High-Level Project Summary
ETHERIES or External Thermoelectric RadioIsotope Energy System utilizes Li2S batteries encased in titanium alloy and recharged by the heat difference between Plutonium Dioxide ceramic solid fuel and the outside temperature due to it being exposed to the environment. It utilizes a cooling system made of titanium casing and isolated, pressurized Sulfur as a coolant. Additionally, it utilizes a thermoelectric generator which mainly recharges the batteries. The thermoelectric generator utilizes the Seebeck effect from the n and p-type semiconductors made from Silicon-Germanium alloy which can sustain up to 1300 K. With this, it can sustain more than 60 days and stand Venus's harsh environment.
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
ETHERIES or External Thermoelectric RadioIsotope Energy System is fully enclosed by a titanium alloy that can withstand both high pressure and high temperature without reacting to the molecules present in Venus's atmosphere. Its main storage system is two Li2S batteries which are recharged by the thermoelectric generator that utilizes the heat difference between Plutonium Dioxide ceramic solid fuel and the outside temperature due to it being exposed to the environment. The thermoelectric generator utilizes the Seebeck effect from the n and p-type semiconductors made from Silicon-Germanium alloy which can sustain up to 1300 K. The difference in temperature is brought upon by the cooling system made of conductive titanium alloy casing and isolated, pressurized Sulfur as a coolant. The thermoelectric generator can produce up to 1400 W as compared to the 100 W required for driving a rover as taken from the data of Mars' rovers such as Curiosity and Perseverance. With the batteries capable of withstanding the pressure and the temperature as well as a recharge system powered by Plutonium Dioxide, the rover that utilizes this energy system can sustain more than 60 days and stand Venus' harsh environment leading to reliable data gathering and proper images of Venus's surface that may provide answers to Earth's mysteries,
Space Agency Data
Thermoelectric generator and plutonium dioxide ceramic as fuel: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/electrical-power/
LiS batteries: https://techport.nasa.gov/view/92914
Hackathon Journey
We learned a lot about Venus and space exploration as a whole throughout the process of working on this project. We started by reading the given resources to us and researching on possible solutions and utilized those information to come up with the final solutions which is ETHERIES!
References
[1] Chao Shen et al. 2019 J. Electrochem. Soc. 166 A5287
[2] World Nuclear Association. 2021. Plutonium. Retrieved on October, 2 from https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/fuel-recycling/plutonium.aspx
[3] Lower S. 2022. Changes of state. LibreTexts Chemistry. Retrieved on October, 2 from https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Book%3A_Chem1_(Lower)/07%3A_Solids_and_Liquids/7.05%3A_Changes_of_State
[4] Leyens C., Peters M. (2003). Titanium and Titanium Alloys: Fundamentals and Applications. Wiley-VCH
[5] Enescu D. (2018). Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting: Basic Principles and Applications. IntechOpen\
[6] NASA. n.d. Rover Energy. NASA. Retrieved on October, 2 from https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/rover/energy/
Tags
#VenusExploration #EnergySystem #ThermoElectric