Top 3 inventions in next 100 years

(1)A permanent Chinese/Indian moon base powered by a closed thermal-cycle turbine* which runs between the Hot and Cold storage reservoirs. They are just tubes buried about 50 cm in the ground in two well separated areas which have a large sliding reflective cover. At sunrise, that cover is over the Hot Area and moves to cover the Cold Area until sun set about 14 Earth days later. For safety redundancy at least two turbines with independent flow loops thru these thermal storage areas should exist.

The movable cover is a light weight metal grid with thin aluminized film sheets covering each "unit cell." The low gravity will help make the cover lighter too. This sliding cover is about two meters above the surface so "MOON PERSONS" can easily repair meteor damage. Obviously it and its rolling tracks are assembled on the moon.

The manned area is either a few dozen meters below the surface for thermal stability (my preference, if affordable) OR only about two meters in the ground with a roof that also serves as a "pre-heater" for part of the turbine's exhaust during the moon day prior to its flow into the Hot Area (and as "pre-cooler" during the moon night). Fraction of total flow thru the roof is varied as needed for human comfort. Fortunately, This T, (human Temp) the HT (hot temp) and CT are related as: HT>>T>>CT so this is feasible. The "working fluid" probably is a gas to avoid becoming a solid at CT. Part of the power produced by the main turbines drives minor turbine pumps to recover the high pressure needed in the Hot Area flow.

(1)The MOON BASE is an astronomer's dream. Nearly 14 day exposures with no air distortion! If your grandchildren can afford to go, tell them not to forget their mittens and Their(2) pocket Chinese to other languges communicator, total-life recorder, 50MegPix camera, music player, 3D-into-eyes virtural-world projector.**

*It could be about twice as efficient as any turbine on Earth.
**Leave its "nude ladies doing weird things" etc. (3) DATA DOTS at home on Earth - the Chinese are still prudes.


Above modified from my footnote in post 156 of thread "Earth's Moon"

 

Log in or Sign up to hide all adverts.