11. Parameters calculation of the lunar regolith transport system

Authors:

Semenenko Ye. V.¹, Biliaiev M. M.², Semenenko P. V.³

Organization:

National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, M.S. Poliakov Institute of geotechnical mechanics¹; Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies²; Yangel Yuzhnoye State Design Office, Dnipro, Ukraine³

Page: Kosm. teh. Raket. vooruž. 2024, (1); 93-101

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33136/stma2024.01.093

Language: Ukrainian

Annotation: The objective of this article is to develop a scientifically proven method of calculation of the auger conveyor parameters, such as the conveyor capacity and the corresponding power of the electrical motor, for different densities and porosities of conveyed materials, the geometrical parameters of the auger, and the specificity of the gravitational fields at the place of transportation. Another objective is to investigate potential limitations of the auger parameters when transporting lunar regolith. To reach these objectives, the known relations for calculating the auger conveyor parameters were applied, as well as the fundamental laws of the granular media mechanics, the principal equations of asynchronous motor electrodynamics, and the behavior of granular media when moving it with the auger conveyor, experimentally studied by the domestic authors. It gave the possibility, for the first time for the lunar environment, to suggest a procedure to calculate the auger conveyor parameters, such as the conveyor capacity and the corresponding power of the electric motor, using known geometrical parameters of the mainline and pipeline, the auger conveyor filling ratio and the parameters of the selected electrical motor. It gave the possibilities to study how the filling ratio of the auger conveyor influences its principal performance parameters and determine potential limitations of the geometrical parameters and the filling ratios of auger conveyors according to the parameters and features of the selected electrical motor. The allowable transportation distances, diameters, other geometrical parameters of auger conveyors, and conveyor filling ratios with the selected electrical motor have been determined. It has been proven that the solutions based on using auger conveyors would be most rational for transporting loose lunar regolith over the Moon’s surface because the auger conveyors are compact and adaptable, and they can be placed inside tubes and laid under the day surface, thereby ensuring the continuous transportation process. Furthermore, they are capable of autonomous operation and can use the electricity produced by solar arrays.

Key words: Moon, regolith, auger, electric motor, capacity, power

Bibliography:

1. Pustovgarov A. A., Osinoviy G. G. Kontseptsiya shlyuzovogo modulya misyachnoi bazy. ХХV Mizhnarodna molodizhna naukovo-praktychna conf. «Lyudyna i cosmos». Zbirnyk tez, NTsAOM, Dnipro, 2023. S. 86 – 87.
2. Semenenko P. V. Sposoby transortirovki poleznykh iskopaemykh ot mesta ikh dobychi k mestu pererabotki v lunnykh usloviyukh. P. V. Semenenko, D. G. Groshelev, G. G. Osinoviy, Ye. V. Semenenko, N. V. Osadchaya. XVII conf. molodykh vchenykh «Geotechnichni problemy rozrobky rodovysch». m. Dnipro, 24 zhovtnya 2019 r. S. 7.
3. Berdnik A. I. Mnogorazoviy lunniy lander. A. I. Berdnyk, M. D. Kalyapin, Yu. A. Lysenko, T. K. Bugaenko. Raketno-kosmichny complexy. 2019. T. 25. №5:3-10. ISSN 1561-8889. https://doi.org/10.15407/knit2019.05.003
4. Semenenko Ye. V., Osadchaya N. V. Traditsionnye i netraditsionnye vydy energii, a takzhe kosmicheskie poleznye iskopaemye v okolozemnom prostranstve. Nauch.-parakt. conf. «Sovremennye raschetno-experimentalnye metody opredeleniya characteristic raketno-kosmicheskoy techniki». m. Dnipro, 10 – 12 grudnya 2019 r. S. 62 – 63.
5. Komatsu pobudue excavator dlya roboty na Misyatsi https://www.autocentre.ua/ua/ news/concept/komatsu-postroit-ekskavator-dlya-raboty-na-lune-1380272.html.
6. Help NASA Design a Robot to Dig on the Moon https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/ stmd/help-nasa-design-a-robot-to-dig-on-the-moon/
7. Robert E. Grimm. Geophysical constaints on the lunar Procellarum KREEP Terrane. Vol. 118, Issue 4. April 2013. P. 768-778. https://agupubs-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.translate. goog/doi/10.1029/2012JE004114?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=ru&_x_tr_hl=ru&_x_tr_pto=sc
https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JE004114
8. Chen Li. A novel strategy to extract lunar mare KREEP-rich metal resources using a silicon collector. Kuixian Wei, Yang Li, Wenhui Ma, Yun Lei, Han Yu, Jianzhong Liu. Journal of Rare Earths Vol. 41, Issue 9, September 2023, P. 1429-1436. https://www-sciencedirect-com.translate.goog/science/article/ abs/pii/S1002072122001910?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=ru&_x_tr_hl=ru&_x_tr_pto=sc https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jre.2022.07.002
9. Moon Village Association https://moon-villageassociation.org/about/
10. GLOBAL MOON VILLAGE. https://space-architect.org/portfolio-item/ global-moon-village//
11. Just G. H. Parametric review of existing regolith excavation techniques for lunar In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and recommendations for future excavation experiments. G. H. Just, Smith K., Joy K. H., Roy M. J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2019.104746
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003206331930162X
12. Anthony J. Analysis of Lunar Regolith Thermal Energy Storage. Anthony J. Colozza Sverdrup Technology, Inc. Lewis Research Center Group Brook Park, Ohio NASA Contractor Report 189073. November 1991. S-9 https://denning.atmos.colostate.edu/readings/ lunar.regolith.heat.transfer.pdf
13. Obgruntuvannya vykorystannya shneka dlya utilizatsii vidkhodiv vuglezbagachennya z mozhlyvistyu pidvyschennya bezpeki energetychnoi systemy pidpriemstv. SLobodyannikova I. L., Podolyak K. K., Tepla T. D. Materialy XХІ Mizhnarod. conf. molodykh vchennykh (26 zhovt. 2023 roku, m. Dnipro). Dnipro: IGTM im. M.S. Polyakova NAN Ukrainy, 2023. S. 50–55.
14. Kulikivskiy V. L., Paliychuk V. K., Borovskiy V. M. Doslidzhennya travmuvannya zerna gvintovym konveerom. Konstryuvannya, vyrobnitstvo ta exspluatatsiya silskogospodarskykh mashin. 2016. Vyp. 46. S. 160 – 165. https://doi.org/10.3233/EPL-46204
14. Lyubin M. V., Tokarchuk O. A., Yaropud V. M. Osoblyvosti roboty krutopokhylennykh gvyntovykh transporterov pri peremischenni zernovoi produktsii. Tekhnika, energetika, transport APK. 216. № 3(95). S. 235 – 240.
15. Gevko R. B., Vitroviy A. O., Pik A. I. Pidvyschennya tekhnichnogo rivnya gnuchkykh gvyntovykh konveeriv. Ternopil: Aston, 2012. 204 s.
16. Bulgakov B. M., Adamchyuk V. V., Nadikto V. T., Trokhanyak O. M. Teoretichne obgruntuvannya parametriv gnuchkogo gvintovogo konveera dlya transportuvannya zernovykh materialiv. Visnyk agrarnoi nauki. 2023. № 4(841). S. 59 – 66.
17. New Views of the moon. Reviews in mineralogy and geochemistry. Eds. Joliff B.L., Wieczorek M.A., Shearer C.K., Neal C.R. Mineralogical Society of America. Reviews in mineralogy and geochemistry. 2006. Vol. 60. 721 p. DOI: 10.2138/rmg.2006.60.
18. Semenenko Ye. V. Nauchnye osnovy technologiy hydromechanizatsii otkrytoy razrabotki titan-cyrkonovykh rossypey. Yevgeniy Vladimirovich Semenenko. Kiev: Nauk. dumka, 2011. 232 s.