High-Level Project Summary
Our team proposes a two phase (power from atmospheric pressure and power from thermal difference) system which can generate power using conditions already present in the journey to explore Venus. We focus on providing a simple solution using fundamental principles and utilizing materials which have already shown promises of holding up in the hellish Venusian atmosphere.
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
Our system, attached to either sides of a rover or lander, is capable of generating power in two ways. The first module taps into the extreme Venusian surface pressure and generates energy by driving a turbine in between two tanks having different pressures. A wind turbine attached externally is used to reset power cycles. The second module uses the coldness of space encountered during the journey into Venus to cool a surface. Another surface is heated by high surface Venus temperatures. This thermal differential can be used as a one time power source.
Since energy is utilized via pressure, it eliminates need for batteries and delivers power on demand. Dual power sources assure longevity of the mission and constant power delivery.
We have also provided suggestions to make the whole apparatus "Venus Proof".
Space Agency Data
We wanted to make this project as feasible as possible, hence, we referred a lot of existing NASA technologies and testing:
1) https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/vexag2017/pdf/8037.pdf
2) https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20130010972/downloads/20130010972.pdf
3) https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/355873
Hackathon Journey
We started off uncertain and lost, then gathered ourselves and worked united to come up with solutions. We had our moments of ecstasy, utter despair, frustration and laughter. We learnt that knowledge acquisition is an ongoing precess and that one never stops learning. It also made us gain an insight into ourselves, our strengths and weakness and also showed that curiosity is the fuel for ingenuity. All this made us fall a little more in love with space.
References
Calculations we done with help of our high school textbook and a multiple of other sources were referred for unsettling critical concepts:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_generator
2) https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?keph1=0-8
Tags
#venus, #mechanics, #pressure, #thermal, #rover, #surfaceexploration, #VERITAS, #DAVINCI