Analysis of Stationary, Photovoltaic-Based Surface Power System Designs at the Lunar South Pole
Open accessAbstract
Combinations of solar arrays and either batteries or regenerative fuel cells are analyzed for a surface power system module at the lunar south pole. The systems are required to produce 5 kW of net electrical power in sunlight and 2 kW of net electrical power during lunar night periods for a 10-year period between 2020 and 2030. Systems-level models for energy conservation, performance, degradation, and mass are used to compare to various systems. The sensitivities of important and/or uncertain variables including battery specific energy, fuel cell operating voltage, and DC-DC converter efficiency are compared to better understand the system. Switching unit efficiency, battery specific energy, and fuel cell operating voltage appear to be important system-level variables for this system. With reasonably sized solar arrays, the regenerative fuel cell system has significantly lower mass than the battery system based on the requirements and assumptions made herein. The total operational time is estimated at about 10,000 hours in battery discharge/fuel cell mode and about 4,000 and 8,000 hours for the battery charge and electrolyzer modes, respectively. The estimated number of significant depth-of-discharge cycles for either energy storage system is less than 100 for the 10-year period.
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Some sites near the Shackleton crater have continuous illumination of about six months and frequent illumination-darkness periods for another six months, with continuous eclipse times varying from 71 to 120 hours.
“Some of the sites near the Shackleton crater are identified to have a continuous illumination of about six months and frequent illumination-darkness periods for another six months [22] with continuous eclipse times varying from 71 to 120 hours [21], [22].”
From Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater (2023) · cites this paper as [22]
For Site 4RS near Shackleton Crater, the illumination discussion (page unavailable) describes nearly six months of uninterrupted sunlight followed by approximately six months of winter with substantial illuminated intervals. It estimates about 120 hours of continuous darkness, but does not give the claimed 71-hour lower bound or establish a 71–120-hour range. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredFew locations near the Shackleton crater have approximately six months of uninterrupted sunlight and six months of frequent changes between illumination and darkness.
“Similarly, few locations near the Shackleton crater have been identified to have approximately six months of uninterrupted sunlight and six months of frequent changes between illumination and darkness [12]”
From Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [12]
The illumination discussion (page unavailable) describes nearly six months of uninterrupted sunlight and an approximately six-month winter for Site 4RS near Shackleton Crater. It examines one site, not several identified locations, and describes the winter transition as gradual rather than establishing frequent changes between light and darkness throughout that period. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredContinuous eclipse times near the Shackleton crater vary from 71 to 120 hours.
“while continuous eclipse times varying from 71 to 120 hours [12], [13].”
From Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [12]
The passage discussing Figure 2 estimates about 120 hours of continuous darkness at Site 4RS near the Shackleton Crater rim. Our copy does not give a 71-hour duration or establish 71–120 hours as a range, so it supports only the upper end of the claim. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe charging efficiency of batteries is higher than that of RFCs, which reduces the required time to recharge them.
“Moreover, the charging efficiency of batteries is higher than RFCs, which reduces the required time to recharge them [22].”
From Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater (2023) · cites this paper as [22]
To reduce the charging time of RFCs, additional solar power may be needed.
“To reduce the charging time, additional solar power may be needed [12].”
From Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [12]
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Cites
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Flagged first, then by citations
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review
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Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater
Saha, D., Bazmohammadi, N., Raya-Armenta, J. M., Bintoudi, A. D., Lashab, A., Vasquez, J. C., & Guerrero, J. M. (2023) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2023.3239303 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
“A similar observation is reported in [22].”
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Energy Storage for Lunar Surface Exploration
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- Authors
- Freeh, J.
- Affiliations
- Glenn Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Freeh, Joshua
- Venue
- AIAA SPACE 2008 Conference & Exposition
- Published
- 2008-06-15
- OpenAlex
- W2067070663
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 3.63
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- AIAA SPACE Conference & Exposition (publishedVersion)
- NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Energy Engineering and Power Technology › Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Keywords
- photovoltaic solar arrays, regenerative fuel cells, batteries, lunar south pole, energy storage, battery specific energy, DC-DC converter efficiency, depth of discharge, electrolyzer, service life
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