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

Sapphire Energy 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. Joule Unlimited 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 twin- engine aircraft

Key Concept Create a renewable source of fuel in space to avoid the transport cost Uses :  Space Tug  Continual material transportation between LEO and Moon using STP  Provide intermediary refueling station to more distant destinations  Refuel Satellites Algae used to:  Produce H2 fuel source  Produce Liquid Hydrocarbons  Nourishing food source  Breathable air- used as scrubbers

1 st gas pump in space set for 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: gallons of liquid hydrocarbons/(m 2 of land*year) Algae Hydrogen Production:  33 grams of algae produce gallons of H 2 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 50 m 2 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.

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 Moon What’s the Rush?

Inspiration :  JPL’s SEP Space Tug Study  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

Highlighted: Location of ECLSS life support equipment 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

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

“……it’s pretty obvious that there’s nothing in the natural world to make the levels that are needed.”…… Synthetic fuel producing algae coming ?

The Future of Space Travel Looks... SLIMY