Presentation Information
[O12-P69]Development of an Affordable Hypergravity Generator Using an Electric Fan for the
Study of Crystallization
*Tomu SAKURAI1 (1. CHUO UNIVERSITY JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL)
Keywords:
Hypergravity,M5Stack Fire,Ammonium chloride,Dendrite
1 Introduction
Hypergravity refers to gravitational accelerations greater than those around the Earth’s surface(1G). Crystallization experiments in hypergravity are essential for studying fractional crystallization and the internal structure of planets; however they typically require expensive equipment such as centrifuges.
A previous study (L. Huguet, et al. 2016) investigated the Earth’ core using ammonium chloride. In that study, ammonium chloride was recrystallized under hypergravity (10 to 300G), showing that hypergravity reduced dendrite arm spacing.
To reduce experiments costs and make such experiments more accessible in high school settings, we constructed an affordable hypergravity generator using a circulator. Furthermore, to confirm the utility of the equipment in crystallization experiments, we conducted experiments similar to the previous study.
2. Research Methods and Results
2-1. Construction of a hypergravity generator A rotating components(Fig. 1) suitable for the circulator were designed using Tinker CAD and produced with a 3D printer (Creality KC1). The equipment(Fig. 2) was assembled by attaching the rotating part to the circulator(Yamazen Bizcom DC circulator YAR-DD253(W)(Fig. 3)). Centrifugal acceleration a was estimated using the formula a=rω2, where r is the radius and ω is the angular velocity. The radius used was the distance from the rotation axis of the circulator to the center of the sensor, which is 0.067[m]. Acceleration was measured using M5Stack Fire sensor and compared with the theoretical value. As the sensor’s measurable range was limited the equipment was rotated manually to obtain both measured and theoretical values. As a result, theoretical values as shown in Table 1 were obtained, with the maximum being 237G. In step (4), because the range measurable by the acceleration sensor was not enough, the equipment was rotated manually at a constant speed. At this time, the measured value was close to the theoretical value(Table 2).
2−2 Observation of the effects of hypergravity on recrystallization
As the solubility of ammonium chloride is highly temperature-dependent, recrystallization was achived by cooling down the water solution. Two containers were prepared to fit the 3D-printed parts(Fig. 4). Ammonium chloride was dissolved in water so that precipitation occurred at approximately 30℃. The solution was heated to around 70℃, and then applied to microscope slide. Paying attention to the direction of gravity, samples were set in one of the containers in the equipment. Recrystallization was observed under both hypergravity and normal gravity using a microscope. As a result, as shown in Fig.5, a tendency for the dendrite arm spacing to narrow under hypergravity was observed.
3 Analysis
Since the measured value was close to the theoretical values, the equipment we made is expected to generate hypergravity close to the theoretical value.
The crystallization results showed a similar tendency to previous studies, suggesting the affordable equipment can effectively observe the effect of hypergravity on crystal growth.
4 Future prospect
To improve reliability of the equipment, we will enhance the performance of the acceleration sensor and further compare theoretical and measured values. Furthermore, since some studies are conducting experiments in hypergravity greater than 237G, we will reconsider the radius, circulator, and motor to generate even greater hypergravity.
For the crystallization experiment, we will obtain more accurate data through numerical analysis. Additionally, we will conduct more precise experiment, because I considered potential temperature variations caused by high-speed rotation. We will also change chemicals and values of hypergravity.
5 References
L. Huguet, T. Alboussière, M. I. Bergman, R. Deguen, S. Labrosse and G. Lesœur. (2016). Structure of a mushy layer under hypergravity with implications for Earth’s inner core, Geophysical Journal International
6 Acknowledgments
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who cooperated in conducting this research. In particular, I would like to thank Mr. Fujiwara for his support in the construction of the equipment and Mr. Toi for his support in the crystallization experiments. I would also like to thank teacher of our school, Mr. Moriwaki and Mr. Honda for their enthusiastic guidance. I sincerely thank everyone for their support.
Hypergravity refers to gravitational accelerations greater than those around the Earth’s surface(1G). Crystallization experiments in hypergravity are essential for studying fractional crystallization and the internal structure of planets; however they typically require expensive equipment such as centrifuges.
A previous study (L. Huguet, et al. 2016) investigated the Earth’ core using ammonium chloride. In that study, ammonium chloride was recrystallized under hypergravity (10 to 300G), showing that hypergravity reduced dendrite arm spacing.
To reduce experiments costs and make such experiments more accessible in high school settings, we constructed an affordable hypergravity generator using a circulator. Furthermore, to confirm the utility of the equipment in crystallization experiments, we conducted experiments similar to the previous study.
2. Research Methods and Results
2-1. Construction of a hypergravity generator A rotating components(Fig. 1) suitable for the circulator were designed using Tinker CAD and produced with a 3D printer (Creality KC1). The equipment(Fig. 2) was assembled by attaching the rotating part to the circulator(Yamazen Bizcom DC circulator YAR-DD253(W)(Fig. 3)). Centrifugal acceleration a was estimated using the formula a=rω2, where r is the radius and ω is the angular velocity. The radius used was the distance from the rotation axis of the circulator to the center of the sensor, which is 0.067[m]. Acceleration was measured using M5Stack Fire sensor and compared with the theoretical value. As the sensor’s measurable range was limited the equipment was rotated manually to obtain both measured and theoretical values. As a result, theoretical values as shown in Table 1 were obtained, with the maximum being 237G. In step (4), because the range measurable by the acceleration sensor was not enough, the equipment was rotated manually at a constant speed. At this time, the measured value was close to the theoretical value(Table 2).
2−2 Observation of the effects of hypergravity on recrystallization
As the solubility of ammonium chloride is highly temperature-dependent, recrystallization was achived by cooling down the water solution. Two containers were prepared to fit the 3D-printed parts(Fig. 4). Ammonium chloride was dissolved in water so that precipitation occurred at approximately 30℃. The solution was heated to around 70℃, and then applied to microscope slide. Paying attention to the direction of gravity, samples were set in one of the containers in the equipment. Recrystallization was observed under both hypergravity and normal gravity using a microscope. As a result, as shown in Fig.5, a tendency for the dendrite arm spacing to narrow under hypergravity was observed.
3 Analysis
Since the measured value was close to the theoretical values, the equipment we made is expected to generate hypergravity close to the theoretical value.
The crystallization results showed a similar tendency to previous studies, suggesting the affordable equipment can effectively observe the effect of hypergravity on crystal growth.
4 Future prospect
To improve reliability of the equipment, we will enhance the performance of the acceleration sensor and further compare theoretical and measured values. Furthermore, since some studies are conducting experiments in hypergravity greater than 237G, we will reconsider the radius, circulator, and motor to generate even greater hypergravity.
For the crystallization experiment, we will obtain more accurate data through numerical analysis. Additionally, we will conduct more precise experiment, because I considered potential temperature variations caused by high-speed rotation. We will also change chemicals and values of hypergravity.
5 References
L. Huguet, T. Alboussière, M. I. Bergman, R. Deguen, S. Labrosse and G. Lesœur. (2016). Structure of a mushy layer under hypergravity with implications for Earth’s inner core, Geophysical Journal International
6 Acknowledgments
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who cooperated in conducting this research. In particular, I would like to thank Mr. Fujiwara for his support in the construction of the equipment and Mr. Toi for his support in the crystallization experiments. I would also like to thank teacher of our school, Mr. Moriwaki and Mr. Honda for their enthusiastic guidance. I sincerely thank everyone for their support.