A Study on the Thermal Extraction of H₂O(s) from Lunar Regolith Simulant Using Concentrated Solar Thermal Technology
Author(s)
Farr, Tyler Patrick
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Collections
Supplementary to:
Permanent Link
Abstract
The focus of this research was to determine the feasibility of using concentrated solar thermal (CST) technology as a method for extracting H₂O from H₂O(s) deposits on the lunar surface. The potential source of lunar H₂O(s), found in the permanently shadowed regions (PSR), and related extraction using solar thermal energy constitute the focal points of this investigation. The research leverages CST technology, supplemented by an indirect solar receiver (ISR) for optimal heat transfer, to explore H₂O extraction. Initial investigations examined H₂O(v) transport through Lunar Mare Simulant (LMS-1) and Lunar Highland Simulant (LHS-1), yielding a diffusion model indispensable for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technology development. A specialized Concentrated Lunar and Rapid Kinetics (CLARK) reactor was designed, built, and used to replicate lunar surface conditions, allowing for concentrated irradiation of simulant packed beds from a high-flux solar simulator (HFSS). The experiments were conducted with varying levels of key factors, including the use of a copper indirect solar receiver, various packing densities, and adjusting the irradiation to study the impacts and interactions on the sublimation. Alongside the experimental work, preliminary work on transient computational models are presented, simulating the heat and mass transfer phenomena and providing valuable insights for optimizing the system design. Advanced X-ray tomography scans were used to develop detailed 3D packed bed models. The models were developed for future Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate reflective and absorptive properties and for a lattice Boltzmann model to analyze flow dynamics. This work sets the foundation for detailed simulations and further analysis of thermal and mass transfer processes. These investigations confirm the viability of solar thermal energy in extracting H₂O(v) from lunar regolith simulants, laying the foundation for future research into lunar regolith H₂O thermal extraction, a crucial endeavor for sustainable long-term space exploration.
Sponsor
Date
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Dissertation