Title:
Characterization of H2O Transport Through Johnson Space Center Number 1A Lunar Regolith Simulant at Low Pressure for In-situ Resource Utilization - Data File

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Author(s)
Schieber, Garrett L.
Jones, Brant M.
Orlando, Thomas M.
Loutzenhiser, Peter G.
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Abstract
H2O transport through a packed bed of Johnson Space Center number 1A (JSC-1A) lunar regolith simulant was examined at relevant temperatures and pressures for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on the Moon. Experimentation was conducted over a range of pressures from 50 to 2,065 Pa at ~350 K, corresponding to Knudsen numbers of 0.3 < Kn < 11 and relevant towards ISRU technologies. A piecewise function was used to evaluate transition and Knudsen regime flows. The piecewise model utilized a Knudsen number that predicted the transition point between advective and Knudsen flows. A transition Knudsen number of 1.66 ± 0.61 and a tortuosity shape parameter of 0.736 ± 0.13 were determined from non-linear regression, and Knudsen diffusivities of 10.62 cm2·s-1, 10.40 cm2·s-1 and 9.04 cm2·s-1 for packed beds of JSC-1A with porosities of 0.388, 0.385, and 0.365, respectively. The experimental measurements, methodology, and modeling provide useful information for ISRU technologies involving the transport of volatiles (e.g., thermal extraction of H2O).
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NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) NNA17BF68A
Date Issued
2021-02-04
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