Lunar Solar Power Project

8/14/2019 Lunar Solar Power Project

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Abstract -- The solar energy is the best known energyavailable till now. But the drawback is the availability of the catchment point on the earth. The moon receivesapproximately 13000Tw of the absolute solar energy. Sothe basic idea behind the solar lunar power project is toprovide an extra large solar directing surface which cangrab enough solar energy and transmit it to earth surfaceusing microwave. Now the earth has different receivingstation which are strategically located so that thecontinuity of the power transmission can be maintained.The microwave receiving antennas are called retinas.Each retina converts the microwave power to electricitythat is fed to the local electric grid. The LSP system uses10-20 pairs of bases one of each pair on the eastern edgeand the other on the western edge. Each base consists of thousands of power plots distributed in an elliptical areato form fully segmented, phased array radar that aresolar powered. The buried electrical wires carry the solarenergy as electric power to microwave generators togenerate microwave of correct phase and amplitude andafter screening they are transmitted to earth.The waste product in the lunar surface are silicon, iron,TiO2, etc which can be used for solar cell fabrication. Themicrowaves of frequency range below 2 GHz are used

because of low losses and penetrating capability throughthe atmosphere.The LSP thus will bring a lot of merits to the powersystem in earth like availability of large amount of power,lower running, reduce pollution etc. thus the LSP systemwill establish a permanent and planet economy betweenthe earth and the moon.

I. I NTRODUCTION

The energy conservation process plays a greatrole in everybody from years. By the year 2050,wewould require about 60,000 GWe of power generation,

which would exhaust most of the non renewable sourcesof energy such as coal, natural gas, petroleum, uraniumetc. The threat of disappearing of fossil fuel within fewdecades has forced the search for better feasible systemin terms of production, efficiency & environmentfriendliness at a non-stop pace. Now, the terrestrialrenewable system are subjected to global climaticchanges by various means such as volcanoes, naturalvariation in regional climate etc. So there has arisen an

uttermost need to find some renewable and non-

polluting sources. So among all renewable and non- polluting sources of energy, LSP or lunar solar power issupposed to be the solution to the problem in all respect.As the name implies, LSP is concerned with thecollection of solar power on moon and transmitting it toearth using microwave.

II. NEED: ADEQUATE GLOBAL POWER

In the todays existing global power system, 1 millionrich persons require greater than 2 kWe/person, whereas5 billon poor persons use less than 0.6 kWe/person. Inthe present scenario, global power use is equivalent to220 millions barrels of oil per day or 4.8*10^12 watt-electric. The sources in use today are non-renewable,and polluting and too expensive for poor people. By2050, there will be around 10 million persons and theglobal power system requires about 20*10^12 watt-electric power. Also, the power needed to be clean, safe,affordable, dependable and sustainable.

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III. PRINCIPLES OF LSPThe LSP concept, solar power is collected in the moon.The LSP system uses 10-20 pair of bases with one of each pair on eastern edge and other on western edge.These bases on moon convert solar power in microwave

beams. These beams, unlike sunlight are safe andreliable and are able to pass through clouds, rain, dustand smoke. The different microwave beam of 12 cmwavelength would deliver power to receivers, alsocalled rectennas, located on earth worldwide .

Lunar Solar Power Project


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IV. PROCESSAbout 13000 TWe of reliable energy sun sends to thelunar surface. There are number of pair of bases (10-20in number). One of each pair on eastern side and other

on the western side. Each base consists of thousands of power plots distributed in an elliptical area to form fullysegmented, phased array radar that are solar powered.These bases on moon converts solar power falling onmoons surface into microwaves (power) beams. Theintensity of each power beam is restricted to 20% or less, of the intensity of noontime light The microwavesof frequency range below 2 GHz are used because of low losses and penetrating capability through theatmosphere. These beams are 12 cm in diameter woulddeliver power to receivers, also called rectennas, locatedon earth worldwide. These beams are able to passthrough clouds, rain, dust, smoke etc so safe andreliable. These beams are received by receivers, alsocalled rectennas, would consist of a large field of smallrectifying antennas. Each rectenna converts themicrowave power to electricity that is fed into the localelectric grid. Several thousand individual rectennasstrategically located around the globe, with a total areaof 100,000 km2, could continuously provide the 20 TWof electric power, or 2 kW per person, required for a

prosperous world of 10 billion people in 2050

V.FABRICATION OF SILICON SOLAR CELLSThe silicon film is a proprietary process, and only avery general process is designed. The generic processconsists of ceramic formation, metallurgical barrier formation, polycrystalline layer deposition, emitter diffusion and contact fabrication. The conductiveceramic substrate is fabricated from selected low-costmaterials. The metallurgical barrier prevents thesubstrate impurities from entering and contaminatingthe active thin silicon layer. The randomly textured andhighly reflecting metallurgical barrier improves lighttrapping. A suitable p- type doped 30 - 100micro-cmactive layer is deposited from a liquid solution.Phosphorus and aluminium impurity gathering are usedfor bulk quality improvement. Cells with large areas of 240, 300 and 700 cm2 are developed. A cell with anarea of 675 cm2 has demonstrated the record efficiencyof 11.6 17.7%.The waste products present in the lunar surface are silicon, iron, TiO2, etc. These products can

be used as raw materials for solar cell fabrication. Aspecial compound called anorthite is used for extractingthe above said components. Carbothermal reduction of anorthite,


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Carbon compounds can also be used to extract Oxygen,Fe, and TiO2 from Lunar Ilemenite. The iron is used for interconnect and TiO2 for anti reflect.

VI.COST INVOLVED

To achieve low unit cost of energy, the lunar portions of the LSP System are made primarily of lunar derivedcomponents. Factories, fixed and mobile, aretransported from the Earth to the Moon. High outputgreatly reduces the impact of high transportation costsfrom the Earth to the Moon. On the Moon the factories

produce 100s to 1,000s of times their own mass in LSPcomponents. Construction and operation of therectennas on Earth constitutes greater than 90% of theengineering costs. Any handful of lunar dust and rockscontains at least 20% silicon, 40% oxygen, and 10%metals (iron, aluminum, etc.). Lunar dust can be useddirectly as thermal, electrical, and radiation shields,converted into glass, fiberglass, and ceramics, and

processed chemically into its elements. Solar cells,electric wiring, some micro-circuitry components, andthe reflector screens can be made out of lunar materials.Soil handling and glass production are the primaryindustrial operations. Selected micro circuitry can besupplied from Earth. Use of the Moon as a source of construction materials and as the platform on which togather solar energy eliminates the need to build

extremely large platforms in space. LSP componentscan be manufactured directly from the lunar materialsand then immediately placed on site. This eliminatesmost of the packaging, transport, and reassembly of components delivered from Earth or the Moon to deepspace.

VII. ADVANTAGES/MERITS OF LSP1. Energy cost get reduced to 10 to 100 times2. There is no air or water to degrade large area

thin film devices3. There is fast growth in capacity and profits

because of beamed power that reduces spaceand lunar operational costs. Also enhancementin profit is caused by low rectenna costs anddual use of rectenna sites.

4. The high cost of transportation is to and fromthe moon is eliminated by sending

machines and small factors to the moon that producehundreds to several thousand

Times their own mass in components andsupplies.

5. LSP eliminates the need for hazardous facilities(nuclear mines, dams etc.)6. It does not produces green house gases, fuelspills, nuclides, dust, industrial waste

etc.

VII. CONCLUSIONEnormous attention is directed to discovering and

promoting "sustainable" sources of energy and seekingmore efficient means of utilizing conventionalcommercial and renewable energy. However, there areclear limits to the conventional optio ns. It makes senseonly if it is produced most of the produced electricityuse in the world.i.e, it means it doesnt make any sensefor small systems. The LSP System is a reasonablealternative to supply earth's needs for commercialenergy without the undesirable characteristics of currentoptions. The system can be built on the moon fromlunar materials and operated on the moon and on Earthusing existing technologies. More-advanced productionand operating technologies will significantly reduce up-front and production costs. The energy beamed to Earthis clean, safe, and reliable, and its source-the sun-isvirtually inexhaustible.


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IX. .R EFERENCES

1. Rai, G.D., Power Generation Techniques, DhanpatRai Publications.2. acm library http://www.acm.org.3. Google search (http:/google .com)

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Lunar Solar Power Project