Igniting Venus

https://ignitingvenus639.wixsite.com/igniting-venus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2uxYJXuR7c

General objective:

• Create, design and present a project that overcomes the thermal, environmental and energy problems of a long-term exploratory expedition.

Specific objectives:

• Create a thermal insulation system that maintains an adequate temperature in the internal system.
• Design a productive energy storage system.
• Develop the project in the most efficient way possible.
• Present the project in an ideal, creative, orderly and easily understood manner.

Goals:

• Excellence in performance, efficiency in energy management and easy fabrication and application of the system.
• The application of the project, both in space reconnaissance, and in inspection missions on the ground, on earth, being a system very resistant to environmental, climatic and thermal factors.
• The potential for application of the system by various allied space agencies in order to maximize the exploration and collection of information in an integrated manner.

     The project consists of a set of several nickel hydrogen batteries, which have a fairly wide working temperature range, from 233.15 Kelvins to 319.15 Kelvins, approximately. The NASA establishes that the temperature of Venus is oscillating between 230 and 755 Kelvins, which even drives lead to fusion point. For the aforementioned reason, nickel hydrogen batteries were selected, the mechanism will have a cooling and insulation system incorporated, which will have reinforced sheets of tungsten (Wolframio) and a layer of ¨Ultra High Temperature Ceramics¨ (UHTC), which according to the National Aeronautic and Space Agency (2008), is a ceramic material with an extremely high melting point, good resistance to the environment and thermal shock.

     In the search to reduce the negative impact on the environment and the use of slightly harmful and polluting materials, within the framework of what is possible, it has been decided not to use heavy metals or polluting mechanisms that could be replaced. The use of nickel hydrogen batteries helps us with these purposes, while maintaining efficiency. The aforementioned devices have the particularity of admitting overloads, short circuits and continuous discharges without reducing significant storage capacities, apart from the fact that their diluted electrolytes can be used in agriculture, resulting in a very low-polluting type of power cell.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

    Additionally, there will be a liquid compression refrigeration module, which mobilizes thermal power between two sources; generating two zones, one elevated and one low pressure confined in heat exchangers, while these energy exchange processes take place, the refrigerant fluid is in a state change process; condensing and evaporating. 

    The process is achieved by evaporating a coolant gas in liquid condition through an expansion device inside a hotness exchanger, called evaporator. To volatilize this requires absorbing latent heat of vaporization. When the refrigerant fluid evaporates, it changes its state to vapor.

     During the change of condition, the refrigerant, in vapor state, absorbs heat energy from the medium in contact with the evaporator, either this gaseous or fluid medium, a mechanical compressor is responsible for increasing the vapor pressure to condense it inside a condenser. Thereby, the coolant in liquid state can evaporate again through the expansion valve and repeat the refrigeration cycle by compression. (Refrigeration system, n.d.)(See the diagram below)

     On the other hand, it will have a structure with the same coating materials for the battery module (which is found in a series circuit). All of this can be coupled to a hybrid, aerial and terrestrial rover, that can be used depending on the inclemencies of the terrain of Venus, increasing the versatility of the project. 

     In order to ensure the descent of the rover, it will use a series of parachutes and an APU, "Auxiliary Power Unit", this unit is used in aeronautics, among other terrestrial industries, for which its use has already been tested.

     In this case, the APU will serve to power a module, at the time of landing on Venus and thus avoid any damage due to vibration or friction in the batteries or in the motors. To simplify the system and avoid an unnecessary waste of the energy stored in the battery pack, everything related to the lander will have a separate power storage.

     With regard to energy expenditure, the 1295 batteries that the system will have, 100% of their capacity will be used for the rover's thrusters, since the APU has its own generator, which means that unnecessary energy divisions are not generated, improving autonomy rates. Due to the high fuel consumption of the APU, a hydrogen electric motor is going to be implemented, which would be in charge of mobilizing the turbines, made of nickel coated with the same UHTC. It is important to note that if an electrolyte change is made, the power cell can be fully recharged, therefore one of the battery module covers would be removable.

     In terms of size, the module dimensions, where the batteries will be stored, and the refrigeration unit, are 1 meter long, 0,5 meters wide, and 0.5 meters high each, this proportion in the modules is due to our consternation for a sufficient refrigeration system. In addition, our model will have a spherical shaped cover made of the same materials, tungsten and UHTC, to protect the system from pressure during landing.

(In the next photo is a diagram of how our system would work(Minimum Viable Product, or MVP) )

    Each Ni-MH power cell can provide a voltage of 1.2 volts and a capacity between 0.8 and 2.9 amp-hours. Their energy density reaches up to 100 Wh/kg, and the charging cycles of these batteries range from 500 to 2,000 charges. It is claimed that nickel-hydrogen battery technology can operate at temperatures between -40 and 60 degrees centigrade over 30 years. Additionally, this battery has a charging efficiency that ranges between 80% and 90%.

     The selection of materials used will be presented as a justification. Tungsten was chosen for its high melting point (3695.15 Kelvins), and its relatively low density (19.35 g/cm3), which would allow energy savings, since it would not imply excessive weight, also is thought to use UHTC as a coating, for its high resistance to radiation, oxidation, high melting point, and good thermal insulation. Tungsten, platinum, and titanium aluminum will be used for the cooling system, seeking its excellent resistance to adverse climatic conditions of the "evening star".

 The “C++” programming language was also used in the Visual Studio app to give diverse instructions to the rover of what it should do in different, once it's already on Venus. 

Copyright-Igniting Venus2022

     Our project provides a base to serve as a point of origin for various exploratory, research, and scientific projects to advance as humanity towards our future outside of planet earth.

    Also in our point of view having a base on Venus, which provides resources scarce on earth, in large quantities, would allow us to increase supply and industrial production, so that all this begins and global progress is accelerated, it is necessary to create these types of projects that lay the foundations for future expeditions.

     Looking to the future, we hope that this project will facilitate continuous and safe access to energy in other points of space, in order to contribute to the work of the different organizations and institutions that seek human progress through space research.

     During the development of this project, various platforms have been used to better capture our idea. We use the ¨Wix platform to create a web page, which facilitates access and understanding of the project to people outside of it (here is the link for our website: Home | Igniting Venus (ignitingvenus639.wixsite.com) ), with the aim of illustrating, ¨Canva was used, providing the project with artistic elements designed by ourselves, additionally, we use the ¨ThinkerCad software to conceptualize the project in 3D. In order to provide a greater body to this idea we used another platform ¨Blender which became quite a challenge, due to not having used it previously; however, it also became a possibility for learning and personal development.

This project started with our first data source, a video that was provided in the explanation of the challenge, with that and the written instructions, we started with the challenge. We contrast information from various agencies, mainly NASA, about Venus, since this planet has characteristics that are quite important to take into account, such as its temperature, which makes it impossible to use any material without an extreme melting point, the dense and corrosive atmosphere, atmospheric pressure, etc., so we had to think about using UHTC, a material that is highly resistant to high temperatures and corrosion. With data from NASA, we were able to create a prototype with greater viability, considering the size of the modules that make up the system and the mechanisms to which this system could be applied.

     It is also important to take advantage of the data to be able to take into account the possible reactivity that the different types of batteries could have and how to design the module in such a way that the pressure does not drastically affect it, the conditions of this planet could easily damage almost any system that has an inadequate design, shape or use of materials. In the contrast process carried out with one of the tutors, it was concluded that a spherical shape, without empty spaces, with reinforcements and highly resistant materials, would be the only combination of elements that could cope with the adversities of this body

This project was carried out by a partnership ¨squad¨ of secondary school students, with the desire to test their abilities and expose themselves to new uplifting experiences, which presented opportunities for personal growth and the acquisition of new skills. The partnership consists of two 15-year-old tutees, one of them still in middle school, while the other is in the 10th grade. In the team there are also two high school students who are in eleventh grade with 17 years.The team has three participants with a previous foray into this project, last year, during the 2021 hackathon, they formed the team "The Green Spacecraft" an initiative to take crops to space through an incubator, although the project was quite an amateur in many ways, provided an excellent opportunity for these students to develop soft skills such as time management, focus, planning, and problem solving. Due to the positive reception of the project the previous year, on this occasion the group grew and decided to participate again. In this project we seek to enable and facilitate functional and prolonged land exploration, trying to solve the energy problems that currently affect related projects. Not having much experience in making long reports, using programs, engineering, programming or design, this challenge involved a deep investigation of the necessary platforms for the elaboration of the project, its composition and refinement, after investigating everything necessary we started a novice adventure to develop this project. Finally, we want to thank the organizers of the Nasa Space Apps Challenge for holding this competition that has allowed us to cultivate ourselves and improve comprehensively, our teachers and people of influence who have guided us towards science, and especially to teacher Dixie Araya for spreading through her vocation the love for science, teacher Mariela Ramírez for instructing our beginnings in science, Shawn Tull for the explanation in the use of Blender and Josue Morera for the support during the challenge and explanations in design and use of materials. Also special thanks to Leo Camacho, for organizing this Hackathon, and for making a final revision, to the project and some recomendations.

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