Plasmas for ISRU and gas conversion on Mars

ORAL  · Invited

Abstract

This work explores the potential of using non-thermal plasmas for in situ resource utilization (ISRU) on Mars, enabling the direct conversion of various molecules from the Martian atmosphere into essential feedstocks and base chemicals. These conversions are crucial for producing fuels, breathable oxygen, building materials, and fertilizers. Motivated by the importance of nitrogen fixation in fertilizer production and oxygen generation from CO2 dissociation, we conducted extensive and detailed investigations into the mechanisms governing nitric oxide NO(X) formation in N2-O2 plasmas and atomic oxygen O(3P) production in CO2 plasmas. This research involves systematic comparisons of experimental results and modeling data. While the experimental phase capitalizes on studies targeted at understanding radiofrequency and microwave plasma discharges sustained at 5 mbar pressure conditions, our modeling approach integrates the solution of the Boltzmann equation for electrons with a system of rate balance equations for heavy species in the plasma, providing a detailed description associated with the kinetics, transport and volume-surface interactions.

*IPFN activities were supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia under projects CEECIND/00010/2018, UIDB/50010/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/50010/2020), UIDP/50010/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/50010/2020), LA/P/0061/202 (https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0061/2020) and PTDC/FIS-PLA/1616/2021 (https://doi.org/10.54499/PTDC/FIS-PLA/1616/2021). DIFFER activities were supported by the ORACLE project in the frame of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101022738.

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Presenters

  • Tiago P Silva

    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

Authors

  • Tiago P Silva

    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

  • Susanta Bera

    • Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), Eindhoven, The Netherlands

  • Rui Martins

    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

  • Arne Meindl

    • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany

  • Carlos Pintassilgo

    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

  • Anja Herrmann

    • Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), Eindhoven, The Netherlands

  • Stefan Welzel

    • Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), Eindhoven, The Netherlands

  • Michail Tsampas

    • Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), Eindhoven, The Netherlands

  • Richard van de Sanden

    • DIFFER
    • DIFFER, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
    • Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), Eindhoven, The Netherlands

  • Mariana Ribeiro

    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

  • Luís L Alves

    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

  • Vasco Guerra

    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
    • Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
    • Instituto Superior Tecnico