The Use of an Expert System for the Feasibility Study and the Preliminary Design of an Experiment in a Space Furnace Epsilon

Format:

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Aim, H. Ben, author.

Conference Name:

International Conference On Environmental Systems (1994-06-20 : Friedrichshafen, Germany)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 1994

Summary:

CNES engineering department has a long experience in space furnace design (GHF, MEPHISTO, MULTIZONE, AGHF et cetera) and in the development of their respective experiments. An Expert System (E.S.) known as "CARTOUCHE"** has been developed to check the feasibility and to assist the conception of fusion/solidification experiment cartridges assigned to any axisymmetrical Bridgman type furnace. It will be validated with an ESA furnace, the AGHF (Advanced Gradient Heating Facility), designed for crystal growth and generally for directional solidification experiments up to 1400°C. The furnace consists in a heated section separated from the cooled heat extraction section by a large adiabatic zone. The furnace assembly can be moved along the sample which remains static. So far, five European experiments are to be carried out.The E.S. is based on a materials data base and the knowledge of multi-experts (scientists, furnace designers, safety specialists), and it includes sophisticated thermal modelling software (ESATAN) to take some constraints into account.Then, the E.S. supplies the following results:Following this, a nodal mesh of the cartridge and a list of the appropriate materials are proposed.These will enable the designer to fill the cartridge core parts (spring, thermal conduction parts, super insulation, atmosphere et cetera). The temperature and thermal flux at each node, as well as the thermal profile versus time required in the furnace, are then calculated by ESATAN. The designer is thus able to achieve, by successive iterations, a suitably optimised cartridge

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

941565

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license