Magazine Article

Apparatus Would Extract Water From the Martian Atmosphere

TBMG-7090

02/01/2001

Abstract
Content

A report proposes an apparatus that would extract water from the atmosphere of Mars and would consume little energy in doing so. The apparatus would include a set of copper plates surrounded by a thermal shield with slots through which atmospheric gas could circulate. At night, the slots would be open and the plates would be cooled to a temperature-170 K by thermally coupling them to a radiator facing the sky. Assuming that in the nighttime Martian atmosphere at ground level, the temperature is ≤200 K and the concentration of water vapor is at or near saturation, the vapor would condense and freeze on the plates. During the day, the slots would be closed and plates would be heated by thermally coupling them to a small solar collector; this would cause the ice to melt, and the water thus produced would be collected.

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Citation
"Apparatus Would Extract Water From the Martian Atmosphere," Mobility Engineering, February 1, 2001.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Feb 1, 2001
Product Code
TBMG-7090
Content Type
Magazine Article
Language
English