Design of a Lunar Solar Wind Volatiles Extraction System

Authors

  • Aaron D.S. Olson Engineering Physics Department University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI
  • John F. Santarius Engineering Physics Department University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI
  • Gerald L. Kulcinski Engineering Physics Department University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17307/wsc.v1i1.100

Keywords:

fusion reactor, helium extraction

Abstract

Two devices are being developed as part of a project to demonstrate the extraction of helium-3 and other volatiles from lunar regolith. The first is an implantation system to embed helium ions into JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant and the second is a counter flow heat pipe heat exchanger for the subsequent diffusion of the helium out of the regolith. This will simulate the previously proposed acquisition of helium-3 from the Moon for use in nuclear fusion reactors on Earth. Preliminary designs of both of these systems are discussed.1

References

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Published

2015-01-01

How to Cite

Olson, A. D., Santarius, J. F., & Kulcinski, G. L. (2015). Design of a Lunar Solar Wind Volatiles Extraction System. Proceedings of the Wisconsin Space Conference, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.17307/wsc.v1i1.100

Issue

Section

Physics and Engineering