Energy Storage and Pulsed Power with A Lunar Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) System
Abstract
This thesis investigated utilizing a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) system to support power generation, sustainment, and utilization on the Moon, primarily to support NASA's Artemis Program and development of the Artemis Base Camp, and for other lunar pulsed-power requirements such as directed energy, radar, and lunar manufacturing applications. Power is the most vital resource to maintain a sustainable lunar base, and NASA's projected plan for power generation uses a fission power plant and multiple vertical photovoltaic arrays, with batteries and regenerative fuels for energy storage. However, there is a significant gap in technological readiness with a long-life grid-scale secondary energy storage on the MW scale to support industrial scale in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) production facilities. An in-depth system study was conducted on alternate energy storage systems to include batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and flywheels and compared to the SMES system to assess their feasibility for addressing the technological shortfalls in terms of lunar power requirements. When compared to the other energy storage systems, the SMES system was found to be the most beneficial for lunar power because of its high-power density, fast discharge time, high efficiency, and low capital cost per unit power.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1213225
Entities
People
- Kristin R. Enzenauer
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School