SUBMITTED BY

ARCHIT DEVARAJAN

GRADE : IX

DON BOSCO HIGH SCHOOL

MUMBAI, INDIA

POWER STATION FOR SPACE SETTLEMENTS

PROJECT FOR THE NASA SPACE SETTLEMENTS CONTEST

2015

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No. TOPIC Page No.

1 THE IDEA 4

2 CONVENTIONAL MODES OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION 5

3 RENEWABLE AND GREEN ENERGY 6

4 GENERATING ELECTRICITY IN SPACE 7

5 WHAT IS ANTIMATTER? 8

6 ANTIMATTER – MATTER COLLISION 9

7 ADVANTAGE ANTIMATTER!! 10

8 POWER GENERATION 11

9 ARCHI POWER: THE PRINCIPLE 12

10 ARCHI POWER: DESIGN 13

11 STORING ANTIMATTER 14

12 ARCHI POWER: COMPONENTS 15

13 ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS: AEROGEL 16

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No. TOPIC SLIDE NO.

14 ADVANTAGE CARBON AEROGEL 17 - 18

15 ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS:SYNTHETIC FUSED SILICA MEMBRANE

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16 ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS: SUPERCAPACITORS 20

17 ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS: CONVERTERS 21

18 TRANSMISSION OF POWER 22

19 SOURCING ANTIMATTER 23

20 ARCHI POWER STATION: LOCATION 24 - 26

21 TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICITY 27 - 28

22 MY SPACE SETTLEMENT 29

23 CODED RECTENNA 30

24 PROTECTION FROM FREELY MOVING ASTEROIDS 31

25 CONCLUSION 32 - 33

26 BIBLIOGRAPHY 34

27 REFERENCES FOR IMAGES 35 - 37

I have always dreamt of being an astronaut and exploring the universe. So when I sawthe “NASA SPACE SETTLEMENT DESIGN CONTEST” announcement I was thrilled. As Islept that night I saw a great dream. I was in a space settlement in pitch darkness,chilled to the bone. I woke up with a start and then……I got this bright idea…

Can you imagine living in darkness, eating cold food or for that matter bathing in icecold water!! Those are our fundamental needs… Imagine, no Google, no WhatsApp,no mobile, no laptop!!! Who would ever want to be in a space settlement!!!

THE IDEA

HENCE I BELIEVE AN IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT FOR EVERY SPACE SETTLEMENT IS A POWER STATION WHICH COULD SUPPLY ELECTRICITY

I WOULD CREATE A POWER STATION FOR SPACE SETTLEMENTS

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CONVENTIONAL MODES OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION

On Earth, Power stations are generally based on:

Hydro electricity

Thermal energy

Other sources include:

Static electricity

Electromagnetic induction

Electrochemistry

Wind energy

Piezoelectric effect

Photovoltaic effect as in Solar cells

Nuclear transformation

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RENEWABLE AND GREEN ENERGY

• Renewable and green energy are the energy buzz words today. Solar energy is the best example. While I was reading up about electricity in space settlements, most settlements described harnessing solar energy. But even on Earth, that is so difficult. Till date we do not even have cars running on solar energy.

• Solar cookers are great but they don’t work in rain and snow!!!!!

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GENERATING ELECTRICITY IN SPACECAN NUCLEAR ENERGY BE USED??

• Nuclear energy although renewablerequires huge power plants

• Further management of nuclearwaste is a serious issue

What could I use then……

• I discussed this with my teacher, and she introduced me to something verynew – ANTIMATTER

• She asked me to read up, and find out whether ANTIMATTER could provide asolution. That was the beginning of this wonderful journey…………

NUCLEAR ENERGY SCHEMATIC

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??

WHAT IS ANTIMATTER?

• Each particle of matter has a corresponding antiparticle ofantimatter. Antimatter is composed of antiparticles whichhave the same mass as particles of ordinary matter buthave opposite charge. Contact of antimatter with equalamount of matter results in annihilation to generateenergy

• For example if the antimatter is a positron it would have a+1e electric charge, and the same mass as a -1e(negatively charged) electron

• When a low energy positron (e+) collides with a low energyelectron (e-) annihilation occurs resulting in the formationof two or more gamma rays. Gamma rays denoted by theGreek letter γ, are high frequency electromagneticradiation and comprise high energy photons

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ANTIMATTER – MATTER COLLISION

• I also learnt some very interesting facts aboutantimatter

• Reacting 1 kg each of antimatter and matter wouldproduce immense energy of 1.8×1017 J (180petajoules) equivalent of almost 43 megatons ofTNT, or slightly less energy than thelargest thermonuclear weapon detonated namelythe 27,000 kg Tsar Bomb

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ADVANTAGE ANTIMATTER!!

• Anti-matter can be isolated and stored to be used as a fuel

• The energy density of antimatter is higher than that of conventional fuels, whichmeant greater energy with small masses of matter

• Just 10 grams of antiprotons could provide enough fuel to reach a mannedspacecraft to Mars in just one month, as opposed to the one year it takes todayfor unmanned spacecraft

• The speeds generated by matter-antimatter powered space vehicles wouldenable exploration of hitherto unexplored areas in space, like Jupiter and evenbeyond the heliopause, where the sun's radiation ends

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• I realized that huge energy could be obtained from a minute mass usingantimatter

• and perceived antimatter as a great source to power space settlements. Idecided

• to give this energy a new name “ARCHI* POWER”

POWER GENERATION ANTIMATTER – MATTER COLLISION

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ARCHI POWER SCHEMATIC

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ARCHI POWER: THE PRINCIPLE

PRINCIPLE: Collision of matter with antimatter results in generation of largeamounts of energy even greater than a nuclear bomb. Undercontrolled conditions, the energy from such collisions can beharnessed and converted to electrical energy

CAUTION: Controlling the rate of antimatter-matter collision is critical because iftoo much energy is produced, there is a probability that the powerstation itself will be destroyed

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ARCHI POWER: DESIGN

SYNTHETIC FUSED SILICA MEMBRANE

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AEROGEL SHEET

CIRCUIT BOARD SUPER CAPACITOR

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STORING ANTIMATTER• As antimatter annihilates when it comes in contact with normal

matter, it needs to be stored in an electromagnetic field so that itdoes not come in contact with matter. Antimatter would be stored inAerogel sheets

• In an aerogel the liquid component of the gel is replaced with gaswithout allowing it to shrink. Hence aerogel is a material which ismade up of 92.8% of air and hence super light

• Carbon aerogel is porous, ultra light, solid, rigid and dry material.Carbon as we all know is a ferromagnetic material, so carbon aerogelas a permanent magnet, will create a magnetic field. An electricdouble-layer super capacitor can absorb or produce very high peakcurrents to create an electric field. Hence, it can create anelectromagnetic field which will be suitable for the storage ofantimatter

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The heart of the power generator

Carbon aerogel Sheets

Synthetic fused silica membrane

Other components include

Super capacitors

Converters

Circuit boards

Connector wires

Switches

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• The package I plan to use is aerogel, which doesnot have any chemical formula

• It was created by Samuel Stephens Kastler in1931, by using supercritical drying (a process toremove a liquid in a precise and controlled way)

• Early on aerogels were produced form Silica gelsand later aerogels were based on alumina,chromia and tin dioxide

• In the 1980’s Carbon aerogel was discovered,which has desirable features for antimatterstorage

• Hence, I plan to use Carbon aerogel

ARCHI POWER COMPONENTSAEROGEL

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AEROGEL

ADVANTAGE CARBON AEROGEL

• Aerogels are bad heat conductors and prevent(nullify) almost two of the three methods of heattransmission i.e. conduction, convection andradiation. Carbon aerogel is an excellent thermalinsulator because its gaseous components greatlyreduce heat transfer

• When a flower is placed on a piece of aerogelwhich is suspended over a flame from a Bunsenburner the flower remains intact and does notwither, confirming that aerogel is a great thermalinsulator

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• Aerogel also has air pockets which makes itlight weight. A piece of aerogel can bear aweight of 40,000 times its own weight

ADVANTAGE CARBON AEROGELe+e-

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A PIECE OF AEROGEL

THE SAME PIECE OF AEROGEL (ZOOMED IN)

ARCHI POWER COMPONENTSSYNTHETIC FUSED SILICA MEMBRANE

• This membrane play would play the most critical role in separating antimatter andmatter and is an important requirement to prevent unwanted collisions

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• An electric double-layer (super) capacitor can absorb or produce very high peakcurrents. So we can also get an electric field

• A super capacitor can create the electromagnetic field essential for storage ofantimatter

• They can be made up of light weight material like expanded polystyrene

ARCHI POWER COMPONENTSSUPERCAPACITORS

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• Converters would work at two levels:

• First electrical energy would be converted to microwave radiations suitable fortransmission

• Secondly the microwave radiations would be converted back to electrical energyusing a Rectenna

ARCHI POWER COMPONENTSCONVERTERS

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Rectenna

TRANSMISSION OF POWER

• As wires cannot be used to connect to transmit electricity, we will use microwaveenergy (i.e. transmission of electricity via radio waves) to transmit electricity inthe settlement and to various colonies across space

• These radio waves can travel through space for long distances and hence are themost suitable mode of transmission. Even if an object or planet comes in the wayof the radio wave, it does not matter as it can pass straight through it. Forconversion of microwave energy into electricity a rectenna (rectifying antenna)may be used

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SOURCING ANTIMATTER

• Antimatter is continuously produced during thunderstorms and gets stored in the earths magnetic field

• The rings of the planet Saturn in our solar system area huge production house of antimatter

• Antimatter is also produced in solar flares howeverthis cannot be used as it is too risky to go near thesun

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• Of course ARCHI POWER Station would be in aspace settlement. We are talking of location of thespace settlement which could house this power stationand be powered using this power station

• Since antimatter is needed on a large scale the ARCHIPOWER Station should be in such a location that itreceives continuous supply of antimatter in adequatequantities

ARCHI POWER STATIONLOCATION

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ARCHI POWER STATION IN A SPACESETTLEMENT ( I DREAM OF A GREENNATURAL EARTH LIKE SETTLEMENT!!!)

ARCHI POWER STATIONLOCATION

• Thunderstorms can occur year-round and at all hours. But they are most likely tohappen in the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and eveninghours. It is estimated that there are around 1800 thunderstorms that occur acrossour planet EARTH every day

• Thunderstorms could therefore be relied on as a continuous and predictablesource of antimatter

• The Best location for ARCHI POWER Station is therefore anywhere near theearth (i.e. beyond the gravitational pull and the magnetic field of the earth)

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ANY POSITION ON THE RED LINE OR BEYOND WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR LOCATING THE ARCHI POWER STATION

ARCHI POWER STATIONIN A SPACE SETTLEMENT

PROPOSED LOCATION

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TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICITY

RECTENNA

RECTENNA

RECTENNA

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27ARCHI POWER STATION

TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICITYTO OTHER SPACE SETTLEMENTS

Space Colony

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MY SPACE SETTLEMENT

• AN EARTH IN SPACE WITHGREEN AND SNOWCAPPEDMOUNTAINS, FORESTS, THESEA AND CITIES LESSPOPULATED OF COURSE!!!

• ARCHI POWER STATIONWOULD SUPPLY ELECTRICITYACROSS THE SETTLEMENTUSING MULTIPLE RECTENNAS

ARCHI POWER STATION

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CODED RECTENNACHEATING PREVENTION DEVICE

• When I was thinking of supplying power to various other space

settlements, I also thought that this electricity can be embezzled by other

space colonies. I therefore thought of an idea that I would design a

specific code in the rectenna device provided to the space colonies that

wish to receive electricity from the ARCHI Power Station. ARCHI Power

Station radio waves can only be received by that rectenna which has that

specific code and this can prevent cheating

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PROTECTION FROM FREELY MOVING ASTEROIDS

There is a risk that a freely moving asteroid may hit the space settlement with thepower station causing a huge damage to the settlement or may even lead tomalfunctioning of the power plant. Hence, the same antimatter can be used toproduce bombs to destroy these asteroids and protect the power station. We wouldneed to be ready with those too!!

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CONCLUSION• My project is based on the assumption that antimatter is easily available and can be

stored for use. There are few scientists who believe that rather than creatingantimatter on earth, as the corporation does, it might be more feasible to minedeposits of antimatter in space itself. However we know that last year although thePamela Mission found that Earth is ringed by antiprotons, it only detected very fewantiprotons over the period of several years of its mission. That’s lesser than CERNproduces in a day. Getting sufficient antimatter to fuel an entire power station is thegreatest challenge, even if we could work out all the engineering and technology

• But I am an optimist. Who ever dreamt 50 years ago that this entire presentation ofmine can reach NASA at the click of a button. Who dreamt that there would be“Google” to answer most of our questions…. Although not today, I am sure yearslater antimatter would be talked about like matter, and be available if not like matterat least with the ease with which are able to get radioactive materials today. I firmlybelieve an antimatter based power station although appears like fiction today is thetechnology of future generation power stations

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CONCLUSION

Let me conclude by quoting Neil Armstrong who said

“That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”

which I wish to adapt as

“A kid’s dream of a possible ‘Dream Power Station’ for mankind”

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-antimatter-2002-01-24/

2. http://www.howstuffworks.com/antimatter1.htm

3. http://www.space.com/22229-space-station-colony-futuristic-technology.html

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercapacitor

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#Methods_of_generating_electricity

6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercritical_drying

7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerogel#Carbon

8. http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/38193/why-dont-we-use-wireless-electricity-today

9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter_weapon

10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter

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REFERENCES FOR IMAGESREFERENCE PAGE NO.

lenergeek.com 01

globe-views.com 05

mdvseia.org 06

science.howstuffworks.com 06

fusionforenergy.europa.eu 07

www.zmescience.com 09

www.wallpapervortex.com 12

guynietoren.deviantart.com 13

www.electric-vehiclenews.com 13

adventurelightingblog.wordpress.com 13

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REFERENCES FOR IMAGESREFERENCE PAGE NO.

en.wikipedia.org 16

en.wikipedia.org 17

www.gizmag.com 18

www.stockwell.com 19

www.digikey.com 20

www.ohgizmo.com 21

hqwallbase.com 23

www.seychellesnewsagency.com 24

www.nasa.gov 25

www.clipartpanda.com 26

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REFERENCES FOR IMAGES

REFERENCE PAGE NO.

spacejournal.ohio.edu 28

en.wikipedia.org 29

1hdwallpapers.com 29

www.city-data.com 29

freebigpictures.com 29

www.yayuanart.com 29

www.indiedb.com 31

www.couriermail.com.au 33

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