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Modeling Joule Heating Effect on Lunar O2 Generation via Electrolytic Reduction

J. Dominguez[1], S. Poizeau[2], and L. Sibille[1]

[1]ASRC Aerospace Corporation, Kennedy Space Center, Fl, USA
[2]Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Published in 2008

Kennedy Space Center is leading research work on lunar O2 generation via electrolytic reduction of regolith. The metal oxide present in regolith is dissociated into oxygen anions and metal cations leading to the generation of gaseous oxygen at the anode and liquid metal at the cathode.

The authors have developed a 3D model using a rigorous approach to not only study the effect of Joule heating on temperature distribution throughout the molten regolith but also to evaluate and optimize the design of the electrolytic cell.

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