Engineering topics

Senior, C. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Senior, C. L..

2 records

NASA NTRS1997

Optical Waveguide Solar Energy System for Lunar Materials Processing

This paper discusses results of our work on development of the Optical Waveguide (OW) Solar Energy System for Lunar Materials Processing. In the OW system as shown, solar radiation is collected by the concentrator which transfers the concentrated solar radiation to the OW transmission line consisting of low-loss optical fibers. The OW line transmits the solar radiation to the thermal reactor of the lunar materials processing plant. The feature of the OW system are: (1) Highly concentrated solar radiation (up to 104 suns) can be transmitted via flexible OW lines directly into the thermal reactor for materials processing: (2) Solar radiation intensity or spectra can be tailored to specific materials processing steps; (3) Provide solar energy to locations or inside of enclosures that would not otherwise have an access to solar energy; and (4) The system can be modularized and can be easily transported to and deployed at the lunar base.

Nakamura, T.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Solar heating of common lunar minerals for the production of oxygen

The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of vapor-phase reduction (pyrolysis) of lunar materials to produce oxygen. Solar furnace experiments were conducted on two common lunar minerals, ilmenite and anorthite. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations predicted that ilmenite should show a larger pressure increase than anorthite under conditions of the experiments and this was confirmed by the experiments. The measured mass loss of the ilmenite sample was consistent with loss of oxygen by reduction of iron in the liquid phase; this result was also predicted from equilibrium calculations. Based on preliminary experiments and equilibrium calculations, the temperatures needed for pyrolysis are expected to be in the range of 2000 to 2500 K, giving total gas pressures of 0.01 to 1 torr. Bulk regolith can be used as a feedstock without extensive beneficiation. Further, selective condensation of metal-containing species from the gas phase may yield metallic iron and silicon as byproducts from the process.

Senior, C. L.↗