re-using fuel and wind turbines in mars
Have you ever wanted a rocket pack to soar amongst the sky? Now you can … on Mars… Gravity is less, atmospheric density is less, and the vistas are breathtaking. So come to Mars...
Buck Rogers aside, Mars is an interesting environment for out-of-this-world mobility options for an explorer. This challenge asks for the definition of a conceptual mobility solution to allow an astronaut to easily and rapidly explore Mars including overcoming obstacles such as cliffs, ravines and other difficult terrain. The solution should be person-portable and any means or source of propulsion be locally produced.
This challenge can be answered by:
- producing an app to simulate your adventures in building your jet pack and flying around Mars;
- produce an app that provides the local gravity, atmospheric conditions (density, weather, anything-else-of-interest) to help decide what is needed for your jet pack design;
- perform a feasibility/conceptual study of an actual jet pack design that could use potential Mars fuel sources; or Design and Demonstrate a model scale jet pack using hardware.
Our team that consists of two members have researched the most important issues that jet packs faces today. we have found a solution to the maximum flight time issue giving astronauts more time to fly in mars. pointing out that the maximum flight time for the jet pack H202 and H202-Z are 23 and 33 seconds. where the maximum time flight for the jet pack T-73 is 9 minutes. In our turn we have found a solution to increase the maximum flight time for all jet packs by reusing the fuel in the cylinders. when the fuel comes out as gas from the bottom we will have a pipe from the bottom of cylinders to the top of cylinders in order to transfer the gas back again to the top. Once the gas reaches the top there will be a condenser to condense the gas and convert it to liquid, then the process will be repeated over and over.
we are aware that we will be running out of gas eventually but our idea would give the astronaut more time to fly in space and once the astronaut is done from the mission, more fuel could be filled in the cylinders.
In a bigger scale and to be more accurate about this matter, we can experiment it by applying it on earth and see how much extra time does it give. experimenting is very important to give more accurate results.
we have not only researched that but we have also researched another source of power that the astronaut might need. we will have two small wind turbines on each cylinder developed and designed with specific properties that suit dust/sand and wind all together. Which means if heavy dust particles hits on the turbines the turbines will rotate, otherwise that will not affect the turbines negatively as long as we will benefit from the high speeds of wind in mars to rotate the turbines, once the turbines are rotated, there will be a generator or a motor connected to the blades. after that, electricity is generated.
now the question is, how would the electricity be useful and beneficial to us?
we can actually use the electricity generated in order to condense the gas into liquid by a fan that is used to cool the gas.
Not forgetting to mention how the speed of wind can affect the turbines badly if the speed exceeded 25 m/s in earth as the turbines might break, but since the pressure at 25 m/s in mars will decrease, we had to find the velocity that the turbines should automatically be turned off at.
According to the calculations below:
pressure = 0.5 ( density of air in mars or earth ) ( velocity)^2
calculating the difference in pressure in earth and mars for the same velocity.
In earth:
p= 0.5 * d * v^2
p= 0.5 * 1.225 kg/m^3 * (25)^2 = 382.8 pascal
In mars:
p= 0.5*0.020 kg/m^3*(25)^2 = 6.25 pascal
we come to the conclusion that pressure is less in mars than in earth.
in order to get velocity needed in mars to turn off the turbines automatically we made the following calculations:
382.8 pa = 0.5*0.020 kg/m^3 * v^2
v^2 = 38280
v = 195.65 m/s
so the velocity that we need to turn off the turbines at in mars is 195.65 m/s.
Now we come to the materials that we will be using for the turbines, we came to a decision that it would be more efficient to use nanotechnology in order to make the material used for the turbines lighter and much stronger.
