Could Helium-3 really solve Earth’s energy problems?

If you view the movie Moon , you remember Helium-3 as the substance Sam Bell was sending back to Earth , during his onerous three year tenure on the Sarang lunar base . Helium-3 is not a piece of scientific discipline fiction , but an isotope of helium that really could provide for all of our energy need in the hereafter . With absolutely no pollution .

Helium-3 is slightly different than the gun that satiate birthday balloons . Rather , Helium-3 is a unchanging isotope of atomic number 2 that is missing a neutron , with this missing neutron allowing for the production of uninfected Energy Department . The moon make a tremendous supplying of Helium-3 on its control surface , but will Helium-3 really be the answer to our free energy job on Earth ?

Clean energy is only a missing neutron away

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Two types of fusion reactions make employment of Helium-3 to produce clear energy . The first use deuterium ( deuterium is hydrogen with a neutron ) react with Helium-3 , to acquire helium and a proton . The second type of reactions uses two atoms of helium-3 to make He and two proton . The proton create during the chemical reaction are the crest gem of Helium-3 fusion .

One of the good share of the propose Helium-3 response is the complete lack of radioactive byproducts . No neutrons are emit , and no isotopes are allow as products that could radioactively disintegrate . The proton is a in particular skillful side Cartesian product , since clean vim can be harnessed from this stray proton bymanipulatingit in an electrostatic orbit .

Traditional atomic fission reactions create rut , which is then used to heat water . The simmering water force turbine to spin and father DOE . In the Helium-3 coalition process , energy is created via the response itself , with no nasty radioactive material for future generations to monitor .

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The Helium-3 fusion process is not simply theoretical — the University of Wisconsin - Madison Fusion Technology Institute successfullyperformedfusion experiments combining two molecules of Helium-3 . Estimates aim the efficiency of Helium-3 fusion reaction at seventy pct , out - pace ember and natural gas electricity propagation bytwentypercent .

Finding Helium-3

Helium-3 is convey with solar winds , but Earth’smagneticfield pushes the isotope away . Thanks to its trifling magnetic theatre of operations , the Sun Myung Moon does n’t suffer from this fate , allowing Helium-3 to make up in regolith , the layer of rock and dust cover the moonshine . The macrocosm of Helium-3 on the moon isverifiedby samples remember on Apollo and Luna mission . Geologist - turned - cosmonaut Harrison Schmitt acquired and analyzed over200pounds of lunar rock acquire during 1972 ’s Apollo 17 missionary station .

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Helium-3 exists on our Earth , but in extremely small amount . Tritium ( atomic number 1 with a total of two neutrons , or deuterium with an spare neutron if you prefer)naturally decaysinto Helium-3 over time . Helium-3 is also created , strangely enough , as a by-product of nuclear weapon testing . The United States ’ Helium-3 reserves are just unsure of30kilograms , much less than the theoretical25 tonsof helium-3 necessary to supply for the vitality needs of a country our size for one year .

mine the moonshine

get helium-3 from lunar regolith will not be an light undertaking . Best estimate of Helium-3 content place it at50parts per billion in lunar stain , calling for the refinement of million of scores of lunar soil before assemble enough Helium-3 to be utilitarian in spinal fusion reactions on Earth . Should we be so eager to strip mine the synodic month and destroy its surface to provide a clean energy rootage for Earth ?

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After mine lunar rock , Helium-3 is separated by heating the mass to over600degrees Celsius , ware a expectant amount of vigor in the process .

And meanwhile , transporting turgid quantities of Helium-3 back to Earth will be another job . A space vehicle would in all probability be able-bodied to only sway a few tons of Helium-3 as payload , necessitating a revolving door of shuttles to supply enough Helium-3 to wish for the Earth ’s energy need . Thus , it ’s likely that Helium-3 is more likely to become a fuel seed for lunar colonies , eliminating a need for start - up extra supplies and high-priced flights to and from Earth .

Due to the effort and energy needed to mine , heat , and transport Helium-3 back to Earth , it will not be a trashy energy author , but a clean-living alternative , one we might have to bend to in the next 100 yr . Frequent trips to the Moon may also open up up the lunar touristry manufacture , as rider trip along with canisters of Helium-3 destined for use in fusion reaction back on Earth .

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“ claim ” the Moon

The first nation ( or conglomeration of country ) to establish a Moon colony and start mining surgical operation will likely set the standard for control of resource on the Moon , especially if exploration of the westerly macrocosm bet a role as case law . Let ’s desire the nation has tolerant , selfless motive at hand – otherwise , we might be better off with a secret company ( as inMoon ) making it to the Moon first , with an intention of harvesting its resources .

The Russian companyEnergiaclaimed in 2006 that it would have a permanent Sun Myung Moon base in 2015 and glean Helium-3 by 2020 . But the company looks like woefully behind in making these claim become world .

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A monopoly on clean energy would catapult any major country into a “ ultrapower ” – will we see this happen in the next century ? Will the first country to make a lasting moonbase share the wealthiness and help develop nation create a clean energy supplying ?

But even if the Moon ’s Helium-3 reserves are too expensive to transport back to Earth , our only raw satellite could one day become a space - faring “ gaseous state station ” for vessels traveling into space , as humanity takes to the stars .

Top image courtesy ofNASA . Helium-3 reaction diagram courtesy of theArtemis Project . extra image courtesy of Sony Pictures . source yoke within the article .

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