An airlock is a chamber with two airtight doors or openings, usually arranged in series, which do not open simultaneously. This creates a sealed space that allows the transfer of objects or people between areas of different pressures while maintaining a pressure seal. Airlocks are commonly used in:
- Homebrewing: A homebrew airlock is a small, often glass container with a tube that dips into a liquid. The liquid prevents outside air from entering the fermenting beer while allowing the carbon dioxide produced during fermentation to escape.
- Spacecraft: Airlocks are crucial for spacecraft, allowing astronauts to enter and exit the spacecraft while maintaining a pressurized environment.
- Industrial settings: Airlocks are used in industries like pharmaceuticals and food processing to maintain a sterile environment.
Here are some examples of how an airlock might look:
- Homebrewing: A simple three-piece airlock consisting of a glass tube, a rubber stopper, and a water-filled chamber.
- Spacecraft: A large, cylindrical chamber with two airtight doors, one leading to the inside of the spacecraft and the other to the outside.
- Industrial: A smaller airlock designed for the transfer of materials through a process like sterilization or sanitization.
The specific design of an airlock will depend on its purpose and the environment it is used in. However, all airlocks share the common characteristic of having two airtight doors or openings that are never open simultaneously to maintain a pressure seal.
