Work

Production of Synthetic Methane for Aerospace Applications: A Mars Case

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: With the aim to establish a pioneering colony on Mars, the need for refueling the vector to go back to Earth needs to be fulfilled with locally available resources. Based on the advantages of methane as fuel for aerospace applications, the feasibility of a Sabatier reactor providing this fuel on Mars by exploiting the CO 2 naturally present in its atmosphere has been evaluated. Alternative options have been considered to provide H 2 by using the proven water reserves on the Red planet, through either electrolysis or an electro-thermochemical cycle. Different powering units based on available nuclear reactors have been compared. After preliminary sizing of the plant based on a revised kinetic model for a Ni/Alumina catalyst, different cases have been considered for heating, heat removal, and powering the system. They were characterized by higher energy integration and thus efficiency, or lower efficiency but more compact design and thus lower mass. The overall feasibility has been considered not from a strictly economic point of view, but assessing a reliable overall mass of the equipment to be delivered through the current Starship loading capacity.

Source: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.4c03411

Authors: Simone Romegialli, Antonio Tripodi, Alice Gramegna, Matteo Tommasi, Gianguido Ramis, Ilenia Rossetti

Institutions: University of Milan, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, University of Genoa

Language: English

Topic: Catalysts for Methane Reforming

Subfield: Catalysis

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: green

Funders: Fondazione Cariplo, NextGenerationEU