Location
Toomey Hall, Room 199
Presentation Date
April 22, 2023, 12:00pm - 1:10pm
Description
This study aims to research the conversion of solar energy into electricity on the moon. The approach is to use a heliostat system designed to guide reflective light from tandem reflective mirrors into the darkest craters on the moon. This study's purpose is to explore a system that uses a Fresnel lens and Keplerian telescope optics to capture, collect, and focus sunlight on a solar cell using refracted light. The main findings are that this is a plausible concept and would reduce the loss of light energy immensely. The significant components of this concept are the use of a heliostat's computer that adapts to where the light arrays are. A Fresnel lens will both focus and expand the light arrays, and the Keplerian telescope optics will refract the light yet still maintain its focus and the use of solar cells will convert the light into electricity. The changes to the design of the system find a better way to reach the refracted light across the moon without losing a large amount of light energy. There will be adaptations to the Fresnel lens and the use of telescope optics that use refracted light rather than reflected light as the solar energy source and this research also finds the strategic placement of the system(s) for the minimum amount of energy loss. These improvements change the system from a light distributor to an electric power system.
Meeting Name
32nd Annual Spring Meeting of the NASA-Mo Space Grant Consortium
Document Type
Event
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2023 The Authors, all rights reserved.
Using Refracted Light to Put Electricity on the Moon
Toomey Hall, Room 199
This study aims to research the conversion of solar energy into electricity on the moon. The approach is to use a heliostat system designed to guide reflective light from tandem reflective mirrors into the darkest craters on the moon. This study's purpose is to explore a system that uses a Fresnel lens and Keplerian telescope optics to capture, collect, and focus sunlight on a solar cell using refracted light. The main findings are that this is a plausible concept and would reduce the loss of light energy immensely. The significant components of this concept are the use of a heliostat's computer that adapts to where the light arrays are. A Fresnel lens will both focus and expand the light arrays, and the Keplerian telescope optics will refract the light yet still maintain its focus and the use of solar cells will convert the light into electricity. The changes to the design of the system find a better way to reach the refracted light across the moon without losing a large amount of light energy. There will be adaptations to the Fresnel lens and the use of telescope optics that use refracted light rather than reflected light as the solar energy source and this research also finds the strategic placement of the system(s) for the minimum amount of energy loss. These improvements change the system from a light distributor to an electric power system.
