Technical Paper
The Use of an Expert System for the Feasibility Study and the Preliminary Design of an Experiment in a Space Furnace
1994-06-01
941565
CNES engineering department has a long experience in space furnace design (GHF, MEPHISTO, MULTIZONE, AGHF etc.) and in the development of their respective experiments. An Expert System (E.S.) known as “CARTOUCHE”** has been developed to check the feasibility and to assist the conception of fusion/solidification experiment cartridges assigned to any axisymmetrical Bridgman type furnace. It will be validated with an ESA furnace, the AGHF (Advanced Gradient Heating Facility), designed for crystal growth and generally for directional solidification experiments up to 1400°C. The furnace consists in a heated section separated from the cooled heat extraction section by a large adiabatic zone. The furnace assembly can be moved along the sample which remains static. So far, five European experiments are to be carried out.
