Off Earth Mining Water Extraction - Mars’ Mining Model
(WEM³)
René Fradet Deputy Director for Engineering & Science Directorate
Dr Robert Shishko
Principal Systems Engineer / Economist
Acknowledgements
AN INTEGRATED ECONOMIC MODEL FOR ISRU IN SUPPORT OF A MARS COLONY - NASA Office of Emerging Space NRA NNA14ZVP001K
Modified from NASA, 2015
Mars Colony Architecture Model (MCAM)
MCAM HabNet Economic Valuation WEM³
• Physiological factors determine the required amount of water.
• Technical restrictions determine que type/number of resources required for water extraction
Curiosity Rover. NASA, 2015
Buzz Aldrin Deploys Apollo 11 Experiments. NASA, 2015
Home On the Moon: How to Build a Lunar Colony Space.com, 2013
Drilling Motors. http://www.upsideenergy.com
/drilling_motors.htm
Zacny et al., 2012
Modified from NASA, 2015
Mars Exploration Evolution
1960 1970 20201980 1990 2000 2010
Mariner 4
Mariner 9
Viking 2
Viking 1
Mars Observer
MGS
Pathfinder
MCO
Mars Odyssey
MER Spirit
MER Opportunity
MPL- Deep Space 2
MRO
Phoenix
MSL Curiosity
Mars 2020
InSight
MCO: Mars Climate Orbiter MER: Mars Exploration Rover MGS: Mars Global Surveyor MPL: Mars Polar Lander MRO: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter MSL: Mars Science Laboratory
On Earth Mining System – Open Pit
Loading(t01)
Haulage Load (t02)
Downloading(t03)
Haulage Empty(t04)
Prospective Off Earth Mining Systems
Water extraction test set-up
Mars soil simulant (JSC-1A):
12 wt % water
Zacny et al., 2012
TBM MISWE
Graphics TBM Animation Reel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQBeXART7vQ
Drilling Motors. http://www.upsideenergy.com/drilling_motors.htm
(d-t)
Drilling
Drilling Cycle time (DCT)
Ice Column Lift Loading Displacement to
Next Drilling Point
(icl-t)
(l-t)
(m-t)
DCT = (d-t) + (icl-t) +(l-t) +m-t) MISWE Performance (litre H20/h) = 𝑰𝑰𝑰 𝑪𝑪𝑪𝑪𝑪𝑪 𝑽𝑪𝑪𝑪𝑪𝑰 𝑪𝟑 ×𝑯𝟐𝟎𝑪𝑪𝑪𝑰. % ×𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎(𝑪 𝑪𝟑� )
𝑫𝑪𝑻(𝑪𝒎𝑪/𝟔𝟎)
Zacny et al., 2012
OEM Adaptation – MISWE
OEM Adaptation – MISWE
L&H Cycle Time = ∑ (𝒉𝑪 − 𝒕)𝒎+𝑪𝟏 ∑ (𝑪 − 𝒕)𝒎𝑪
𝟏 + 𝒉𝒉𝑪 − 𝒕 + 𝒉𝑰𝑪 − 𝒕 + (𝒉 − 𝒕)
Loading(l-t01)
Haulage Load to Dumping Point (hld-t)
Dumping(d-t)
Haulage Empty to the First MISWE(hem-t)
Loading(l-t02)
Loading(l-tn)
Loading(l-t(n-1))
Haulage Load (hl-t01)
Haulage Load (hl-t(n-1))
Haulage Load (hl-tn)
OEM Adaptation – TBM
L&H Cycle Time = (l-t) + (hl-t) +(he-t)+ (d-t)
Loading(l-t)
Haulage Load (hl-t)
Dumping(d-t)
Haulage Empty(he-t)
Graphics TBM Animation Reel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQBeXART7vQ
WEM³- Optimisation Process 1. Linear programing optimisation technique.
Optimisation tool “solve” provided by Excel®.
2. Technical (equipment) and geological restrictions are the main inputs. Best knowledge/understanding available till today.
3. Reaching target or maximising performance.
• Reaching Target: The number of “people feed by water” is set , thus the optimisation seeks for the best configuration (equipment number, distance between installations and drilling depth).
• Maximising Performance: Based on a number of available equipment (assumption) solve calculate the optimal configuration of the system to reach the maximum performance.
WEM³ - Assumptions
• Mine systems evaluation based on Equatorial region conditions.
• Water contained in regolith: 12%
• A model was run based on human drinkable water requirement (2,4 litres/day) for space missions.
• Water recovery: MISWE = 87%, Processing plant 83% (due to the scale).
• Transporter Speed: Four times than current rover’s speed and capable to carry 200 kg.
Daily Water Consumption Rate
Home On the Moon: How to Build a Lunar Colony http://www.space.com/21588-how-moon-base-lunar-colony-works-infographic.html
Production of Hydrogen. Production from electricity by means of electrolysis. HyWeb: Knowledge – Hydrogen in the Energy Sector. http://web.archive.org/web/20070207080325/http://www.hyweb.de/Knowledge/w-i-energiew-eng3.html#3.4) Bjørnar , Sondre and Buch, 2002. "Hydrogen—Status and Possibilities”. Development of water electrolysis in the European Union,2014.
WEM³ - Configuration
1
6
2 4 3 5
7
Restrictions
Optimisation Consistency
Optimisation Model Setting
(Input)
Data Record
Results
Representative Scheme
WEM³ - Flow
1
2
3
4
5
System 01 : MISWE + Transporter
• Emulating the traditional truck & shovel configuration.
• MISWE used for drilling and regolith recovering.
• Transporters carried the material to a processing plant.
• While required transporters and processing plant remain stable, MISWE increases significantly.
• 75% utilisation over 25 Supported People (SP).
• Transporter and processing plant has low utilisation at low production rate. Capacity review may improve it.
• More efficient over 20 SP.
System 02 : TBM + Transporter
• Emulating a continuous underground mine or tunnel developing.
• TBM are used as a continuous drilling machines.
• Transporters carried the material to a processing plant.
• Close relation between the number of transporters and TBM. Slightly increasing insofar as water production increases.
• 75% utilisation over 35 SP.
• Distance between processing plant and drilling site is key.
• Seems to be more efficient than System 01.
System 03 : MISWE (Original config.)
• Original design of MISWE.
• Drilling, processing and hauling extracted water to a downloading point.
• Significant increasing of required MISWE.
• Always run at 100% utilisation.
• The large number of MISWE operating in a short distance to stock point may lead in operational issues and delays.
• Lowest efficiency. (comparison)
• More flexible at low production rate.
• Not recommended for high production (more than 20 SP).
Analysis - Sensitivity
• In comparison to the systems that use external processing plant, MISWE (Original Design) is largely more sensitive to water volume increasing,
• Equipment number remain stable for systems 2 and 3 due to high performance and not full equipment utilisation.
Analysis – Returns to Scale
• Economic returns to scale not only works for Earth’s projects but also seems to work for OEM.
• The performance of MISWE (original design) is more efficient at very low water requirements.
• Systems that use processing plants are more efficient and stable at high production rates.
• A balance between equipment number and production rate may be found in the intersection of scale return (current graph) and marginal cost curves.
𝑬𝑬 𝑰𝑪𝒉𝑰𝑰 𝑪𝑪𝒎𝒕𝑪�
ER = 𝑻𝑪𝒕𝑻𝑪 𝑬𝑬𝑪𝒎𝑬. 𝑵𝑪𝑪𝑵𝑰𝑵 (𝑪𝑪𝒎𝒕) 𝑾𝑻𝒕𝑰𝑵 𝑷𝑵𝑪𝒉𝑪𝑰𝒕𝒎𝑪𝑪 𝑪
Marginal Cost (US$/l)
Maximise performance subject to restrictions. • Target: Provide enough water supply for a crew of four (4) people. • Optimisation: Distance between Region of Interest (ROI) and Landing Site (LS).
1. Mining systems evaluation based on Aram Chaos. 2. Water Contained in regolith (WC%): 3% to 7% (5% is the base case). 3. The model has been run based on human drinkable water requirement (3.66 litres/day)
for space missions. 4. Equipment:
• Water recovery: 87 (%) • Water storage capacity 5 (l) • Drilling rate: 1 (m/h) • Speed: 2,4 (m/min)
Assumptions:
Target:
WEM³ - Mars Landing Site Forum (Aram Chaos)
• Drilling, processing a haulage liquid water from ROI to LS.
• Each equipment works independently.
• Able to return only after the on-board tank is filled.
• A drilling depth of 2,5 meters is required for processing.
• 3 to 7 drilling cycles are required to full fill the storage tank on-board of the equipment. (Based on WC%)
WEM³ - Mars Landing Site Forum (Aram Chaos)
MISWE Original Configuration
• Water supply may not be assured by using less than 3 equipment.
• WC% have the most significant impact for distance. 3% WC reduces the distance ~1,2 km. 7% WC rise distance ~ 0,5 km.
• The low speed the MISWE increases dramatically the haulage cycle time for long distance
Results
The More Flexibility. Distance management to face WC% fluctuation
Intensive use of equipment. Heavy launching weight concerns High risk
during haulage activities.
WC%
Conclusion & Recommendations
MCAM
• MISWE system shows more flexibility for low crew number.
• MISWE may be used for the first exploration stage and TBM system construction.
• MISWE system shows theoretical viability; however, the low processing performance, low speed and very selective drilling method may increases the risk of the mission in terms of continuous water supply.
• Low utilisation of equipment in external processing plant configurations may be used as a “back-up” decreasing the risks of continuous water supply failure.
• TBM shows the highest performance at large scale. Can be also suitable for low scale if tailored.
Conclusion & Recommendations (Contd)
MCAM • Due to low equipment required, TBM systems seems to reduce launching
weight and unitary production cost of water.
• Improve technical assumption of TBM system to work in Mars is highly required.
• Assessing geological uncertainties and the applicability of the systems in Mars´ Polar regions is required.
• By including marginal cost law as “unitary launching weight” for each configuration the “optimal” configuration system/crew may be choose.
Conclusion & Recommendations
Landing Site
• 5 to 6 MISWE in a distance no longer than 2.000 m seems to provide the most suitable configuration. Reasonable time cycle not longer than 24 hours and able to deal with unpredictable low WC% by reducing distance.
• The system has the capacity to reach long distances; however, it may increase extraction risks due to the long cycle time and amount of resources required to face any eventual rescue mission if technical problems arise.
• WC% generates the most sensitiveness for the system, thus acquire geological information is highly required.
• Processing capacity and its performance are key to improve system’s efficiency.
Further Research
• A geological risk assessment that consider uncertainties about the “real” presence and distribution of water in regolith to design the mining system. (surface or underground)
• Develop a model to select the most suitable technology for particular conditions of different interest point (such as Aram Chaos) to increase water supply certainty.
• Inclusion of mechanical parameters in terms of availability, mean time between fail (MTBF), mean time to repair (MTTR) and life cycle of wear and spare parts.
• Earth and deep sea mining technology adaptation to Mars environment (design and performance).
Shuttle Simulator, NASA