Abstract

The separation of lunar regolith by mineral composition and size category is useful forin-situ resource utilization (ISRU). The research presented herein discusses the designing and development of equipment that has the potential to separate lunar regolith into aluminum, iron-titanium, and magnesium-iron ores. Along with the metal ore separation, this equipment shows the potential to separate regolith by size categories. The combined effect of these separation methods generates output that is valuable to subsequent use in metal and oxygen extraction, additive manufacturing, and regolith sintering processes. The designed equipment uses a dual-strength magnet system with N42 and N52 neodymium magnets for the mineral separation process. Its designed electrostatic sieving system sorts material by size categories with the use of a single phase, 50% duty cycle square wave, 1.8 to 2.5 kV peak voltage, and variable frequency (5 to 40 Hz) signal. Both of these separation systems are integrated into a single operating unit.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Second Department

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Third Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Fourth Department

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Publication Status

Full Access

Comments

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Grant None

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-162410723-8

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2025 American Insstitute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2025

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