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Biological Fuel Manufacture In Space Mark Smith. Algae in Early Earth Paved the Way For Human Habitation. . MIT Persuades Algae to Make Hydrogen Fuel Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii. 3 rd Generation Algae Biofuel Companies . Sapphire Energy. Joule Unlimited.
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MIT Persuades Algae to Make Hydrogen FuelChlamydomonasReinhardtii
3rd Generation Algae Biofuel Companies Sapphire Energy Joule Unlimited • Genetically Engineered Cyanobacterium: • Genetically engineered a cyanobacterium that can convert CO2 directly to liquid hydrocarbons (diesel fuel, jet fuel, and gasoline) requiring no biomass intermediates, processing, cracking or refining. • Run a continuous circulating medium comprised of brackish water and micronutrients through the algae. • Improvement on Chlamydomanas Reinhardtii: • Successfully produced 91-octane Gasoline from algae that fully conforms to ASTM certification standards. • In 2009 participated in a test flight using algae-based fuel in a Boeing-737-800 twin-engine aircraft
My Proposal: Algae Refueling Station Key Concept Create a renewable source of fuel in space to avoid the transport cost • Algae used to: • Produce H2 fuel source • Produce Liquid Hydrocarbons • Nourishing food source • Breathable air- used as scrubbers • Uses: • Space Tug • Continual material transportation between LEO and Moon using STP • Provide intermediary refueling station to more distant destinations • Refuel Satellites
Refueling your Refueling Station in SpaceThe Cold Hard Facts: • 1st gas pump in space set for 2015. That’s GREAT! • But what happens when THEY run out of fuel? • Objectives: • Renewable source of fuel using algae • Avoids excessive costs involved in launching fuel • Algae Hydrocarbon Production: • 3785.4 gallons of liquid hydrocarbons/(m2 of land*year) • Algae Hydrogen Production: • 33 grams of algae produce 264.2 gallons of H2 • Requirements: • Sunlight… No problem! • Water… Use hydroponics to replenish water supply. • C02… • A single human exhales .9 kg of C02 per day • Algae absorbs 1.6 kg/(day*Liter of algae) • C02 from 2 people can accommodate 1 Liter of algae • We need more C02! • I propose to use decaying vegetables from the hydroponics garden to supply C02 • Bottom Line: • For a 50m2 algae tank we will be able to get 189,270 gallons of liquid hydrocarbons per year. Fuel that could be used without modification to existing engines.
Graphene Oxide: Framework For Tank Surface Packs in Hydrogen, C02 • GOFs • Strong Storage Ability • Roughly 1%weight in hydrogen • Optimum H2 storage capability • at cold temperatures (77 kelvin) • Inexpensive material • Light weight • Optimal Mechanical Properties • Tougher than a diamond • Stretches like rubber • Graphene thin as cling film is Able to support an elephant • Ideal for space application • Optimum H2 storage capacity at • Cold temperatures (77 Kelvin) Combining graphene with special metallic nanostructures could lead to better solar cells and optical communications systems
Applications: Transport From LEO to the MoonWhat’s the Rush?
Space Tug • Inspiration: • JPL’s SEP Space Tug Study- 1986 • LEO to Lunar transport • Flight time = 1 year • New set of engines required for each flight. • Payload fraction = 60% • Space Tug Concept Revamped: • STP Monopropellant & light-weight graphene tank • Algae in a separate tank continually supplying propellant • Objectives • Lower cost & More flexible transportation • 5000 kg delivered to the moon from LEO every • 100 days • SART engines • Continuous ISP=750sec. Thrust=10N
Power to the ISS • Electrolysis: • Produces most of the station's oxygen • Utilizes electricity from the ISS solar panels to split water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas • Drawback: • Requires energy input Highlighted: Location of ECLSS life support equipment
Viability Foton Satellite Orbiting Earth. Housed Algae Experiment in 2005/2007 BIOKIS: Photo-Evolution Hardware used to Test the space tolerance of Chalmydomonas Reinhardtii ISS housed BIOKIS hardware in 2011
Synthetic Genomics-Craig Venter “……it’s pretty obvious that there’s nothing in the natural world to make the levels that are needed.”…… Synthetic fuel producing algae coming ?
