穿舱光纤连接器密封性能分析及空间环境验证

Sealing performance analysis and space environment verification of through-cabin optical fiber connector

摘要:

穿舱光纤连接器的密封可靠性关系到载人航天器舱内气压的稳定,影响载人航天器的安全。为保证穿舱光纤连接器在空间应用环境复杂、在轨服役寿命长的工况中可靠应用,提出了一种穿舱光纤连接器高可靠双金锡光纤密封结构,并对光纤金属化焊接密封机理展开分析。基于航天器舱段连接应用泄漏率≤10^-10（Pa·m³）/s、环境温度-100~100 ℃要求,对采用双金锡光纤密封结构的某型多芯穿舱光纤连接器进行了结构剖析,通过压力降级、温度缓冲、低应力结构等结构设计,保证了多芯穿舱光纤连接器的密封可靠性。开展了金属化光纤焊接密封工艺技术研究,通过焊料选取、CTE匹配性分析、二道密封工艺验证分析及小批量试制,验证了双金锡光纤密封结构设计及工艺技术的合理性和稳定性。试验验证表明,多芯穿舱光纤连接器在经历温度冲击、快速压降及高强度正弦振动等极限空间环境试验后,光学性能和密封泄漏率均合格,证明采用双金锡光纤密封技术的穿舱光纤连接器能够满足载人航天器长期在轨使用要求,并具有良好的使用可靠性。

Abstract:

The sealing reliability of through-cabin optical fiber connector is curcial for maintaining the stability of air pressure in manned spacecraft cabin and ensuring the safety of manned spacecraft. In order to ensure the reliable application of the through-cabin optical fiber connector in the complicated space application environment and long service life in orbit, a high reliable bi-au-tin optical fiber sealing structure of the through-cabin optical fiber connector is proposed, and the mechanism of optical fiber metallization welding seal is analyzed. Based on the requirements of the cabin connection application sealing capacity≤10^-10 （Pa·m³）/s and ambient temperature -100 ℃ to 100 ℃, the structure of a multi-core through-cabin fiber connector with double gold tin fiber sealing structure is analyzed. The sealing reliability of the multi-core through-cabin fiber connector is ensured by structural design such as pressure degradation, temperature buffer and low stress structure. Through solder selection, CTE matching analysis, secondary sealing process validation analysis, and small batch trial production, research on the metallization fiiber optic welding sealing process is performed to validate the rationality and stability of the double-gold tin fiber seal structure design and process technology. The experimental valudation demonstrates that the optical performance and sealing leakage rate of the multi-core optical fiber connector are qualified after the extreme space environment tests such as temperature shock, rapid pressure drop and high strength sinusoidal vibration. This confirms that the optical fiber connector using double gold tin optical fiber sealing technology can meet the long-term requirements of manned spacecraft in orbit and has good reliability.