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Einstein-Elevator: A New Facility for Research from μg to 5 g

Christoph Lotz
Christoph Lotz
, 
Tobias Froböse
Tobias Froböse
, 
Alexander Wanner
Alexander Wanner
, 
Ludger Overmeyer
Ludger Overmeyer
 and 
Wolfgang Ertmer
Wolfgang Ertmer
   | Jul 21, 2020
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Article Category: Research Article
Published Online: Jul 21, 2020
Page range: 11 - 27
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2017-0007
Keywords
© 2017 Christoph Lotz et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Design of the Einstein-Elevator. (A) Highlighted cut through the steel structure: the gondola with an empty experiment carrier. (B) Sketch of the tower with the division of areas in the tower building.
Design of the Einstein-Elevator. (A) Highlighted cut through the steel structure: the gondola with an empty experiment carrier. (B) Sketch of the tower with the division of areas in the tower building.

Figure 2

Trajectory profile for microgravity conditions. The coordinate “z” stands for the direction of motion. Description of sections: I. Acceleration section: 5 m; II. Constant travel: 1 m, separation of gondola and experiment; III. Parabolic flight (upwards): 20-m free fall plus 2-m reserve (top); IV. Parabolic flight (downwards): 20-m free fall; V. Constant travel: 1 m, approach and contact between gondola and experiment; VI. Braking: 5 m short-circuited stators, effect of the eddy current brake, plus 2X 4 rows of switched eddy current brake of length 0.5 m each on 2-m onboard brake fins; VII. Contact with hydraulic cylinder.
Trajectory profile for microgravity conditions. The coordinate “z” stands for the direction of motion. Description of sections: I. Acceleration section: 5 m; II. Constant travel: 1 m, separation of gondola and experiment; III. Parabolic flight (upwards): 20-m free fall plus 2-m reserve (top); IV. Parabolic flight (downwards): 20-m free fall; V. Constant travel: 1 m, approach and contact between gondola and experiment; VI. Braking: 5 m short-circuited stators, effect of the eddy current brake, plus 2X 4 rows of switched eddy current brake of length 0.5 m each on 2-m onboard brake fins; VII. Contact with hydraulic cylinder.

Figure 3

Position-speed diagrams for micro- and hypogravity experiments. The coordinate “z” stands for the direction of motion. (A) Microgravity in parabolic flight (profile P01), hypogravity in parabolic flight (profiles P02–P11). (B) Microgravity in free fall (profile P12), hypogravity in free fall (profiles P12–P22). The key area for the trajectory profiles is the light green area.
Position-speed diagrams for micro- and hypogravity experiments. The coordinate “z” stands for the direction of motion. (A) Microgravity in parabolic flight (profile P01), hypogravity in parabolic flight (profiles P02–P11). (B) Microgravity in free fall (profile P12), hypogravity in free fall (profiles P12–P22). The key area for the trajectory profiles is the light green area.

Figure 4

Position-speed diagram for hypergravity experiments. The coordinate “z” stands for the direction of motion. Hypergravity (profiles P23–30). The key area for the trajectory profiles is the light green area. Besides the μg-profile subsequent to hypergravity profiles shown in light purple area, hypogravity profiles are also feasible.
Position-speed diagram for hypergravity experiments. The coordinate “z” stands for the direction of motion. Hypergravity (profiles P23–30). The key area for the trajectory profiles is the light green area. Besides the μg-profile subsequent to hypergravity profiles shown in light purple area, hypogravity profiles are also feasible.

Figure 5

Gondola and drive carts in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Results show how the airflow behaves around the moving parts and which pressure and reaction forces occur.
Gondola and drive carts in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Results show how the airflow behaves around the moving parts and which pressure and reaction forces occur.

Figure 6

Roller characterizations. (A) Test rig to analyze the behavior of two mounted rollers in combination with the disk surface. The disks represent the guide rails and can be made of different materials to achieve the best combination with the lowest vibration. (B) Vibration amplitudes of one roller and the speed of the driven disk for its movement sections: I. Acceleration; II. Constant travel; III. Parabolic flight (upwards); IV. Parabolic flight (downwards); V. Constant travel; VI. Braking; VII. Waiting for next test execution.
Roller characterizations. (A) Test rig to analyze the behavior of two mounted rollers in combination with the disk surface. The disks represent the guide rails and can be made of different materials to achieve the best combination with the lowest vibration. (B) Vibration amplitudes of one roller and the speed of the driven disk for its movement sections: I. Acceleration; II. Constant travel; III. Parabolic flight (upwards); IV. Parabolic flight (downwards); V. Constant travel; VI. Braking; VII. Waiting for next test execution.

Figure 7

Concept of the Einstein-Elevator. Design sketch to show the general structure of the system and the actual design to display its technical realization.
Concept of the Einstein-Elevator. Design sketch to show the general structure of the system and the actual design to display its technical realization.

Figure 8

Detailed overview of the drive configuration. (A) Top view of the tower-in-tower construction. (B) Section with the highlighted drive configuration.
Detailed overview of the drive configuration. (A) Top view of the tower-in-tower construction. (B) Section with the highlighted drive configuration.

Figure 9

Gondola lower shell and automatic centering unit. (A) Gondola lower shell with its interior and marked cut a. (B) Cut a-a shows the details of the automatic centering unit. The rod with a ball mounted on top is being pushed upwards. Pyramid-shaped counterparts at the three legs provide the self-centering capability of the experiment carrier inside the evacuated gondola.
Gondola lower shell and automatic centering unit. (A) Gondola lower shell with its interior and marked cut a. (B) Cut a-a shows the details of the automatic centering unit. The rod with a ball mounted on top is being pushed upwards. Pyramid-shaped counterparts at the three legs provide the self-centering capability of the experiment carrier inside the evacuated gondola.

Figure 10

Structure of the experiment carrier. (A) Closed with pressure-tight shell. (B) Opened with lifted shell. (C) Example of the arrangement of the components in the experiment carrier.
Structure of the experiment carrier. (A) Closed with pressure-tight shell. (B) Opened with lifted shell. (C) Example of the arrangement of the components in the experiment carrier.

Figure 11

Options for scientists. (A) Depiction of the workplaces in the control room with the areas for facility operating staff and scientists. (B) Test preparation area with two workplaces for scientists to finish the setup assembly (after Lotz et al., 2014).
Options for scientists. (A) Depiction of the workplaces in the control room with the areas for facility operating staff and scientists. (B) Test preparation area with two workplaces for scientists to finish the setup assembly (after Lotz et al., 2014).

Figure 12

Visualization of the Hannover Institute of Technology (HITec) and the Einstein-Elevator within the Hannover skyline. (1) Offices, (2) Laboratory building, (3) Tower building with the Einstein-Elevator.
Visualization of the Hannover Institute of Technology (HITec) and the Einstein-Elevator within the Hannover skyline. (1) Offices, (2) Laboratory building, (3) Tower building with the Einstein-Elevator.

Characteristics of various drop towers for research under microgravity. This table is based on data from the following publications: [1] Neumann, 2008; [2] Neumann, 2006; Neumann, 2017; [3] Steinberg, 2007; Steinberg, 2016; Lämmerzahl and Steinberg, 2015; [4] Zhang et al., 2005; Lämmerzahl and Steinberg, 2015; Huang and Mao, 2013; [5] Mori et al., 1993; Koide, 2001; Zhang et al., 2005; [6] Iwakami and Nokura, 2005; Nokura, 2008; [7] Dittus, 1991; ZARM FABmbH, 2011; Lämmerzahl and Steinberg, 2015; [8] Lotz et al., 2014.

Name of facilityNASA Glenn 2.2 Second Drop TowerZero Gravity Research (Zero-G) FacilityMicrogravity Drop TowerBeijing Drop TowerDrop Shaft FacilityDrop Exp. FacilityBremen Drop TowerEinstein-Elevator
Research institutionNASANASAQUTNMLCJAMICMGLABZARMHITec/LUH
CountryUSAAustraliaChinaJapanGermany
Time in free fall in s2,25,182,03,5104,54,7 / 9,3*2 / 4*
Free fall distance in m241322060490100110*20*
Minimal residual acceleration10−3g10−5g10−4–10−6g10−3–10−5g10−5g10−5g10−6–10−7g<10−6g
Maximum deceleration15–30 g35–65 g15–20 g8–12 g8 g10 g40–50 g5 g
Repetition rate per day12215–202–42–31–23100
Experiment payload in kg487C/159E1130C/455E150E630C/90E5000C/500E1000C/400E500C/400C*264ES/221EL/161,5ES*1000C/515E
ExperimentØ/□960 × 400EØ1000C/Ø970EØ800EØ850CØ1800C/870 × 870EØ900C/Ø720EØ800C/Ø700EØ1700C/Ø1660E
Dimensions in mmheight840E4000C/1600E1500C/900E1000C7850C/918E2280C/885E2107CL/1341CS*1718EL/953ES2000C/1790E
Capsule-experiment configurationDSVCDSDS is VCDS is VCDSVC +optional FFcomb. of DS, VC, FF
Source[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
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