Lunar Water Pilot Plant Conceptual Design

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Lunar Water Pilot Plant Conceptual Design

Diane L. Linne / Julie E. Kleinhenz / Aaron Paz

A study was conducted to determine mass, power, and concept of operations for a polar water pilot plant that can produce 1000 kg of oxygen in a year from 1125 kg of water extracted from the icy regolith in a permanently shadowed region(PSR). Icy regolith in the PSR is excavated and delivered to a stationary dryer that extracts the water which is frozen in an ice tanker and delivered up to the ridge for further processing into oxygen and hydrogen. This study assumed a previously landed nuclear reactor was available in the PSR to provide power for the water extraction, which requires 2.4 kW of power, including a 30 percent margin. At 325 kg, the ISRU system mass in the PSR, including the excavator, should be deliverable by one of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) landers, and the packaging and concept of operations are shown using one specific CLPS lander. The mass and power of the ISRU system components on the ridge for water electrolysis and liquefaction and storage of the oxygen and hydrogen are estimated at 840 kg and 4.3 kW.