A UK-based internally heated pressure vessel (IHPV) system for studying geological and environmental processes at crustal pressures

地球的化学演化是通过其炎热的内部和凉爽的外部之间的质量和热量交换来介导的。许多这些交换发生在地壳中的高压和高温条件下，在那里岩浆脱气挥发，供给火山爆发，形成矿床，并热液散热。因此，迫切需要在地壳压力下进行新的实验，以开发和校准建立元素迁移、交换和循环的定量分析和计算模型所需的关键热力学和动力学模型。全球很少有实验室有能力对这些交换进行实验性研究。目前，英国还没有能够同时获取与许多重要地壳过程相关的压力和温度条件的资产。Wille Geotechnik提出的IHPV系统将通过支持在地壳压力（100-600 MPa）下受控氧化还原条件下对地质材料进行高温（高达1250 ℃）实验，弥补国家能力方面的现有巨大差距。它将使岩浆，火山，成矿和热液过程的研究发生重大变化，解决关键和紧迫的科学挑战，包括自然和级联灾害，特别是在火山环境中;能源转型所需的关键金属;可持续能源;行星可居住性;和环境变化。对英国IHPV资产的投资将为NERC资助的研究人员提供急需的能力，以推动技术创新，这取决于安全，长期获得高压，高温实验能力。通过IHPV实验解决的关键科学问题的例子包括：1.在岩浆上升过程中挥发物是如何脱气的，以及在深处是如何循环的？2.火山爆发前岩浆储存在哪里，储存了多久？3.压力、温度和氧化还原的变化如何控制能量转换所需的关键金属矿（如Li、Cu、REE）的形成？4.在岩浆系统和热液系统之间的界面上发生了什么？UoM拥有大量的实验基础设施，包括熔炉和固体介质压机，这些设施将补充并增加拟议的IHPV系统的价值。拟议中的IHPV系统将为目前安装在布里斯托、达勒姆、爱丁堡和牛津的资产提供补充而不是同等的能力，从而改善联合王国的研究环境。IHPV系统将通过提供合成地球化学标准的新能力来支持UoM优秀的微量分析设施（EPMA，LA-ICP-MS，NanoSIMS），包括NERC的离子微探针设施在内的国家设施也将从中受益。每年为英国研究人员在海外设施进行大约12周的IHPV实验，包括为UoM的NERC和STFC资助的研究人员。新的资产将完全满足现有的基线国家需求，并将提供开辟全新研究途径的能力。我们预计UoM研究生和博士后的使用率为50%;外部NERC资助的用户的使用率为25%，UoM和外部用户在更广泛的UKRI职权范围内的使用率为25%，包括STFC，EPSRC和行业合作伙伴（例如劳斯莱斯）资助的用户。持续的运行、技术和维护费用将从上网费中收回。在英国安装IHPV系统将通过减少前往海外进行IHPV实验的需要来减少碳排放，帮助UoM和NERC分别实现到2038年和2040年实现净零排放的目标。UoM已经投资了17万英镑来完全重建一个实验室，该实验室将容纳拟议的IHPV系统以及其他高压，高温资产。UoM将进一步投资。20万英镑用于支付NERC要求的75万英镑以上的采购成本。

Earth's chemical evolution is mediated by exchanges of mass and heat between its hot interior and cool exterior. Many of these exchanges occur under high pressure and temperature conditions in the crust where magmas degas volatiles, feed volcanic eruptions, form ore deposits, and hydrothermally dissipate heat. New experiments at crustal pressures are thus urgently needed to develop and calibrate key thermodynamic and kinetic models required to create quantitative analytical and computational models of element transport, exchange and cycling. Few global laboratories have the capability to investigate these exchanges experimentally. There are currently no assets in the UK that can simultaneously access the pressure and temperature conditions relevant to many vital crustal processes.The proposed IHPV system from Wille Geotechnik will bridge the existing considerable gap in national capability by supporting high-temperature (up to 1250 degC) experiments on geological materials under controlled redox conditions at crustal pressures (100-600 MPa). It will enable a step change in research on magmatic, volcanic, ore-forming, and hydrothermal processes that address key and immediate science challenges that include natural and cascading hazards, particularly in volcanic environments; critical metals required for the energy transition; sustainable energy; planetary habitability; and environmental change. Investment in a UK IHPV asset will provide much-needed capacity for NERC-funded researchers to drive technological innovation that depends on secure, long-term access to high-pressure, high-temperature experimental capability.Examples of key science questions to be addressed through IHPV experiments include:1. How are volatiles degassed during magma ascent and cycled at depth?2. Where and how long are magmas stored before volcanic eruptions?3. How do changes in pressure, temperature and redox control the formation of critical metal ores (e.g. Li, Cu, REE) required for the energy transition?4. What occurs at the interfaces between magmatic and hydrothermal systems?UoM hosts considerable experimental infrastructure including furnaces and solid media presses that will complement and add value to the proposed IHPV system. The proposed IHPV system will provide complementary rather than equivalent capability to assets currently installed in Bristol, Durham Edinburgh and Oxford, enhancing the UK's environment for research. An IHPV system will support UoM's excellent microanalytical facilities (EPMA, LA-ICP-MS, NanoSIMS) by delivering new capability to synthesise geochemical standards, from which national facilities including NERC's Ion Microprobe Facility will also benefit.Approximately 12 weeks of IHPV experiments are carried out for UK-based researchers at overseas facilities each year, including for NERC- and STFC-funded researchers at UoM. The new asset will fully meet existing baseline national demand, and will provide capacity to open wholly new avenues of research. We anticipate 50% usage by UoM postgraduate research students and postdocs; 25% of usage by external NERC-funded users, and 25% usage by UoM and external users across the wider UKRI remit, including those funded by STFC, EPSRC and industry partners (e.g. Rolls-Royce). Ongoing running, technical and maintenance costs will be recovered from access charges. Technical support will be provided through pooled access to a UoM-underwritten Senior Experimental Officer.Installing an IHPV system in the UK will reduce carbon emissions by alleviating the need to travel overseas for IHPV experiments, helping both UoM and NERC realise their goals of achieving net zero by 2038 and 2040, respectively. UoM has already invested £170K to fully refurbish a laboratory that will house the proposed IHPV system alongside other high-pressure, high-temperature assets. UoM will invest a further ca. £200K to cover procurement costs above the £750K requested from NERC.