Parametric Study of a Lunar Base Power Systems

Marcin Kaczmarzyk and Michał Musiał
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Marcin Kaczmarzyk: Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, ul. Poznanska 2, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Michał Musiał: Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, ul. Poznanska 2, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-31

Abstract: Due to the extreme cost of cargo transportation from Earth to the lunar surface, future lunar base subsystems are required to be rigorously optimized in terms of mass reduction. The purpose of this paper was to identify and evaluate the influence of key parameters of proposed lunar base power systems, as well as of the lunar environment on the total power system mass. Nine different power systems were studied as combinations of two power sources and three energy storage technologies. Power system architecture, total power demand of the base, its power management strategy, solar array structure type, Selenographic latitude and solar illumination conditions were nominated as the primary parameters for this study. Total power system mass calculations were performed for more than 200 combinations of these parameters, including three separate case studies. The total mass calculated for each combination included a power source, an energy storage unit, temperature control and the balance of system. For the wide range of studied parameters, hybrid power systems that combine solar and nuclear power were found to be the most advantageous solutions in terms of mass reduction.

Keywords: extraterrestrial building physics; power system; energy storage; lunar base; photovoltaics; nuclear reactor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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