Preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on mars

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is a preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars. The Martian atmosphere contains 95.3% carbon dioxide. The preparation system comprises: a nuclear energy power generation module; and a Martian atmosphere concentration and storage module, a CVD device, a carbon material collection module, and an oxygen separation and purification module which are connected in sequence. The nuclear energy power generation module provides electric energy for the system. The Martian atmosphere concentration and storage module concentrates and stores the Martian atmosphere, then adjusts its pressure and flow rate before introducing it into the CVD device, where it is heated and cracked into carbon atoms and oxygen. The carbon atoms combine to form carbon materials or grow into carbon nanotubes and graphene, which are deposited on a substrate of the carbon material collection module. The oxygen is discharged through a gas pipeline and then is separated and purified by means of the oxygen separation and purification module. The present invention utilizes local materials to address the issue of oxygen supply during human exploration and settlement on Mars, eliminating the need to transport large quantities of raw materials from Earth to participate in the preparation of oxygen.

Description

A preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical fields of carbon dioxide conversion, chemical vapor deposition, and carbon nanomaterial preparation, specifically to a preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars. Background Technology

[0002] Human observation and exploration of Mars has never ceased, and many people dream of one day migrating to Mars. However, the Martian environment is extremely harsh. The Martian atmosphere is thin, with powerful hurricanes, only trace amounts of oxygen (accounting for only 0.15% of the total Martian atmosphere), a frozen core, no magnetic field, and extremely low temperatures. This poses a severe challenge to human survival on Mars.

[0003] Oxygen is essential for human survival, but the Martian atmosphere is over 95% carbon dioxide, with only 0.15% oxygen, which is insufficient for human respiration. If humans want to establish an exploration base or even an ecosystem on Mars, oxygen is the first problem to solve. Furthermore, because transporting supplies from Earth to Mars is extremely difficult, utilizing Martian resources locally to achieve self-sufficiency is crucial. Technical issues

[0004] In an experiment conducted aboard NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, the MOXIE device successfully produced oxygen from carbon dioxide, which makes up 95% of the Martian atmosphere. They used a method of electrolyzing carbon dioxide in a solid electrolyte to produce oxygen. However, this method relies on a solid electrolyte brought from Earth, which becomes inactive once it is deactivated by carbon buildup, rendering the device unusable.

[0005] CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) is a method for producing carbon materials and oxygen from carbon dioxide. It has been studied very little on Earth because obtaining carbon materials from hydrocarbons is cheaper and more readily available, while oxygen can be obtained by directly separating air. However, this method is highly practical in an environment like Mars. Technical solutions

[0006] To overcome the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars, thus solving the oxygen supply problem for humans exploring and settling on Mars.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this invention is: a preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars. The Martian atmosphere contains 95.3% carbon dioxide. The preparation system includes a nuclear power generation module and a Martian atmosphere enrichment and storage module, a CVD device, a carbon material collection module, and an oxygen separation and purification module connected in sequence. The nuclear power generation module provides electrical energy to the system. The Martian atmosphere enrichment and storage module enriches and stores the Martian atmosphere, and after adjusting the pressure and flow rate, it is then introduced into the CVD device for heating and cracking into carbon atoms and oxygen. The carbon atoms combine to form carbon materials and are deposited on the substrate of the carbon material collection module. The oxygen is discharged through the gas pipeline and then separated and purified by the oxygen separation and purification module.

[0008] Preferably, the Mars atmosphere enrichment and storage module includes an air compressor and a gas storage tank, and the gas storage tank is connected to the gas supply module of the CVD device through a gas circuit.

[0009] Preferably, the CVD device includes a heating unit, a gas supply unit, a reaction chamber, a vacuum unit, and a control system. The Martian atmosphere, after its pressure and flow rate are adjusted by the gas supply unit, is introduced into the heating unit for heating, and carbon dioxide molecules are decomposed in the reaction chamber. The heating temperature of the heating unit is 600-1200℃.

[0010] Preferably, the pyrolysis of the CVD device can also be performed using plasma pyrolysis or molten salt electrolysis. If plasma pyrolysis is used as an auxiliary heating method, the temperature is 300-600℃.

[0011] Preferably, the CVD device incorporates nano-carbon materials as nucleating agents and catalysts, and the pyrolyzed carbon atoms grow into tubular carbon nanotubes or sheet-like graphene under the action of the catalyst.

[0012] Preferably, the carbon material collection module includes a crushing unit and a purification unit, which crushes the carbon material obtained on the substrate and then purifies it by acid washing, water washing and drying.

[0013] Preferably, the oxygen separation and purification module includes a precooling unit, an oxygen purification unit, a cooling unit, and a distillation unit. The gas from the CVD unit undergoes preliminary cooling and impurity condensation in the precooling unit; impurities are further removed in the oxygen purification unit; the cooling unit further lowers the temperature to more effectively separate oxygen from other gases; finally, the oxygen is precisely separated in the distillation unit to obtain high-purity oxygen.

[0014] Preferably, the nuclear power generation module includes a control room, a reactor pressure vessel, a nuclear reaction unit, a coolant unit, a thermal energy conversion unit, a power generation unit, and a power regulation unit. The control room is the central hub of the nuclear power generation module, where operators monitor and control the entire system's operation. Operators use monitoring equipment within the control room to ensure stable system operation and make adjustments as needed. The reactor pressure vessel is the core of the nuclear power generation module; nuclear fuel undergoes a nuclear reaction within the vessel, generating a large amount of heat energy. The nuclear reaction unit uses the heat energy generated by nuclear fuel fission to heat water into high-temperature, high-pressure steam. The coolant unit is used to cool the nuclear fuel in the reactor and control the temperature of the nuclear reaction. The thermal energy conversion unit generates mechanical energy by rotating a turbine on a steam turbine through the injection of high-pressure steam. The power generation unit uses a steam turbine to drive a generator connected to its shaft, generating an induced current through a rotating magnetic field, which is ultimately converted into electrical energy output. The power regulation unit is responsible for monitoring and regulating the power output of the power generation system to meet the needs of equipment and stabilize system operation.

[0015] Preferably, the nuclear power generation module can be replaced by a solar power generation module, but due to insufficient sunlight on Mars (only 43% of that on Earth) and the influence of day and night and weather, solar power generation is best used as an auxiliary power source. Beneficial effects

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: 1. The oxygen is derived from carbon dioxide, which has the highest concentration in the Martian atmosphere, making it readily available; 2. The required electricity is supplied using nuclear energy, eliminating the need for spacecraft; 3. The byproduct carbon materials can be used in the preparation of other materials, such as energy storage and construction, achieving green production and eliminating waste. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of this embodiment. Embodiments of the present invention

[0018] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the advantages and features of the present invention can be more easily understood by those skilled in the art, thereby providing a clearer and more explicit definition of the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Referring to Figure 1, this embodiment discloses a preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars. The Martian atmosphere contains 95.3% carbon dioxide, which can be directly used as a carbon and oxygen source. The density of the Martian atmosphere is only 1% of that of Earth's atmosphere, so it is necessary to capture carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere. The preparation system includes a nuclear power generation module and a Martian atmosphere concentration and storage module, a CVD device, a carbon material collection module, and an oxygen separation and purification module connected in sequence. The nuclear power generation module provides electrical energy to the system. The Martian atmosphere concentration and storage module concentrates and stores the Martian atmosphere. After adjusting the pressure and flow rate, it is then introduced into the CVD device for heating and cracking into carbon atoms and oxygen. The carbon atoms combine to form carbon materials under the action of a catalyst and are deposited on the substrate of the carbon material collection module. The oxygen is discharged through the gas pipeline and then separated and purified by the oxygen separation and purification module.

[0020] The Mars atmosphere enrichment and storage module includes an air compressor and a gas storage tank. The gas storage tank is connected to the gas supply module of the CVD device via a gas path. The pyrolysis of the CVD device is performed using plasma-assisted pyrolysis. The CVD device includes a heating unit, a gas supply unit, a reaction chamber, a vacuum unit, a control system, and a plasma generation module. The heating temperature of the heating unit is 600-1200℃, and the plasma-assisted temperature is 300-600℃. The carbon material collection module includes a crushing unit and a purification unit. The oxygen separation and purification module includes a pre-cooling unit, an oxygen purification unit, a cooling unit, and a distillation unit. The pyrolysis of the CVD device can also be performed using molten salt electrolysis.

[0021] The nuclear power generation module can be replaced by a solar power generation module. The nuclear power generation module includes a control room, a reactor pressure vessel, a nuclear reaction unit, a coolant unit, a thermal energy conversion unit, a power generation unit, and a power regulation unit.

[0022] Example: The Mars Atmosphere Concentration and Storage Module absorbs and compresses carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere, using it as a carbon and oxygen source. It provides a 200kW power generation space reactor system. Operating 24 hours a day, 330 days a year, the space reactor system can provide 1,584,000 kWh of electricity. If all of this energy is used to power a CVD (Continuous Chemical Decomposition) device for pyrolyzing carbon dioxide, the energy required for CVD to pyrolyze carbon dioxide into carbon and oxygen is approximately 3750 kWh per ton of oxygen, resulting in 422.4 tons of oxygen annually. On Earth, an adult needs about 750g of oxygen per day, or 0.274 tons per year. Therefore, this system could supply the breathing needs of 1543 adults on Mars. The carbon materials, after crushing and purification, can be used for other production processes. Industrial applicability

[0023] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention. Their purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it. They should not be used to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for preparing materials by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon on Mars, where the Martian atmosphere contains 95.3% carbon dioxide, characterized in that... The preparation system includes a nuclear power generation module and a Martian atmosphere enrichment and storage module, a CVD device, a carbon material collection module, and an oxygen separation and purification module connected in sequence. The nuclear power generation module provides power to the system. The Martian atmosphere enrichment and storage module enriches and stores the Martian atmosphere. After adjusting the pressure and flow rate, the atmosphere is then introduced into the CVD device for heating and cracking into carbon atoms and oxygen. The carbon atoms combine to form carbon materials and are deposited on the substrate of the carbon material collection module. The oxygen is discharged through the gas pipeline and then separated and purified by the oxygen separation and purification module.

2. The preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Mars atmosphere enrichment and storage module includes an air compressor and a gas storage tank, which is connected to the gas supply module of the CVD device via a gas circuit.

3. The preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars according to claim 1, characterized in that, The CVD device includes a heating unit, a gas supply unit, a reaction chamber, a vacuum unit, and a control system. The Martian atmosphere, after its pressure and flow rate are adjusted by the gas supply unit, is introduced into the heating unit for heating. Carbon dioxide molecules are decomposed in the reaction chamber. The heating temperature of the heating unit is 600-1200℃.

4. The preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pyrolysis of the CVD device can also be performed using plasma pyrolysis or molten salt electrolysis.

5. A preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars according to claim 1, characterized in that, The CVD device introduces nano-carbon materials as nucleating agents and catalysts. The pyrolyzed carbon atoms grow into tubular carbon nanotubes or sheet-like graphene under the action of the catalyst.

6. A preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars according to claim 1, characterized in that, The carbon material collection module includes a crushing unit and a purification unit.

7. The preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars according to claim 1, characterized in that, The oxygen separation and purification module includes a precooling unit, an oxygen purification unit, a cooling unit, and a distillation unit.

8. A preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nuclear power generation module includes a control room, a reactor pressure vessel, a nuclear reaction unit, a coolant unit, a thermal energy conversion unit, a power generation unit, and a power regulation unit.

9. A preparation system for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon materials on Mars according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nuclear power generation module can be replaced by a solar power generation module.

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