Power Generation and Distribution Blog Blog

Power Generation and Distribution Blog

The Power Generation and Distribution Blog is the place for conversation and discussion about electrical power generation, designing and installing power systems, high voltage power lines, power distribution, design & installation services, and anything else related to the power generation industry. Here, you'll find everything from application ideas, to news and industry trends, to hot topics and cutting edge innovations.

Previous in Blog: France’s Foray into Fusion   Next in Blog: Monetize Your Distribution System
Close
Close
Close
11 comments
Rating: Comments: Nested

Generating Moon Power

Posted November 08, 2006 11:29 AM
Pathfinder Tags: helium-3 lunar power

Finding long-term fuel sources for large scale power generators can be problematic. In the near future, helium-3 could be a perfect fuel source, if we can transport enough from the moon to the earth. Space.com speculates that there is enough helium-3 on the moon to power Earth for thousands of years.

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Anonymous Poster
#1

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/09/2006 4:59 AM

What about a pipe line that is connected with exact to north or south pole?

kING CONSULTANT

Reply
Guru
Engineering Fields - Aerospace Engineering - Retired South Africa - Member - The Rainbow-nation Engineering Fields - Engineering Physics - Relativity & Cosmology Popular Science - Cosmology - The Big Picture!

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 3804
Good Answers: 69
#2
In reply to #1

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/09/2006 6:17 AM

I think a 380 thousand Km pipeline in space is asking a bit much! I would rather go for a "space train" that orbits Earth very elliptically and in the process swings around the Moon. Containers full of He-3 can somehow be 'scooped' up by the space train. Near Earth they can be ejected so that they re-enter the atmosphere like a returning Apollo spacecraft did.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge." -- Kahlil Gibran
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#3
In reply to #2

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/09/2006 6:41 AM

I think pipe line is one time afaire and just need a pumping station at pole.

where as orbital trains is not going to transit sufficient qty. if they in few in numbers.

so we need then in 1000s, thats costly afair.

Another option is make a pipe line form here to there pump air to moon put a manyold station. shift the 6 bln ppl there. connect manyfold with everyones nose and and use the he-3 with ease.

Reply
Guru
Engineering Fields - Aerospace Engineering - Retired South Africa - Member - The Rainbow-nation Engineering Fields - Engineering Physics - Relativity & Cosmology Popular Science - Cosmology - The Big Picture!

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 3804
Good Answers: 69
#5
In reply to #3

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/09/2006 7:37 AM

Quote: "... where as orbital trains is not going to transit sufficient qty."

Remember that we are talking nuclear power here, so the mass of He-3, separated from the dirt on the Moon, needed to generate power for the Earth's needs is not that great. This works in favor of the cheaper, capital-wise, orbital train concept.

BTW, have you though about how to attach the pipeline to our Moon, that orbits Earth every 29 days in a slightly elliptical orbit?

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge." -- Kahlil Gibran
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#7
In reply to #5

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/09/2006 10:08 AM

I guess if we attached both eneds on the poles of here and pole of there.

it should work.

Reply
Guru
Engineering Fields - Aerospace Engineering - Retired South Africa - Member - The Rainbow-nation Engineering Fields - Engineering Physics - Relativity & Cosmology Popular Science - Cosmology - The Big Picture!

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 3804
Good Answers: 69
#8
In reply to #7

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/10/2006 11:47 AM

Guest wrote: "I guess if we attached both ends on the poles of here and pole of there."

How do you foresee coping with the change in the length in your "pipe line"? There is a difference of more than 30 thousand Km between the radius of the perigee and apogee of the Moon's orbit.

If you can live with that, have you calculated the cost of a 390 thousand Km long pipeline?

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge." -- Kahlil Gibran
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#9
In reply to #8

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/11/2006 4:46 AM

Jorrie

you reply so quikly.

how many stenos are sitting there in your office.

Reply
Associate
United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New England
Posts: 26
#10
In reply to #5

Re: Generating Moon Power

01/15/2007 11:35 PM

How difficult is it to separate He-3 from the moons dirt? And if so couldn't the "orbital train" use some of that for fuel transporting between earth and the moon. But then what about the high temperatures of the craft as it enters the earths atmosphere? Seems kinda risky, but i dont know how stable He-3 is.

Thanks, I know its an old discussion.

__________________
Strong Mind in a Strong Body
Reply
Guru
Engineering Fields - Aerospace Engineering - Retired South Africa - Member - The Rainbow-nation Engineering Fields - Engineering Physics - Relativity & Cosmology Popular Science - Cosmology - The Big Picture!

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 3804
Good Answers: 69
#11
In reply to #10

Re: Generating Moon Power

01/16/2007 2:23 AM

Hi InAllReflections,

I have nor idea how to separate He-3 from the dirt, but the original idea is that it should be separated on the moon. My penny's worth is that one should launch cannisters full of He-3 from the moon (suborbital to save fuel) and then 'snare' them with the much heavier 'orbital moon-train'. I don't think one would be able to use He-3 as a rocket fuel though!

Lastly, remember it is only the cannisters that re-enters into Earth's atmosphere. It's very easy to keep temperatures under control with evaporating heat shields or insulating tiles.

Regards, Jorrie

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge." -- Kahlil Gibran
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#4

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/09/2006 7:23 AM

Does this mean that anyone who bought land on the moon can cash out?

http://www.moonestates.com/

Reply
Friend of CR4

Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1776
Good Answers: 35
#6
In reply to #4

Re: Generating Moon Power

11/09/2006 8:51 AM

Well, I was going to sell you this bridge over here, but if you'd rather I sell you a chunk of the Moon, who am I to say no....

__________________
Off to take on other challenges. Good luck everybody! See you around the Interwebs.
Reply
Reply to Blog Entry 11 comments
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Poster (5); Chris Leonard (1); InAllReflections (1); Jorrie (4)

Previous in Blog: France’s Foray into Fusion   Next in Blog: Monetize Your Distribution System
You might be interested in: Fuel Cells, Fuel Testers, Fuel Dispensing Equipment

Advertisement