Design and CFD Analysis of the Fluid Dynamic Sampling System of the "MicroMED" Optical Particle Counter

Area of Science:

• Planetary Science
• Aerospace Engineering
• Optical Instrumentation

Background:

• The ExoMars 2020 mission requires in situ measurement of Martian airborne dust.
• MicroMED is an optical particle counter designed for this purpose.
• Accurate dust size and concentration data are crucial for understanding Martian atmospheric dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address design criticalities in the MicroMED instrument's fluid dynamic system.
• To ensure efficient sampling and analysis of Martian dust particles.
• To validate design improvements through computational and experimental methods.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze and optimize MicroMED's fluid dynamic design.
• Conducted experimental validation to confirm CFD simulation results.
• Implemented updated design solutions into the MicroMED Flight Model.

Main Results:

• Identified and resolved critical design issues within the MicroMED instrument.
• CFD simulations provided accurate predictions of particle flow dynamics.
• Experimental validation confirmed the effectiveness of the design modifications.

Conclusions:

• The CFD simulation campaign successfully optimized MicroMED's fluid dynamic design.
• The validated design ensures reliable in situ measurement of Martian dust.
• The improved MicroMED instrument is ready for deployment on the ExoMars 2020 mission.