiation shield;
at least one additional port located and configured to provide fluid communication between the interior of the additional enclosed chamber and the exterior of the radiation shield through at least one of the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall;
a device configured to collect solid particulate matter from the exterior of the radiation shield; and
at least one conduit extending between the device configured to collect solid particulate matter and the at least one additional port for conveying solid particulate matter collected by the device therethrough into the additional enclosed chamber of the radiation shield.
18. The spacecraft of claim 17 , wherein the additional enclosed chamber comprises one of air, oxygen, nitrogen, and an inert gas.
19. The spacecraft of claim 17 , wherein the additional enclosed chamber comprises a vacuum chamber.
20. The spacecraft of claim 17 , further comprising at least one interior composite wall disposed between the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall and separating the additional enclosed chamber and the enclosed fuel chamber.
21. A method of forming a radiation shield system, comprising:
forming an enclosed fuel chamber between an outer composite wall and an inner composite wall of a radiation shield;
forming a polymer radiation shield layer disposed on a side of the inner composite wall opposite the enclosed fuel chamber;
forming a fiber-reinforced composite fail safe layer between the inner composite wall and the polymer radiation shield layer;
selecting each of the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall to comprise materials impeding transmission of primary and secondary radiation therethrough, and selecting the fiber-reinforced composite fail safe layer to be more resistant to transverse loading relative to the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall; and
providing fuel within the enclosed fuel chamber.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising establishing fluid communication between the enclosed fuel chamber and a fuel cell configured to generate power using the fuel.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein establishing fluid communication between the enclosed fuel chamber and the fuel cell comprises connecting an end of at least one conduit to at least one port providing fluid communication between the enclosed fuel chamber and an exterior of the radiation shield.
24. The method of claim 21 , further comprising forming an additional enclosed chamber between the outer composite wall and the inner composite wall of the radiation shield.
25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising separating the additional enclosed chamber from the enclosed fuel chamber by at least one interior wall.
26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising filling the additional enclosed chamber with at least one of air, oxygen, nitrogen, and a noble gas.
27. The method of claim 24 , further comprising establishing fluid communication between the additional enclosed chamber and a pump device or a fan device.