Lunar power systems. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6500532

The findings of a study on the feasibility of several methods of providing electrical power for a permanently manned lunar base are provided. Two fundamentally different methods for lunar electrical power generation are considered. One is the use of a small nuclear reactor and the other is the conversion of solar energy to electricity. The baseline goal was to initially provide 300 kW of power with growth capability to one megawatt and eventually to 10 megawatts. A detailed, day by day scenario for the establishment, build-up, and operational activity of the lunar base is presented. Also presented is a conceptual approach to a supporting transportation system which identifies the number, type, and deployment of transportation vehicles required to support the base. An approach to the use of solar cells in the lunar environment was developed. There are a number of heat engines which are applicable to solar/electric conversions, and these are examined. Several approaches to energy storage which were used by the electric power utilities were examined and those which could be used at a lunar base were identified.

• Research Organization: System Development Corp., Camarillo, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6500532
• Report Number(s): N-87-17398; NASA-CR-171956; NAS-1.26:171956; TRN: 87-021152
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
MOON
POWER SUPPLIES
ENERGY STORAGE
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WORKING FLUIDS
CONVERSION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER PLANTS
SATELLITES
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
STORAGE
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
140700 - Solar Thermal Power Systems
210600 - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable