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ISRU on the MoonISRU on the Moon by Larry Taylorby Larry Taylor
JJP
Planetary Geosciences InstitutePlanetary Geosciences InstituteUniversity of Tennessee (University of Tennessee ([email protected]@utk.edu))
MOON is an enormous Earth-orbiting Space Station [ Moon = EOSS],a natural satellite outside of Earth’s gravity well,with raw materials that can be put to practical use,as humanity expands outward into the Solar System.
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WaterWater--IceIce versus Only HydrogenOnly HydrogenRecovering LLH and LUNOX; Mining Ice; Solar-WindHydrogen and Volatiles from Regolith; Oxygen fromRegolith; Processing for Specific Products
Regolith for Feedstock: Processing and Products
LUNAR REGOLITH / SOIL: What it is??LUNAR REGOLITH / SOIL: What it is??Physically, Chemically, Mineralogically,
Magnetically, Geotechnically
LUNAR SCIENCE IS THE ENTIRE BASIS FORLUNAR SCIENCE IS THE ENTIRE BASIS FOR
OUR KNOWLEDGE OF LUNAR RESOURCESOUR KNOWLEDGE OF LUNAR RESOURCES
SOUTH POLE:
OUTLINE
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1 mm
Lunar Mare Soil Volcanic GlassBeadImpact-Glass
Bead
Agglutinate
Plagioclase
RockChips
ImpactGlass
SoilSoil: <1 cm portion of the : <1 cm portion of the RegolithRegolith
RegolithRegolith: broken up rock material: broken up rock material
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Lunar Soil FormationLunar Soil Formation
ComminutionComminution, Agglutination, & Vapor Deposition, Agglutination, & Vapor Deposition
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Mare-Soil
Agglutinate
100 µm
Courtesy – Dave McKay
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20 40 60 80
20
40
60
80
Is / FeO =
Immature Submature Mature
Is / FeO20 40 60 80
20
40
60
80Particle %
BasaltFragments
AgglutinatesMineral
Fragments
immature submature mature
Taylor & McKay (1992)
Mare Soil Maturation
Agglutinates
MineralsBasalt Fragments
Volu
me
%
Maturity
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16.31.6
16.27.3
14.31.7
17.22.8
= 15.4= 3.6
FeO 17.49.5
15.46.5
16.27.3
16.48.1
71061-14 70181-47 79221-8112030-14 12001-56
71501-35 10084-7815071-52 15041-94
Vol.Gl.Vol.Gl.
Aggl Gl
PxPx
Plag
Ilm
Olivine
Others
Low-Ti Mare Soils High-Ti Mare Soils
TiO2
0
60
80
40
20
100
20-4
5 µm
10-2
0 µm
<10 µm
20-4
5 µm
10-2
0 µm
<10 µm
20-4
5 µm
10-2
0 µm
<10 µm
20-4
5 µm
10-2
0 µm
<10 µm
20-4
5 µm
10-2
0 µm
<10 µm
Maturity Maturity
Cumulative Modal Percentage of Mare Soils
* Is/FeO of <250 µm
Taylor et al. (2001)
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1 µm
SEM BSE-Image of Mare Agglutinitic GlassSEM BSESEM BSE--Image of Mare Image of Mare AgglutiniticAgglutinitic GlassGlass
Courtesy – Dave McKay
Milky Way of np-Feo
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FORMATION OF NANOPHASE Feo
in AGGLUTINITIC GLASS:FORMATION OF NANOPHASE FORMATION OF NANOPHASE FeFeoo
in AGGLUTINITIC GLASS:in AGGLUTINITIC GLASS:
Solar-Wind Implanted H+ in Lunar SoilCauses Reduction of Fe2+ to Feo
in Micrometeorite-Produced Impact Melt
Auto-Reduction Reaction in Impact-Soil Melt“FeOmelt” + H2 = Fe0 + H2O
30 YEAR PARADIGM30 YEAR PARADIGM
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12030-14* 12001-56* 71061-14* 70181-47* 79221-81*15071-52* 15041-94* 71501-35* 10084-78*
Is/FeO Values Versus Agglutinitic Glass Contents
40
60
80
7%16%
7%
18
23%
1818% 12
21%15
15%6 7%
9122
223%
Agglutinitic Glass
* Is/FeO of >250 µm
50
100
150
42%88 31%
72
63%
99
39%
75
56%100
76
79%
65
19%
65
31% 36%
117Is / FeO
20-4
5 µm
10- 2
0 µm
<10 µm
20- 4
5 µm
10- 2
0 µm
<10 µm
20- 4
5 µm
10- 2
0 µm
<10 µm
20- 4
5 µm
10- 2
0 µm
<10 µm
20- 4
5 µm
10- 2
0 µm
<10 µm
Taylor et al. (2001)
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VaporVapor--Deposited Nanophase Deposited Nanophase FeFeoo on Plagioclaseon Plagioclase
10 nm10 nmPlagioclase
100 100 ÅÅ
SiOSiO22--richrichglassglass
Keller et al. (1999)
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MAGNETIC PROPERTIESMAGNETIC PROPERTIESOF LUNAR SOILSOF LUNAR SOILS
Effects of VaporEffects of Vapor--Deposited Nanophase Deposited Nanophase FeFeoo are aare aDirect Function of Surface Area and MostDirect Function of Surface Area and MostPronounced in the Finest Grain Sizes;Pronounced in the Finest Grain Sizes;
Virtually All <10 Virtually All <10 µµm Particles are Easily Attracted bym Particles are Easily Attracted bya Simple Handa Simple Hand--held Magnet, held Magnet, PlgPlg, , PyxPyx, , OlOl, and, andAgglutiniticAgglutinitic Glass alike.Glass alike.
Magnetic Susceptibility of Soil Particles Magnetic Susceptibility of Soil Particles Increases as Grain Size Decreases;Increases as Grain Size Decreases;
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Lunar Dust Effects: Must be Addressed before any Commercial Presence
on the Moon can be Fully Evaluated.
Potential for coatings, on seals, gaskets, optical lens, windows, electrical components, et cetera;
Abrasiveness, with regards to friction-bearing surfaces;
Potential for settling on all thermal and optical surfaces, such as Solar cells and mirrors; and
Physiological effects on humans, especially with respectto the lungs, the lymph system, and potentially thecardiovascular system, in the case of extremely fine particles.
SOLUTION: Magnetic brushes ??SOLUTION: Magnetic brushes ??
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In the hands of these people :
MICROWAVE RADIATION
There is an entire subculture of people who derivepleasure from putting strange things in microwave ovens
Things that microwave oven manufacturers wouldstrenuously suggest should not be put there.
Table grapes produce glowing plasmas;Soap bars mutate into abominable soap monsters;Compact discs incandesce;Even ‘Wet Poodles’ have been known to “explode.”
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I in I out
I out = f [ ] Total Current C L R
Microwave Principles
Transparent Glass
Absorbent Water
Reflectant Metal
Interaction of Materials with Microwaves
C
L
R
LOSS TAN δ = Sum of Losses from All Mechanisms during Microwave Heating
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Temperature (°K)200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Tanδ
Loss Tangent Increases with T
Power density:
Half-Power Depth:
Heating Rate:
Increases
Decreases
Increases
MICROWAVE HEATING:
IMPORTANT PARAMETERS FOR MATERIAL RESPONSE
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT, εr, AND LOSS TANGENT, TAN δ
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Microwave Heating of Lunar Soil:
NanoPhase Fe0 in Silicate GlassFe0 grain size is so small as to be below the
effective “skin depth” of microwave penetration;
System is basically one of :Small conductors of Fe0 insulated by
Intervening dielectric glass
GREAT MICROWAVE COUPLING!
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Solid-State Diffusionplus Introduction of
liquid phase
Combination of Solid-State andLiquid-Phase
Sintering
Sintering Progress of Powder ParticlesBy Microwave Energy
Initial heating of particles
Melt
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Microwave MeltingMicrowave MeltingAlong Grain Boundaries of Mare SoilAlong Grain Boundaries of Mare Soil
10 µm
Melt
Solid
SolidSolid
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BENEFITS OF MICROWAVE OVER CONVENTIONAL HEATING
RAPID HEATING RATES [ >1000 0C/min ]
HIGH TEMPERATURES [ 2000 0C ]
ENHANCED REACTION RATES [ Faster Diffusion Rates ]
Bottom Line : LOWER ENERGY REQUIREMENTSBottom Line : LOWER ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
CONSIDERABLY REDUCED PROCESSING TIME
PROCESS SIMPLICITY
LESS LABOR COSTS
FASTER SINTERING KINETICS [ Shorter Sintering Times ]
LOWER SINTERING TEMPERATURE [ Energy Savings ]
FINE MICROSTRUCTURES [ Improved Mechanical Properties ]
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Roads
LUNAR SOIL PROCESSING & PRODUCTS
SINTERING and MELTING
SUGGESTIONS ??
Satellite DishesShieldingWeldingRecovery of VolatilesGlass Fiber ProductionSolar Cells (Ilmenite)
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LUNOX experiments and initial productionLLH RecoveryPhoto-Voltaic Cell productionRegolith for radiation protection: digger,
mover, transporter, role of microwaveprocessing
Production of cast basalt and sinteredregolith by microwave processing
Rover / robotics – geosciences / resourceevaluation
RESOURCE USE AT FIRST LUNAR BASE
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Products that could be derived from 1 m3 of Lunar Regolith
350 liters 4He@ STP350 liters 4He@ STP
Global Average AnnElectricity Consumeper Capita-1995
a la Larry Haskins
Lunar Lunch for Two
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Solid/Gas InteractionIlmenite Reduction with HydrogenIlmenite Reduction with C/COIlmenite Reduction with MethaneGlass Reduction with HydrogenReduction with Hydrogen SulfideExtraction with FluorineCarbochlorinationChlorine Plasma Reduction
Silicate/Oxide MeltMolten Silicate ElectrolysisFluxed Molten Silicate ElectrolysisCaustic Dissolution & ElectrolysisCarbothermal ReductionMagma Partial OxidationLi or Na Reduction Ilmenite
PyrolysisVapor PyrolysisIon Plasma PyrolysisPlasma Reduction of Ilmenite
Aqueous SolutionsHF Acid DissolutionH2SO4 Acid Dissolution
Co-Product RecoveryHydrogen-Helium-Water from Soil.
Solid/Gas InteractionGibson & Knudsen (1985)Chang (1959); Shadman & Zhou (1988)Friedlander (1985)McKay et al. (1991)Dalton & Hohmann (1972)Burt (1988)Lynch (1989)Lynch (1989)
Silicate/Oxide MeltHaskin (1985)Keller (1986)Dalton & Hohmann (1972)Rosenburg (1966); Cutler & Krag (1985)Waldon (1989)Sammells & Semkow (1987)
PyrolysisSteurer & Nerad (1983)Steurer & Nerad (1983)Allen et al., (1988)
Aqueous SolutionsWaldron (1985)Christiansen et al. (1988); Sullivan (1991)
Co-Product RecoveryChristiansen et al. (1988)
Process ReferencePotential Processes for Oxygen Production on the Moon
Taylor & Carrier, 1992
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Ilmenitefeed
SolidProduct
OxygenProduct
FeTiO3 + H2 Fe + TiO2 + H2O electrolysis H2 + ½ O2
recycle
Production of LUNOX by H2 Reduction of Ilmenite
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LUNOX
Block Flow – Ilmenite Processing
BeneficiationH2 Reduction
&Electrolysis
SurfaceMining
Cooling&
Liquefaction
Transprotation&
Storage
Electric Power
O2 LOX
WasteSolids
SpentReactedSolids
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IlmeniteIlmenite Liberation for the 45 Liberation for the 45 –– 90 90 µµm Sizem SizeFraction of Hi Fraction of Hi –– Ti Basalt 71055Ti Basalt 71055
Only 50 vol %Ilmenite is Clean (80- 100%Liberated)
Taylor et al., 1995
Beneficiation StudiesBeneficiation Studies
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H He C N Ne Ar
Apollo 11 20-100 20-84 96-216 45-110 2-11 1.3-12
Apollo 12 2-106 14-68 23-170 46-140 1.2-6 0.5-4.6
Apollo 14 67-105 5-16 42-225 25-130 0.14-1.6 0.4-2.2
Apollo 15 13-125 5-19 21-186 33-135 0.6-108 0.5-2.7
Apollo 16 4-146 3-36 31-280 4-209 0.4-1.2 0.6-3
Apollo 17 0.1-106 13-41 4-200 7-94 1.2-2.7 0.6-2.6
Concentrations of Solar-Wind Volatile Speciesin Lunar Regolith Samples, in ppm.
Haskin and Warren, 1991
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Premise : Need 20 tonnes of LLH hydrogen per year
Hydrogen in lunar soil = 200 ppm; 50% recovery = 0.01 wt%
H in 1 m3 = [2.0 g/cc] x [106 cc/m3] X [1 x 10-4] = 2.0 x 102 g/m3
20 tonnes = 20t x 103 kg / t x 103 g/kg = 20 x 106 g
20 tonnes = 20 x 106g / 2.0 x 102 g/m3 = 10 x 104 m3 = 105 m3
1 Football Field (Depth of 3m) = 5 x 103 m2 x 3 = 15 x 103 m3
20 t LH = 6.2 Football Fields to 3 m depth
20 tonnes of LLH = ~6 Football Fields 0.03 km2 (1 / 30 th km2)
Abundance of Hydrogen in Mare Soil
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Temperature, 0C400 1200800
0
100
60
40
20
80
Cum
ulat
ive
%
Gas Release from Lunar Mare Soil
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RegolithRegolith Processing on the MoonProcessing on the Moon
ISR (InSect Robot)
ISR
BuriedHabitat
Mirror
Mirror
LUNOX / LLH Storage
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The Nature of Lunar Resources and the Types of Feedstocksthat can be Feasibly Produced Must be Factored into the Engineering Design for the Particular Production Process
Simplicity of Overall Process – Batch vs Continuous mode
Resupply Mass from Earth – Reagent makeup + Attrition
Plant Mass & Energy Requirements – f (mass needed); solar vs RTG energy
Evaluation of Feedstock – Mare vs Highland; Rocks vs Soils; Beneficiation; Product mass; Energy needs
Lo-Carb FOOD FOR THOUGHT Regolith Processing
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Polar RegionsPolar Regions
Two cases:Hydrogen enrichment: solar-wind hydrogen onlyProperties of regolith may be similar to elsewhere on the Moon, from our Apollo studies; new information may not be needed; possibility of unexpected effects of extreme cold (25-100 K); major considerations for processing tools at 50 K.
Hydrogen enrichment: H2O-dominated iceIn this case, physical properties of the regolith might be very different from those at Apollo sites
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Once ice deposits are identified and characterized,extraction experimentsextraction experiments are needed:♣ Heating methods♣ Volatile handling♣ Further processing of other gases♣ Gas storage ♣ Separation of impurities from♣ Electrolysis of H2O to produce LLH and LUNOX
♣♣ Demonstration Experiments on the Moon???Demonstration Experiments on the Moon???
Polar Ice: Polar Ice: Extraction and PurificationExtraction and Purification
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Polar IcePolar Ice
Effects of Ice on Effects of Ice on RegolithRegolith Physical Properties?Physical Properties?♠♠ Composition of Ice:Composition of Ice: Cometary? Lunar?♠♠ Ice form:Ice form: Crystalline? Amorphous? Thin films? Pore-
filling?;♠♠ Soil Particles:Soil Particles: Binding by Ice? Loose? Granular?
Coherent? ♠♠ Geotechnical Properties:Geotechnical Properties: variations with depth (drill
cores)? Ice Properties! ♠♠ Physical Properties of Physical Properties of RegolithRegolith:: cohesion, shear strength,
grain-size distribution, bulk density, porosity, etc.
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WHAT IS NEEDED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION OF:WHAT IS NEEDED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION OF:REGOLITH RESOURCES??REGOLITH RESOURCES??REGOLITH PROCESSES??REGOLITH PROCESSES??
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO PLAN RESOURCEWHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO PLAN RESOURCERECOVERY??RECOVERY??
Site Evaluation! Subsurface knowledge! Nature of Site Evaluation! Subsurface knowledge! Nature of RegolithRegolith!!
““PROOFPROOF--OFOF--CONCEPTCONCEPT”” ISRU EXPERIMENTS NEEDED FOR A ISRU EXPERIMENTS NEEDED FOR A LANDER??LANDER??
REGOLITH PROCESSING?? REGOLITH PROCESSING?? RegolithRegolith moving! Mineral beneficmoving! Mineral benefic--iationiation! Oxygen production! Solar! Oxygen production! Solar--wind measurements!wind measurements!Microwave Processing (sintering, melting, glass)! Microwave Processing (sintering, melting, glass)! PV Cell production PV Cell production ………………. .
ENERGY FOR LANDERS FROM SOLAR CELLS VERSUS ENERGY FOR LANDERS FROM SOLAR CELLS VERSUS RTGsRTGs??
SUBJECTS TO PONDER
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♦♦ Develop / Demonstrate Develop / Demonstrate Material Science ProcessingMaterial Science Processing forforUtilization of Lunar Resources, Including Oxygen /Utilization of Lunar Resources, Including Oxygen /Hydrogen Production; Ceramics / glass / brick Hydrogen Production; Ceramics / glass / brick –– HOW?HOW?
♦♦ Begin ASAP with Focused Begin ASAP with Focused Applied Material Science /Applied Material Science /Engineering ProgramEngineering Program to Research the Chemical to Research the Chemical Reactions / Physical Processes / Etc.Reactions / Physical Processes / Etc.
♦♦ Evaluate Competitive ISRU ProcessesEvaluate Competitive ISRU Processes♦♦ PROOF PROOF –– IN IN ---- CONCEPT DEMONSTRATIONSCONCEPT DEMONSTRATIONS
Production of Oxygen / Hydrogen from SoilProduction of Oxygen / Hydrogen from SoilMeasurement of SolarMeasurement of Solar--Wind Components in SoilWind Components in SoilRelease and Capture of SolarRelease and Capture of Solar--Wind Components Wind Components Microwave Processing of Soil;Microwave Processing of Soil; Volatile; Volatile; Shielding; BricksShielding; Bricks
TO DO: ASAP
Bottom Line:Bottom Line: Lunar Resources are known in a preliminary Lunar Resources are known in a preliminary sense, largely thru extensive scientific studies. However, sense, largely thru extensive scientific studies. However, further exploration for & confirmation of resources and further exploration for & confirmation of resources and demonstration of their practical utility will be required!demonstration of their practical utility will be required!