Author Topic: Passive Solar Cracking of Water  (Read 1758 times)

Offline simonbp

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Passive Solar Cracking of Water
« on: 03/10/2012 02:16 pm »
Plenty of ISRU potential, especially as it it is UV driven, and solar UV is going to much stronger on the Moon.

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressreleases/nanotrees_harvest_the_suns_energy_to_turn_water_into_hydrogen_fuel/

Offline JohnFornaro

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Re: Passive Solar Cracking of Water
« Reply #1 on: 03/10/2012 03:04 pm »
Plus, it may have far fewer moving parts than other approaches, so it might be scalable for a large, unattended water cracking facility.
Sometimes I just flat out don't get it.

Offline Warren Platts

Re: Passive Solar Cracking of Water
« Reply #2 on: 03/11/2012 07:23 pm »
Plenty of ISRU potential, especially as it it is UV driven, and solar UV is going to much stronger on the Moon.

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressreleases/nanotrees_harvest_the_suns_energy_to_turn_water_into_hydrogen_fuel/

That's pretty cool. Probably the biggest showstopper for a Lunar propellant station is the power requirements (measured in 10's of megawatts). With these gizmos, it might be possible to radically lower the size of the solar PV array.
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."--Leonardo Da Vinci

Offline apollolanding

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Re: Passive Solar Cracking of Water
« Reply #3 on: 03/11/2012 07:53 pm »
I saw this on a Discovery Channel show on how to slow/stop/reverse global warming.  They focused more on the carbon sequestering application than Hydrogen generation.  I just hope Exxon-Mobile or BP doesn't buy the patent on the process and bury it.
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Offline A_M_Swallow

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Re: Passive Solar Cracking of Water
« Reply #4 on: 03/11/2012 10:31 pm »
Lunar mirrors can be made by sintering regolith into a curved shape.  The mirrors may need coating with a substance that reflects ultraviolet light.

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