Gas collection system
AssigneeLunar Helium-3 Mining, LLC
InventorsChris Salvino, Kenneth Altshuler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vapor collection system that can be used at an extra-terrestrial body is envisioned to collect target gaseous atoms and molecules that are floating around in a shielded environment at a pressure at or less than 1×10−5 bar. The shielded environment is defined within sidewalls and in some cases is defined within a cover. A condensation surface in the shielded environment is maintained at a temperature between 2° Kelvin and 100° Kelvin to collect the target gas that is floating around, which condenses on the condensation surface as a liquid. A collection receptacle at the condensation surface collects the liquid. A heating element in the shielded environment is made to heat and release the target gas from minerals at or beyond the rim. The gas floats around in the shielded environment.
Claims19
A vapor collection system comprising:
- a shielded environment;
- the shielded environment comprising sidewalls extending from a rim to a top edge, wherein the shielded environment is defined inside of the sidewalls;
- a condensation surface in the internal volume, the condensation surface maintained at a temperature between 2° Kelvin and 100° Kelvin;
- a collection receptacle comprising an orifice that interfaces the condensation surface;
- and
- a heating element located in the shielded environment that is configured to direct heat to a heat region at or beyond the rim.
A vapor collector comprising:
- a shielded environment defined by a cover,
- a condensation surface in the shielded environment, the condensation surface configured to be maintained at a temperature between 2° Kelvin and 100° Kelvin, when at the temperature;
- a collection receptacle within the cover comprising an orifice that interfaces the condensation surface;
- and
- a heating element located in the shielded environment that is configured to direct heat to a heat region at or beyond the rim.
A gas collecting arrangement comprising:
- a shielded environment defined by a cover;
- a condensation surface in the cover;
- a means for maintaining the condensation surface at a temperature between 2° Kelvin and 100° Kelvin;
- a collection receptacle that interfaces the condensation surface, the condensation receptacle configured to retain liquified gas that condenses on the condensation surface when at the temperature;
- and
- a heating element located in the shielded environment that is configured to heat a target region at or beyond the rim.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.