High-Level Project Summary
The challenge we are facing is to create a proven, affordable and simple solution to power Venus missions. We developed a project using GaAS Solar Panels to provide power to the Vanadium Redox batteries which store energy. These will be used to power the rover. To deliver the thrust we have a solar thermal photocatalytic engine that reacts CO2 and Sunlight to provide fuel. This is a proven (by NASA, JAXA and Universities as well as researchers) solution that is feasible and cost-effective costing less than 700 million. It can power a Zephyr Rover for more than 60 days and can power other rovers as well. An alternative source is to use a bolt with electric and electromagnets to provide energy
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
BASED ON ZEPHYR ROVER (Quantity can be altered for other rovers)
98.6 W for 50 days of operation
The rate at which the stored energy can be used is 72 KJ, and 25KWH of storage capacity
Self Discharge Rate is 85%
Launch Mass- 1581 kg
Payload Mass- 23 kg
Operation Temperature Range- 500 C+ - 1550 C
A protective Enclosure of Kevlar for wires is needed
Electrodes would be used
We will be using Venus InSitu and Exsitu Resources (CO2 and Electrodes- future stages)
Our system can be recharged through solar panels
Fuel made from reaction between sunlight and CO2 (Based on NASA research)
Solar Panels used- GaAs solar cells and batteries- Vanadium Redox batteries.
A backup (if even the alternate source fails) is the stored electricity in the battery which can power for around 40 days.
GaAs Solar Cells
Strong plasticity Works normally even at 550°C Energy Efficient Coated with protective silica material (Invented by Stanford).
Vanadium Redox Batteries
Non-flammable Non-corrosive 25 kWh of storage capacity Store solar energy from panels fitted on them
Solar Thermal Photocatalytic Engine
Sunlight and CO2 react forming a breakdown reaction and creating chemical fuel. It's cost-effective, using situ resources from Venus (CO2), uses renewable resources (sunlight) Wires made of silicon, optical fibers (for transmission and resistance), and insulated using Kevlar improved through iRJS (Immersion Rotary Jet-Spinning).
CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
Protection of Solar Panels
Heat and Burning may pose threats to the panels. That's why a thin, silica cover researched by Stanford University (not given a name yet), will be used as protection due to heat, particulate, and dust resistance.
Accumulation of Dust
Dust hampers the efficiency of solar panels. For this, a sensor that finds out the amount of dust will be in place. We capitalize on Venus's atmosphere which will burn the dust and wolverine cloth can be used as a layer of extra protection due to its regenerating capabilities.
Alternate Energy Source
A bolt is attached to the solar-powered battery. This bolt has barbs and when it digs through the surface, the barbs collect electrodes and conduct. In the gear motor, a magnet is present which uses centrifugation to attract electrons. This creates electricity which is connected to a wire which powers the battery as well. All this is made of iron found in Venus's Soil and Silicon.
Technologies used are tinkercad and Canva to make the demos and projects. The technologies such as photocatalysis, electromagnetism, polarisation, Zephyr Rover etc. are used in the project to name a few.
Space Agency Data
Zephyr Rover data (Based on NASA)
Insitu and Exsitu resources on Venus (JAXA, ESA, and NASA)
Photocatalytic Reactions of CO2 and Sunlight to make fuel (NASA)
Numbers regarding energy efficiency, rate, and capacity (NASA, ESA, ISRO)
Wolverine cloth (ISRO)
To list a few...
All numbers and facts are verified by research and space agency data.
Hackathon Journey
This was a great experience that taught many skills. Would like to thank the organizers, teammates etc. This challenge was chosen due to all of us being passionate about the same problem.
References
Zephyr Rover data (Based on NASA)
Insitu and Exsitu resources on Venus (JAXA, ESA, and NASA)
Photocatalytic Reactions of CO2 and Sunlight to make fuel (NASA)
Numbers regarding energy efficiency, rate, and capacity (NASA, ESA, ISRO)
Wolverine cloth (ISRO)
Venus Atmospheric composition (Harvard)
Images (Shutterstock)
Silica Material (Stanford)
And many more (unfortunately do not have the time to type them all- 9 mins left to submit).
Tags
#Venus #Energy #FoxInteria #SixtyDays