Difference between revisions of "List of Electrical Considerations"
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Underground: [[Lunar soil]] is somewhat [[conducting]] because of the high proportion of [[native iron]], therefore we cannot bury bare wire into the soil. Instead there will have to be insulating [[conduits]]. Such conduits could be made from ceramics, or [[silicon polymers]]. There is unlimited [[Silicon]] on the Moon. | Underground: [[Lunar soil]] is somewhat [[conducting]] because of the high proportion of [[native iron]], therefore we cannot bury bare wire into the soil. Instead there will have to be insulating [[conduits]]. Such conduits could be made from ceramics, or [[silicon polymers]]. There is unlimited [[Silicon]] on the Moon. | ||
| − | For power wires inside [[habitable]] areas, it is important to prevent [[electric shock]], or [[electrical shorts]] which would drain power or [[short circuit]] power supplies, and cause fires. So we still need insulation. One solution would be to import pre-insulated wires from Earth, but that would be expensive primarily due to the high weight of the metal wire [[conductors]. Another approach might be to import empty insulators sleeves, or [[sleeving]] material, then via a process such as [[heat-shrinking]], attach the Earth-made insulation to lunar-made wires. | + | For power wires inside [[habitable]] areas, it is important to prevent [[electric shock]], or [[electrical shorts]] which would drain power or [[short circuit]] power supplies, and cause fires. So we still need insulation. One solution would be to import pre-insulated wires from Earth, but that would be expensive primarily due to the high weight of the metal wire [[conductors]. Another approach might be to import empty insulators sleeves, or [[sleeving]] material, then via a process such as [[heat-shrinking]] or [[extrusion]], attach the Earth-made insulation to lunar-made wires. |
It might be possible to develop suitable flexible insulator materials by means of silicon polymer chemistry. | It might be possible to develop suitable flexible insulator materials by means of silicon polymer chemistry. | ||
Revision as of 21:47, 2 March 2007
Making Insulators from Lunar Materials.
On Earth wires typically are made of layers which include organic polymers. Since organic materials are in short supply on the Moon, then what are the alternatives.
There are two types of wires, power wires (heavy duty) and signal wires (lightweight).
1) Power Wires
As on Earth, long distance transmission systems often do not employ insulation, instead for hundreds of kilometers they string long bare cables suspended in the air without any insulation, except for porcelain insulators at the pylon attach points. Exactly the same approach could be used on the Moon.
Underground: Lunar soil is somewhat conducting because of the high proportion of native iron, therefore we cannot bury bare wire into the soil. Instead there will have to be insulating conduits. Such conduits could be made from ceramics, or silicon polymers. There is unlimited Silicon on the Moon.
For power wires inside habitable areas, it is important to prevent electric shock, or electrical shorts which would drain power or short circuit power supplies, and cause fires. So we still need insulation. One solution would be to import pre-insulated wires from Earth, but that would be expensive primarily due to the high weight of the metal wire [[conductors]. Another approach might be to import empty insulators sleeves, or sleeving material, then via a process such as heat-shrinking or extrusion, attach the Earth-made insulation to lunar-made wires.
It might be possible to develop suitable flexible insulator materials by means of silicon polymer chemistry.
2) Signal Wires
Signal wires are thin and light weight, so unlike power cables, it might be economic to import quantities of complete pre-fabricated wire harnesses from Earth.
Alternatively, to the maximum extent possible, signal wires could be replaced by fiber optic data links. There is plenty of silicon on the Moon which can be used to make glass fibers.
