Power Station for generation of electricity in Space Settlements. The principle involved is matter-antimatter collision to generate energy which could be harnessed and distributed as electrical energy.

1. SUBMITTED BY
ARCHIT DEVARAJAN
GRADE : IX
DON BOSCO HIGH SCHOOL
MUMBAI, INDIA
POWER STATION FOR
SPACE SETTLEMENTS
PROJECT FOR THE
NASA SPACE SETTLEMENTS CONTEST
2015

2. INDEX e+e-
2
No. TOPIC Page No.
1 THE IDEA 4
2 CONVENTIONAL MODES OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION 5
3 RENEWABLE AND GREEN ENERGY 6
4 GENERATING ELECTRICITY IN SPACE 7
5 WHAT IS ANTIMATTER? 8
6 ANTIMATTER – MATTER COLLISION 9
7 ADVANTAGE ANTIMATTER!! 10
8 POWER GENERATION 11
9 ARCHI POWER: THE PRINCIPLE 12
10 ARCHI POWER: DESIGN 13
11 STORING ANTIMATTER 14
12 ARCHI POWER: COMPONENTS 15
13 ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS: AEROGEL 16

3. INDEX e+e-
3
No. TOPIC SLIDE NO.
14 ADVANTAGE CARBON AEROGEL 17 - 18
15 ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS:SYNTHETIC FUSED
SILICA MEMBRANE
19
16 ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS: SUPERCAPACITORS 20
17 ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS: CONVERTERS 21
18 TRANSMISSION OF POWER 22
19 SOURCING ANTIMATTER 23
20 ARCHI POWER STATION: LOCATION 24 - 26
21 TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICITY 27 - 28
22 MY SPACE SETTLEMENT 29
23 CODED RECTENNA 30
24 PROTECTION FROM FREELY MOVING ASTEROIDS 31
25 CONCLUSION 32 - 33
26 BIBLIOGRAPHY 34
27 REFERENCES FOR IMAGES 35 - 37

4. I have always dreamt of being an astronaut and exploring the universe. So when I saw
the “NASA SPACE SETTLEMENT DESIGN CONTEST” announcement I was thrilled. As I
slept that night I saw a great dream. I was in a space settlement in pitch darkness,
chilled to the bone. I woke up with a start and then……I got this bright idea…
Can you imagine living in darkness, eating cold food or for that matter bathing in ice
cold water!! Those are our fundamental needs… Imagine, no Google, no WhatsApp,
no mobile, no laptop!!! Who would ever want to be in a space settlement!!!
THE IDEA
HENCE I BELIEVE AN IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT FOR EVERY SPACE SETTLEMENT IS
A POWER STATION WHICH COULD SUPPLY ELECTRICITY
I WOULD CREATE A POWER STATION FOR SPACE SETTLEMENTS
4
e+e-

5. CONVENTIONAL MODES OF
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
On Earth, Power stations are generally based on:
 Hydro electricity
 Thermal energy
Other sources include:
 Static electricity
 Electromagnetic induction
 Electrochemistry
 Wind energy
 Piezoelectric effect
 Photovoltaic effect as in Solar cells
 Nuclear transformation
e+e-
5

6. RENEWABLE AND GREEN ENERGY
• Renewable and green energy are the energy buzz
words today. Solar energy is the best example. While I
was reading up about electricity in space settlements,
most settlements described harnessing solar energy.
But even on Earth, that is so difficult. Till date we do
not even have cars running on solar energy.
• Solar cookers are great but they don’t work in rain
and snow!!!!!
e+e-
6

7. GENERATING ELECTRICITY IN SPACE
CAN NUCLEAR ENERGY BE USED??
• Nuclear energy although renewable
requires huge power plants
• Further management of nuclear
waste is a serious issue
What could I use then……
• I discussed this with my teacher, and she introduced me to something very
new – ANTIMATTER
• She asked me to read up, and find out whether ANTIMATTER could provide a
solution. That was the beginning of this wonderful journey…………
NUCLEAR ENERGY SCHEMATIC
e+e-
7
??

8. WHAT IS ANTIMATTER?
• Each particle of matter has a corresponding antiparticle of
antimatter. Antimatter is composed of antiparticles which
have the same mass as particles of ordinary matter but
have opposite charge. Contact of antimatter with equal
amount of matter results in annihilation to generate
energy
• For example if the antimatter is a positron it would have a
+1e electric charge, and the same mass as a -1e
(negatively charged) electron
• When a low energy positron (e+) collides with a low energy
electron (e-) annihilation occurs resulting in the formation
of two or more gamma rays. Gamma rays denoted by the
Greek letter γ, are high frequency electromagnetic
radiation and comprise high energy photons
e+e-
8

9. ANTIMATTER – MATTER COLLISION
• I also learnt some very interesting facts about
antimatter
• Reacting 1 kg each of antimatter and matter would
produce immense energy of 1.8×1017 J (180
petajoules) equivalent of almost 43 megatons of
TNT, or slightly less energy than the
largest thermonuclear weapon detonated namely
the 27,000 kg Tsar Bomb
e+e-
9

10. ADVANTAGE ANTIMATTER!!
• Anti-matter can be isolated and stored to be used as a fuel
• The energy density of antimatter is higher than that of conventional fuels, which
meant greater energy with small masses of matter
• Just 10 grams of antiprotons could provide enough fuel to reach a manned
spacecraft to Mars in just one month, as opposed to the one year it takes today
for unmanned spacecraft
• The speeds generated by matter-antimatter powered space vehicles would
enable exploration of hitherto unexplored areas in space, like Jupiter and even
beyond the heliopause, where the sun's radiation ends
e+e-
10

11. • I realized that huge energy could be obtained from a minute mass using
antimatter
• and perceived antimatter as a great source to power space settlements. I
decided
• to give this energy a new name “ARCHI* POWER”
POWER GENERATION
ANTIMATTER – MATTER COLLISION
e-
e+
e-
e+
e+
e+
e-
e-e-
e+
ARCHI POWER SCHEMATIC
e+e-
11
*READ AS ‘ARKAI’

12. ARCHI POWER: THE PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPLE: Collision of matter with antimatter results in generation of large
amounts of energy even greater than a nuclear bomb. Under
controlled conditions, the energy from such collisions can be
harnessed and converted to electrical energy
CAUTION: Controlling the rate of antimatter-matter collision is critical because if
too much energy is produced, there is a probability that the power
station itself will be destroyed
e+e-
12

13. ARCHI POWER: DESIGN
SYNTHETIC FUSED
SILICA MEMBRANE
e-e+
AEROGEL SHEET
CIRCUIT BOARD SUPER CAPACITOR
e+e-
13

14. STORING ANTIMATTER
• As antimatter annihilates when it comes in contact with normal
matter, it needs to be stored in an electromagnetic field so that it
does not come in contact with matter. Antimatter would be stored in
Aerogel sheets
• In an aerogel the liquid component of the gel is replaced with gas
without allowing it to shrink. Hence aerogel is a material which is
made up of 92.8% of air and hence super light
• Carbon aerogel is porous, ultra light, solid, rigid and dry material.
Carbon as we all know is a ferromagnetic material, so carbon aerogel
as a permanent magnet, will create a magnetic field. An electric
double-layer super capacitor can absorb or produce very high peak
currents to create an electric field. Hence, it can create an
electromagnetic field which will be suitable for the storage of
antimatter
e+e-
14

15. The heart of the power generator
 Carbon aerogel Sheets
 Synthetic fused silica membrane
Other components include
 Super capacitors
 Converters
 Circuit boards
 Connector wires
 Switches
ARCHI POWER: COMPONENTS e+e-
15

16. • The package I plan to use is aerogel, which does
not have any chemical formula
• It was created by Samuel Stephens Kastler in
1931, by using supercritical drying (a process to
remove a liquid in a precise and controlled way)
• Early on aerogels were produced form Silica gels
and later aerogels were based on alumina,
chromia and tin dioxide
• In the 1980’s Carbon aerogel was discovered,
which has desirable features for antimatter
storage
• Hence, I plan to use Carbon aerogel
ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS
AEROGEL
e+e-
16
AEROGEL

17. ADVANTAGE CARBON AEROGEL
• Aerogels are bad heat conductors and prevent
(nullify) almost two of the three methods of heat
transmission i.e. conduction, convection and
radiation. Carbon aerogel is an excellent thermal
insulator because its gaseous components greatly
reduce heat transfer
• When a flower is placed on a piece of aerogel
which is suspended over a flame from a Bunsen
burner the flower remains intact and does not
wither, confirming that aerogel is a great thermal
insulator
e+e-
17

18. • Aerogel also has air pockets which makes it
light weight. A piece of aerogel can bear a
weight of 40,000 times its own weight
ADVANTAGE CARBON AEROGEL
e+e-
18
A PIECE OF
AEROGEL
THE SAME PIECE OF
AEROGEL (ZOOMED IN)

19. ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS
SYNTHETIC FUSED SILICA MEMBRANE
• This membrane play would play the most critical role in separating antimatter and
matter and is an important requirement to prevent unwanted collisions
e+e-
19

20. • An electric double-layer (super) capacitor can absorb or produce very high peak
currents. So we can also get an electric field
• A super capacitor can create the electromagnetic field essential for storage of
antimatter
• They can be made up of light weight material like expanded polystyrene
ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS
SUPERCAPACITORS
e+e-
20

21. • Converters would work at two levels:
• First electrical energy would be converted to microwave radiations suitable for
transmission
• Secondly the microwave radiations would be converted back to electrical energy
using a Rectenna
ARCHI POWER COMPONENTS
CONVERTERS
e+e-
21
Rectenna

22. TRANSMISSION OF POWER
• As wires cannot be used to connect to transmit electricity, we will use microwave
energy (i.e. transmission of electricity via radio waves) to transmit electricity in
the settlement and to various colonies across space
• These radio waves can travel through space for long distances and hence are the
most suitable mode of transmission. Even if an object or planet comes in the way
of the radio wave, it does not matter as it can pass straight through it. For
conversion of microwave energy into electricity a rectenna (rectifying antenna)
may be used
e+e-
22

23. SOURCING ANTIMATTER
• Antimatter is continuously produced during thunder
storms and gets stored in the earths magnetic field
• The rings of the planet Saturn in our solar system are
a huge production house of antimatter
• Antimatter is also produced in solar flares however
this cannot be used as it is too risky to go near the
sun
e+e-
23

24. • Of course ARCHI POWER Station would be in a
space settlement. We are talking of location of the
space settlement which could house this power station
and be powered using this power station
• Since antimatter is needed on a large scale the ARCHI
POWER Station should be in such a location that it
receives continuous supply of antimatter in adequate
quantities
ARCHI POWER STATION
LOCATION
e+e-
24
ARCHI POWER STATION IN A SPACE
SETTLEMENT ( I DREAM OF A GREEN
NATURAL EARTH LIKE SETTLEMENT!!!)

25. ARCHI POWER STATION
LOCATION
• Thunderstorms can occur year-round and at all hours. But they are most likely to
happen in the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and evening
hours. It is estimated that there are around 1800 thunderstorms that occur across
our planet EARTH every day
• Thunderstorms could therefore be relied on as a continuous and predictable
source of antimatter
• The Best location for ARCHI POWER Station is therefore anywhere near the
earth (i.e. beyond the gravitational pull and the magnetic field of the earth)
25
e+e-

26. ANY POSITION ON THE RED LINE OR BEYOND WOULD BE SUITABLE
FOR LOCATING THE ARCHI POWER STATION
ARCHI POWER STATION
IN A SPACE SETTLEMENT
PROPOSED LOCATION
e+e-
26

27. TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICITY
RECTENNA
RECTENNA
RECTENNA
e+e-
27ARCHI POWER STATION

28. TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICITY
TO OTHER SPACE SETTLEMENTS
Space Colony
e+e-
28ARCHI POWER STATION

29. MY SPACE SETTLEMENT
• AN EARTH IN SPACE WITH
GREEN AND SNOWCAPPED
MOUNTAINS, FORESTS, THE
SEA AND CITIES LESS
POPULATED OF COURSE!!!
• ARCHI POWER STATION
WOULD SUPPLY ELECTRICITY
ACROSS THE SETTLEMENT
USING MULTIPLE RECTENNAS
ARCHI POWER STATION
e+e-
29

30. CODED RECTENNA
CHEATING PREVENTION DEVICE
• When I was thinking of supplying power to various other space
settlements, I also thought that this electricity can be embezzled by other
space colonies. I therefore thought of an idea that I would design a
specific code in the rectenna device provided to the space colonies that
wish to receive electricity from the ARCHI Power Station. ARCHI Power
Station radio waves can only be received by that rectenna which has that
specific code and this can prevent cheating
e+e-
30

31. PROTECTION FROM
FREELY MOVING ASTEROIDS
There is a risk that a freely moving asteroid may hit the space settlement with the
power station causing a huge damage to the settlement or may even lead to
malfunctioning of the power plant. Hence, the same antimatter can be used to
produce bombs to destroy these asteroids and protect the power station. We would
need to be ready with those too!!
e+e-
31

32. CONCLUSION
• My project is based on the assumption that antimatter is easily available and can be
stored for use. There are few scientists who believe that rather than creating
antimatter on earth, as the corporation does, it might be more feasible to mine
deposits of antimatter in space itself. However we know that last year although the
Pamela Mission found that Earth is ringed by antiprotons, it only detected very few
antiprotons over the period of several years of its mission. That’s lesser than CERN
produces in a day. Getting sufficient antimatter to fuel an entire power station is the
greatest challenge, even if we could work out all the engineering and technology
• But I am an optimist. Who ever dreamt 50 years ago that this entire presentation of
mine can reach NASA at the click of a button. Who dreamt that there would be
“Google” to answer most of our questions…. Although not today, I am sure years
later antimatter would be talked about like matter, and be available if not like matter
at least with the ease with which are able to get radioactive materials today. I firmly
believe an antimatter based power station although appears like fiction today is the
technology of future generation power stations
e+e-
32

33. CONCLUSION
Let me conclude by quoting Neil Armstrong who said
“That's one small step for a man, one giant leap
for mankind”
which I wish to adapt as
“A kid’s dream of a possible ‘Dream Power
Station’ for mankind”
e+e-
33

34. BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-antimatter-2002-01-24/
2. http://www.howstuffworks.com/antimatter1.htm
3. http://www.space.com/22229-space-station-colony-futuristic-technology.html
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercapacitor
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation#Methods_of_generating_electricity
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercritical_drying
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerogel#Carbon
8. http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/38193/why-dont-we-use-wireless-
electricity-today
9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter_weapon
10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter
34
e+e-

35. 35
REFERENCES FOR IMAGES
REFERENCE PAGE NO.
lenergeek.com 01
globe-views.com 05
mdvseia.org 06
science.howstuffworks.com 06
fusionforenergy.europa.eu 07
www.zmescience.com 09
www.wallpapervortex.com 12
guynietoren.deviantart.com 13
www.electric-vehiclenews.com 13
adventurelightingblog.wordpress.com 13
e+e-

36. 36
REFERENCES FOR IMAGES
REFERENCE PAGE NO.
en.wikipedia.org 16
en.wikipedia.org 17
www.gizmag.com 18
www.stockwell.com 19
www.digikey.com 20
www.ohgizmo.com 21
hqwallbase.com 23
www.seychellesnewsagency.com 24
www.nasa.gov 25
www.clipartpanda.com 26
e+e-

37. 37
REFERENCES FOR IMAGES
REFERENCE PAGE NO.
spacejournal.ohio.edu 28
en.wikipedia.org 29
1hdwallpapers.com 29
www.city-data.com 29
freebigpictures.com 29
www.yayuanart.com 29
www.indiedb.com 31
www.couriermail.com.au 33
e+e-