Solar Power

 

 Lunar Solar Power (LSP) System: Practical Means to Power Sustainable Prosperity* Dave Criswell

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Search and Discovery Article #70070 (2009) Posted September 14, 2009 *Adapted from oral presentation at AAPG Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 7-10, 2009 1

Inst. for Space Systems Operations, University of Houston and University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX (mailto:[email protected])

Abstract

The world now consumes ~ 14 terawatts of commercial thermal power (14 TWt). The surface of our Moon independably intercepts 13,000 TWs of solar power. This Lunar Solar Power is converted on the Moon into to electric power and then to beams of ~2.5 GHz microwaves to which Earth's atmosphere is transparent. Beam Bea m receivers on Earth convert the low-intensity microwaves (≤ 20% of sunlight) to commercial electric power. A given give n receiver outputs ~200 W/m2 of load following electric power to its regional elec electric tric grid. LSP facilities are made from the local lunar materials by small manufacturing units transported from Earth to the Moon (http://www.tipmagazine.com/tip/INPHFA/vol-8/isshttp://www.tipmagazine.com/tip/INPHFA/vol-8/iss-2/p12.pdf 2/p12.pdf article and subsequent letters to the editor). The LSP System can quickly grow to provide ≥ 2 kWe/person to 10 billion people, ≥ 20 TWe, and enable GWP ≥ 800 T$/y. For scale, at 33% efficiency for oil-to-electricity ~ 1,000 million barrels of oil per day must be burned to produce the 20 TWe.

Copyright © AAPG. Serial Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly.

 

LUNAR SOLAR POWER (LSP) SYSTEM: PRACTICAL MEANS TO POWER SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY Abstract #600724

DR. DAVID R. CRISWELL [email protected] cell 281-728-6063 and 281-486-5019 ph. & fax To the

AMERICAN ASSOCATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS Session: Sessi on: Theme Theme X - Energy Energy Min Mineral eralss in the Solarr System Sola System – Resources Resources fo forr the 21st Century Denver, CO June David R9. C riswel2009 l copyright 2009  

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NEED: ADEQUATE GLOBAL POWER • EXIS EXISTI TING NG GL GLOB OBAL AL POWE POWER R SYST SYSTEM EM  –  –  –  –

1 billion “rich” people use electric electric equivalent of of ≥2 kWe/person 5 billion “poor” people people use ≤0.6 kWe/person GWP ~ 45 T$ Global power use is equivalent equivalent of 

• ~220 ~220 million million barrel barrelss of oil/da oil/day, y, or  • ~4.8 •1012 Watts-electric = 4.8 TWe  – Not renewable, polluting, depends depends on politically politically sensitive regions, regions, too expensive for most people, must move molecules

• NEE EED DED GLOB GLOBAL AL POW POWER SYS YSTE TEM M  –  –  –  –  –

Now (≥2 kWe/person • 6 billion people) ≥ 12 TWe By 2050 10 billion prosperous prosperous peop people le will need ≥ 20 TWe Power must be clean, safe, safe, affordable, dependable, dependable, & sustainable Power from photons and and electrons Can enable GWP > 800 T$ by 2050 (Match W. Europe 42 T$/TWe-Y) David R. Criswell copyright 2009

 

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SOLUTION: LUNAR SOLAR POWER SYSTEM • SUN SUN SEND SENDS S 13,0 13,000 00 T TWs Ws OF REL RELIA IABL BLE E SOLA SOLAR R PO POWE WER R TO LUNAR SURFACE • BASE BASES SO ON N MOO MOON N CON CONVE VERT RT SOLA SOLAR RP POW OWER ER TO MICROWAVE BEAMS • BEAMS BEAMS DE DELIV LIVER ER PO POWE WER R TO RECTENNAS - Saf Safee (<20% (<20% of of sunli sunlight ght)) - Reli Reliable able (through (through clouds, clouds, rain, rain, smoke, etc.)

• RECT RECTEN ENNA NAS S ON EAR EARTH - Co Conv nver ertt beam beamss to el elec ectr tric icit ity y - Deliv Deliver er electr electricit icity y to power power grid - ≥200 We/m2 or 10*renewables David R. Criswell copyright 2009  

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POWER BEAMING • SPECIALIZED FORM OF RADAR  • EARTH-TO-MOON DEMONSTRATED BY ARECIBO • MOON-TO-EARTH BEAMING IS REASONABLE EXTENSION OF EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES  – Large phased arrays arrays  – Distributed arrays (ex. VLA)

• MASSLESS POWER LINES David R. Criswell copyright 2009  

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PHASED ARRAY RADAR • SPACE GUARD  –  –  –  –

• PROJECTED BEAM

Eglin A.F.B., FL Segmented transmitter transmitter (left) Operated 24/7 since 1968 1968 Upgraded in 1999 while in full operation  – Largest of several dozen dozen  National Missile Defense Defense units  –  Meet EPA regulations

 – Near-field peak ~ 25,000 25,000 W/m2 (5% duty-cycle)  – Near-field average average ~ 130 W/m2  – Beamed to space equivalent equivalent of ~100,000 ~100,000 barrels of oil o over ver 39 years (assume 35% conversion efficiency) David R. Criswell copyright 2009  

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EARTH’S MOON & LSP POWER BASES • MOON WITH BASES  – Receives 13,000 TWs  – Bases built using known lunar materials in known environment

• 10 POWER BASE PAIRS  – Always face the E Earth arth  – Beam ~20 – 30 TWe to Earth Harvested Moon David R. Criswell copyright 2009  

DEMONSTRATION LSP BASE

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•• E TH FI FIX XPEO DSIN KFY BA AR SE ISIS CO M EDSO POWER PLOTS • POWER PLOT - BASIC UNIT  – #1 Solar arrays, buried buried wiring  – #2 Microwave transmitters transmitters  – #3 Reflectors overlap overlap to form the large power-base aperture as seen from Earth

Harvesting the Moon

• #1, 2, & 3 A AR RE MADE F FR ROM LUNAR MATERIALS BY MOBIL (#4 & #5) & FIXED (#6) PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT

David R. Criswell copyright 2009  

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF

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POWER PLOTS # OF MANFACTURING UNITS-> 1

• INSTALLATION UNITS (pink) designed so that ~90%, by mass, can be made of lunar

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# OF INSTALL ATION UNITS ->

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2

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11

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INSTALLATION UNIT

1 1 1

materials • Impo Imporrt addi dditio tional nal MANUFACTURING UNITS (red) that make new

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POWER PLOTS

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1

1

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<---DEMONSTRATION

INSTALLATION UNITS • Enab Enable less ex expon ponenti ential al growth of POWER PLOTS (yellow)

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PRODUCTION--->

1

1

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1

1

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8

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13

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59

78

83

109

143

188

247

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# POWER PLOTS-> 1

2

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ENERGY OUTPUT--> 1

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10

16

24

34

47

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David R. Criswell copyright 2009  

MASS & COST PROJECTIONS • 20 TW TWee BY 2050 & 1,000 TWe-y TWe-y BY 2070 (WEC18th)

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- 90% local manufacturing manufacturing on Moon & tele-operation tele-operation from Earth - 1•105 km2 of reflective rectennas on Earth (0.8 T$)* TOTAL MASS TO MOON (tonnes) Micro-manufacturing Hot Forming Beneficiation Habitats, shops, mobile units Chemical Refining Gather & eject to orbit Excavation Cold Asse mbly TOTAL PEOPLE (6 month tours) Moon Lunar Orbit Earth Orbit LUNAR & SPACE COST (2000$) *EN *E NGINEERIN ERING COS COST T (¢ (¢/k /kW We-h e-h)

24,361 10,313 3,212 22,085 2,469 438 80 28 62,915

• COST COST DI DIST STRI RIBU BUTI TION ON - ~75% ~75% first first 30 30 years years - ~12 years years break breakeven even

• TOT TOTAL REV REVENU ENUE E ~80 T$ @1¢ ¢/k /kW We-h • REVE REVENU NUE E NO NOT T IINC NCLU LUDE DED D

436 59 63 0.8 T$ 0. 0.11

- Clean energy energy premiu premium m - Rectenna Rectenna area area dual-use dual-use

David R. Criswell copyright 2009

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SUN->MOON->EARTH GRID •

SOLAR POWER B BA ASES O ON N MO MOON

 – Energize the Moon – > Earth electric grids  – Powers rectennas worldwide (l (load oad following) • • •

Su Susta stain inab able le net-n net-new ew ener energy gy Safe Safe (< 20% 20% o off ssun unli ligh ght) t) Reliab Reliable le (thr (throug ough h clou clouds, ds, rai rain, n, smoke, smoke,

•

etc.) th < 1/10 cost per kWe-h of alternatives

 – Exponential growth of sustainable  prosperity

•

LSP System  – Based on >1B$ of space power & lunar studies  – Profitable with 1980s technology

 

 – Enables sustainable exploration & development of our solar system

David R. Criswell copyright 2009  

RECTENNA ELECTRICITY •

DOES N O T PRODUCE GREENHOUSE

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GASSES, FUEL SPILLS, NUCLIDES, DUST, INDUSTRIAL WASTES, ETC. • ELIMINATES NE NEED FOR HAZARDOUS FACILITIES (OIL,  NUCLEAR, DAMS, MINES, ETC.) • ENABLE ENABLES S REMED REMEDIAT IATIO ION N OF ENVIR ENVIRONM ONMENT ENTAL AL DAMAGE DAMAGE,, REMOVAL OF INDUSTRIAL CO2 FROM ATMOSPHERE, RECYCLING

• •

OF GOODS & SYNTHETIC FUELS, DESALINATED & RECYCLED WATER, AND NON-POLLUTING SERVICES AND TRANSPORT ALLO ALLOWS WS DUAL DUAL USE USE OF OF LAN LAND D UNDER UNDER RECT RECTEN ENNA NA ENAB ENABLE LES S BIOS BIOSPH PHER EREE-IN INDE DEPE PEND NDEN ENT T POW POWER  ER  David R. Criswell copyright 2009

 

20th CENTURY CARBON WEALTH

 

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CENTURY • 20th WEALTH TOOLS  –   Mining & transport  –   O2 & carbon-fired electric generators  –   Power lines  –   Electric “engines”  –   Electronics

  OUR AIR’S FREE O2 & MINED FUEL-MOLECULES

•

ARE MOVED & BURNED TO MAKE ELECTRICITY David R. Criswell copyright 2009 

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GREEN CARBON TRANSITION • ENERGY ENERGY INDUST INDUSTR RY GRO GROWT WTH H TO LSP SYS SYSTEM TEM  – Power beaming

 – Redirectors (space)  – Rectennas • BENEFITS  – sequestration Immediate CO2  – Enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons  – Secure distribution of electric power   – Green Carbon Power to users

David R. Criswell copyright 2009

 

ENERGY POTENTIAL & ISSUES • LSP CAN PROVIDE PROVIDE >1 TWe WITHIN WITHIN 15 YEAR YEARS S AND EXPONENTIAL GROWTH THEREAFTER 

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• NO TEC TECHN HNIC ICAL AL BAR BARRI RIER ERS S

 – Key operational technologies technologies are are understood (PVs, radar) radar)  – Key industrial steps steps can be demonstrated demonstrated on Earth and then on Moon  – Small-scale manufacturing manufacturing can can grow using lunar resou resources rces

• POLI PO LIC CY & Cleg OS OST T IS ISS Sustrial UE UES S system to enable - Permanent Permanent legal al & ind industri al system enable lunar lunar developme development nt - Joint U.S.-indus U.S.-industry try LSP demo to enable enable prudent prudent privat privatee invest investment ment - Micr Microw owav avee spec spectr trum um rree-al allo loca cati tion onss

• S-US>T1Abi biIlN lioA nB ye yeIaLrsITY - Can use use Lunar Lunar Sola Solarr Pow Power er to prote protect ct & nu nurtu rture re Earth Earth’s ’s biosp biospher heree - Can enable enable huma humans ns to sett settle le perm permane anentl ntly y bey beyond ond Earth Earth David R. Criswell copyright 2009

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OUR SUN, EARTH, & LUNAR POWER • OUR SUN

 – 26 trillion times our present commercial power   – Paid for, no operating costs

• OUR POWER SYSTEMS  – Move molecules globally  – of biosphere  – Push Limitlimits economic grow growth th •

LUNAR SOLAR POWER SYSTEM  – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Moon directly accesses 13,000 TWs of our sun’ sun’ss power  LSP System System uses available & proven prov en technologies Outputs pure electricity at Earth with least infrastructure Enables clean & sustainable exponential economic growth g rowth David R. Criswell copyright 2009

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RECENT LSP REFERENCES •  Innovative Energy Solutions for CO2 Stabilization (2002) (R. Watts Watts - editor) editor) Cambr Cambridge idge Un. Press Press (Chap. (Chap. 9) http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0

521807255 • The Industrial Physicist (2002) p. 12-15, April (& letters: June, August, October) http://www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-8/iss-2/p12.pdf  • 17th (1998) & 18th (2001) World Energy Congresses (request papers from Criswell) • Ency Encycl clop oped edia ia of Ener Energy gy (2 (200 004) 4) http://www1.elsevier.com/homepage/sai/encycofenergy/

David R. Criswell copyright 2009

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