Energy analysis of manufacturing processes on the Moon
Abstract
A methodology for the energy analysis of high temperature lunar manufacturing processes is presented. The Moon's environment creates unique thermodynamic and heat rejection problems due to the absence of an atmosphere and large ambient temperature swing as it goes from lunar day to lunar night; it is a perfect vacuum at the surface. The methodology combines availability analysis, the Pinch technology, and a mathematical heat rejection model to minimize energy requirements and the lift-off mass from earth. The availability analysis is used to identify process irreversibilities and to determine the quality of energy from various exit streams. The Pinch technology is used to identify hot and cold streams for potential process heat integration. The heat rejection model is used to optimize the radiator area with temperature as the driving factor. The methodology presented allows one to identify all power consumption, production and rejection in the process, and then determine the feasibility of heat and work integration without a significant mass penalty. It provides a means to design a power system to minimize waste energy. This would result in reduction of the power requirement, cost of power and the power system's mass.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991PhDT.........9W
- Keywords:
-
- Ambient Temperature;
- Energy Requirements;
- Ilmenite;
- Moon;
- Process Heat;
- Space Manufacturing;
- Temperature Dependence;
- Energy Consumption;
- Lunar Soil;
- Space Industrialization;
- Thermodynamic Properties;
- Vacuum;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration