3 ms·
Naturally, there's a trade between LOX and pressurized oxygen gas. Reused propellant tanks of one Starship at 6 bar would hold ~14 metric tons of oxygen, enabli
by schiffern 4y ago
Naturally, there's a trade between LOX and pressurized oxygen gas. Reused propellant tanks of one Starship at 6 bar would hold ~14 metric tons of oxygen, enabling a continuous lunar population of over 1,000 people.
The energy for compression or liquefaction isn't necessarily a show-stopper, it just works into the total energy efficiency of the storage system. Compression is nice because practical isothermal compressors are now being demonstrated.[0]
Both liquefaction and compression require cooling. I do think it probably makes sense to do the thermal storage trick in reverse also, storing up a bank of "cold" at night to be used during the day. The thermal radiator panels still provide (derated) cooling in the day, but the thermal storage pool time-shifts the natural oversupply of cooling power at night.
[0] https://newatlas.com/good-thinking/carnot-centrifugal-air-compressor/ https://newatlas.com/good-thinking/carnot-centrifugal-air-co...