The reporter from China Youth Daily and China Youth Network exclusively contacted the R&D team-3 1 Institute of China Third Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology. Jaco, researcher of the Institute and head of the torch technology research and development project for "Winter Olympics with Science and Technology", answered questions that netizens were concerned about. Jaco's unit is an aerospace high-tech enterprise specializing in aerospace power technology research. In their words, "combustion technology is our space power people's housekeeping skill."
On February 2, 2022, the torch handover was completed by an amphibious robot and the next underwater variable structure robot in Beijing Winter Olympics Park. The robot and the torch were tested together on the ice.
Underwater torch focuses on "waterproof" and "oxygen supply". As mentioned in junior high school physics class, combustion requires three conditions: combustible, combustion improver and ignition source. This torch research and development is also from these aspects.
On the afternoon of February 2, the torch was passed from the 254th torchbearer An Guoyu to the amphibious robot in Beijing Winter Olympics Park. The amphibious robot "lifted" the lit torch into the water and docked with the underwater variable structure robot. Then another mechanical arm extended out of the water and passed the Olympic flame to the 255th torchbearer An Xiangyi.
Fire can burn smoothly in both air and water. Jaco said that the most important factors for a fire to burn underwater are "waterproof" and "oxygen supply".
"Waterproof" refers to protecting the ignition source, that is, creating a "waterless environment" for fire. Jaco said that the flame was placed in a cylindrical cavity, and the burning flame was surrounded by a pneumatic waterproof cover like a gas film. It is these two designs that ensure that the Olympic flame is "isolated" from water and burns smoothly under water. In addition, the underwater oxygen condition is insufficient, and the torch burner also has its own combustion improver to supplement enough oxygen for the Olympic flame burning.
The fuel is "high-purity household liquefied gas". What fuel did the first international torch burn? Many netizens speculated based on the previous experience of the Olympic torch relay.
In fact, the underwater torch was first used in the Olympic history in Sydney, Australia in 2000, followed by Sochi, Russia in 20 14 and Pyeongchang, South Korea in 20 18. 20 14 the underwater torch relay was initiated in Sochi, Russia, and 20 18 the robot torchbearer was initiated in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
However, the underwater torch relay of Beijing Winter Olympics is different from the above two technical routes. Jaco introduced that the team chose the gas fuel-propane, which is "high-purity household liquefied gas".
According to him, if the underwater torch uses solid fuel, it is difficult to avoid smoke pollution when burning. Jaco said that propane was chosen this time to solve the problem that flame can remain pollution-free in air and underwater for a long time.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is not only the first batch of underwater robot torchbearers in Olympic history-the torch is delivered underwater by robots, but also the special torch developed this time is "the world's first smokeless burning green clean water-air cross-media torch".
It's as difficult as docking a torch in the cabin of a space station. Jaco said that from the technical principle and system composition, the underwater torch can be comparable to a small gas fuel engine. The engine not only realizes underwater combustion, but also realizes the integration and automatic control with the robot through a series of control mechanisms and programs.
Jaco said that the docking of the space station is carried out in a vacuum, and the underwater torch docking should also consider the disturbance of water flow. From this point of view, the docking of the torch is more difficult than the docking of the cabin of the space station. "The accuracy and stability of torch docking are very high."
Set up a tent on the ice at MINUS 20 degrees Celsius and spend New Year's Eve in the experiment.
The task of torch development is arduous, and time is pressing. Especially before the torch was officially delivered from 202 1 to 10, the R&D team has been intensively carrying out the integrated joint test of torch and multi-type robots.
Jaco said that during this period, almost all team members never took a day off. In order to simulate the real communication environment, the team conducted experiments on the frozen ice surface of Dahuofang Reservoir in Fushun, Shenyang. In the weather of MINUS 20 degrees Celsius, tents were set up on the ice in the uninhabited suburbs. The team uses manpower to move the equipment to the experimental area along the lakeside path and ice surface every day. There, it will get dark at 5 pm, and the team often ends the day's tasks at 8 or 9 pm every day and withdraws to the station.
On New Year's Day in 2022, the team completed the underwater torch relay of amphibious robots and variable structure robots for the first time under outdoor conditions, and spent an unforgettable and special New Year on the ice. On New Year's Eve, the team made a final drill for the torch relay, and they were still busy.
On the afternoon of February 2, when interviewed by the reporter of China Youth Daily, Jaco's nasal voice was slightly heavy, but his voice was very relaxed. He said: "In fact, at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, we undertook the torch development work. At that time, I just joined the company and watched the seniors do it. I feel very honored to participate in it in person this time. Our institute has been committed to the innovation of power products for 64 years. This success is also a verification of our research and development capabilities. "
He told reporters that being in a world of ice and snow for several months and paying attention to testing and perfecting technical details in a real environment brought about the successful completion of the torch relay task of underwater robots, which showed the world the unique charm of the high-tech Olympics.