Transcript Organization Inside the Biosphere

Towards a Biosphere to Create and
Monitor Environmental Conditions
The Biosphere
Observation eXperiment
Outline
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Previous Existing Biosphere
Experiments
Biological Aspects
Engineering of the BOX
Question
PART I
Previous Existing
Biosphere Experiments
Previous Existing Biosphere
Experiments




Bios-3
Beachworld
Biosphere 2
Laboratory Biosphere
Previous Existing Biosphere
Experiments
Bios-3
 Bios-1 was constructed in 1965
 Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk
 Modified in 1968 and called Bios-2
 1972, Bios-3 was created




Underground facility split into four sections
Each phytotron uses 20 vertical xenon lamps
Air tanks regulate air pressure
Possibly could not exist on Mars:

lightweight, pressurized structure
Previous Existing Biosphere
Experiments
Beachworld
 Water-based closed ecological system
 Sealed enclosures that contain plants
and animals
 snails, crustaceans, and small waterborne animals
 Animals consume oxygen and produce
the by-product carbon dioxide
 Plants included in the biosphere:

Lilly-like plants called the Chain of Stars.
Previous Existing Biosphere
Experiments
Biosphere 2
 Constructed in Arizona
 180,000m3 closed ecological system
 Supported both human and plant life for about two
years
 Annual air leakage rate of less than 10%
 Utilized large lungs to regulate pressure changes
due to:


internal humidity, external barometric pressures,
temperature
Data such as temperature, humidity, light intensity,
atmospheric gas concentrations were collected
Previous Existing Biosphere
Experiments
Laboratory Biosphere
 First operation in May of 2002
 Successful in growing soybean crops from seed to
harvest in 94 days
 Lung to control pressure differentials
 100% water recycling by evapotranspiration from
the planting beds
 Air handlers which control humidity and extract
moisture
 Measurements are recorded every fifteen minutes
PART II
Biological Aspects
Biological Aspects

Plant Life Representation, Arabidopsis
Thaliana

Maximizing Photosynthesis,
Minimizing Aerobic Respiration

Internal Design and Ecology

Prolific Growth in Small
Space

Sprout to Seed in Six Weeks


Many Seeds per Fruit
Model Plant Organism For
Biological Research
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/may03/k10405-1i.jpg
Arabidopsis Thaliana
 Why this plant ?
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/images/biotech_plant1.jpg
Biological Aspects
Biological Aspects
Maximizing Photosynthesis
Light
CO2  H 2O  Glucose  O2


Three Things Needed: Water, CO2, and
Light
Closed System Will Create 100% Humidity

Oxygen Comes From Water
Biological Aspects
Maximizing Photosynthesis
 Energy Provided By Grow
Light


Gives off Red and Blue Spectra
CO2 Needed in Final Step


Final Recipient of
Photosynthetic
Energy
Excess CO2 Provided Initially
Biological Aspects
Minimizing Aerobic Respiration
 Reducing Non-Plant Life Forms


All Animals and Insects Use Aerobic
Respiration
Only allow for Bacteria in Soil

Can Process Heavy Metals to Useable
Forms
Biological Aspects
Internal Design and Ecology Continued


Two Areas: One with Soil and Rocks, One With
Only Rocks
Acrylic Divider and Wedge
Biological Aspects
Internal Design and Ecology Continued
 Two Sections Allow a Water Cycle
Evaporation
Soil Drainage

Condensation
Cycle Water Reduces Rotting
PART III
Engineering of the BOX
Engineering of the BOX







Benefits of using a small Size
Material (The use of a Terrarium)
Sealing of the Terrarium
Light source
Equipment
Organization inside the Biosphere
Lungs
Engineering of the BOX

Why the small size?



Leakage Rate
Observational Area
System Complexity
Engineering of the BOX
The Use of a Terrarium
 Eliminates the exchange of matter
 Permeability of glass
 Ideal size for monitoring mentioned
data


Size: 23 1 2 in. 11 3 4 in. 15 3 4 in.
Volume: 18.75 gal
Engineering of the BOX
Sealing of the Terrarium


POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE
Qubitac sealant
Engineering of the BOX
Light Source
 Hydrofarm
 125 W Fluorescent grow light
 6400 k bulb
 Produces little heat
 Better color rendering properties
 Mounted 2 inches above top of Biosphere
Engineering of the BOX
Equipment
 Data logger (HOBO U12)
 12 bit resolution
 High accuracy
 64 k memory for 43,000 data points
 Direct USB connectivity
Engineering of the BOX
Equipment
 Oxygen Sensor (SO-B0-250, Electrovac)
 Range of 0.1% - 25.0% the O2 content
 Analyzation unit (EDAB-M1, Electrovac)
 Converts signal from O2 sensor to a
linearized output signal between 0V-2.5V
DC.
 CO2 Control Wizard Injection System
 Used to set up initial conditions
Engineering of the BOX
Organization Inside the Biosphere
 Soil placed on top of rocks to avoid
rotting of the plant roots.
 Separator placed inside Biosphere
to keep soil from spreading
throughout the whole biosphere and
disrupting the evaporation cycle.
 Separator constructed of Acrylic
Engineering of the BOX
Organization Inside the Biosphere
 Fan
 Solar driven
 Used to move the air inside the
Biosphere so that plants keep cool.
Engineering of the BOX
Lungs
 Pressure differential related
to temperature changes
 Gas Bags (Qubit Systems,
G1220)
 Why use these specific Gas
Bags?
Questions
?