Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Institute of Materials and Energy, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Ion mobility spectroscopy (IMS), as one of the detection methods based on the ionization of mineral, organic, and chemical substances, has been used efficiently for many years in manned and robotic space missions. The space applications of these instruments include environmental monitoring of spacecraft and identification of organic and mineral substances in samples collected from space. In this method, warm-up is required for the cleanup and transport of ions in the drift area of the detector cell. Considering the need to miniaturize and optimize the necessary power of space detectors, the experimental investigation of the thermal gradient and factors affecting warm-up time is essential. For conducting the experimental thermal analysis of the IMS cell, micropumps, desorber, and temperature recording equipment such as a temperature control system, data logger, thermocouple sensors, monitoring system, and resistance temperature detector have been used. In this research, by experimentally investigating the warm-up time and thermal gradient in the IMS cell in different modes and several target temperatures, the main factors have been determined. The results showed that the oscillating air flow inside the IMS cell can reduce the warm-up time and the temperature gradient. Finally, several suggestions for better thermal efficiency are presented.
Keywords
- Ion mobility spectrometry
- Experimental investigation
- Temperature gradient
- Warm-up time
- Desorber
- Thermal insulation
Main Subjects