Modeling The Thermal Extraction Of Water Ice From Regolith

Abstract

Modeling has been developed to support the development of volatile extraction technologies for the Moon, Mars, asteroids, or other bodies. This type of modeling capability is important to avoid the high cost of multiple test campaigns in simulated lunar conditions as the hardware design is iterated. The modeling uses the Crank-Nicholson algorithm applied in a two dimensional (2D) axisymmetric (extendable to 3D) finite difference formalism. It uses soil thermal parameters developed from Apollo soil measurements with adaptations for asteroid regolith. Simulations show that it successfully replicates thermal measurements on the surfaces of asteroids and the Moon and helps interpret those measurements to provide insight into the subsurface properties of those bodies. The 2D simulations have provided insight into the cooling of a lunar drill bit and provide a method to determine the original subsurface temperature despite the presence of the warm bit.

Publication Date

1-1-2018

Publication Title

Earth and Space 2018: Engineering for Extreme Environments - Proceedings of the 16th Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments

Number of Pages

481-489

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784481899.046

Socpus ID

85091256851 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85091256851

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