U.S. patent application number 09/861085 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for extraction of helium-3 gas from ilmenite ore utilizing radiant solar energy.
Invention is credited to Greatbatch, Wilson.
Application Number | 20020066288 09/861085 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26900436 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066288 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Greatbatch, Wilson |
June 6, 2002 |
Extraction of helium-3 gas from ilmenite ore utilizing radiant
solar energy
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the recovery of Helium3 (He-3) from
ilmenite ore (iron titanate or FeTiO3), including recovery from the
surface and near surface of a satellite such as the Moon, and
extraction using solar energy and the natural rotational cycles of
the satellite for the purpose of obtaining the He-3 for use in
nuclear reactors for generation of pollution-free electrical power
for commercial or industrial uses, as a fuel to propel space
vehicles, and for other purposes, such as medical use.
Inventors: |
Greatbatch, Wilson; (Akron,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Walter W. Duft
Law Office of Walter W. Duft
Suite 10
10255 Main Street
Clarence
NY
14031
US
|
Family ID: |
26900436 |
Appl. No.: |
09/861085 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60205450 |
May 19, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/639 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C01B 2210/0031 20130101;
C01B 23/0057 20130101; Y02P 20/133 20151101; Y02P 20/134
20151101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/639 |
International
Class: |
F25J 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of recovering Helium-3 (He-3) from titanium dioxide,
including the steps of: collecting a quantity of titanium dioxide
having He-3 adsorbed therewith; placing the titanium dioxide having
adsorbed He-3 in an optically transparent collection vessel;
placing said collection vessel at a location where direct solar
radiation will be received at said solar collector; heating the
titanium dioxide to a temperature of at least about 123 degrees
Celsius to drive off the He-3 in a gaseous form; and cooling the
vaporized He-3 within said collection vessel by shading it from
solar radiation so as to promote liquefication of the He-3.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said titanium dioxide is
collected by obtaining a quantity of ilmenite ore (FeTiO3) having
titanium dioxide therein and placing said ore in said collection
vessel.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said ilmenite ore is placed on a
conveyor for heating said titanium dioxide within said collection
vessel.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said titanium dioxide is
collected by extracting it from ilmenite ore (FeTiO3) and placing
said titanium dioxide in said collection vessel.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said titanium dioxide is heated
by a solar collector disposed within said collection vessel.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of shading said
collection vessel is performed by placing said collection vessel on
a rotating satellite.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the recited steps are repeated on
a schedule determined by the rotational cycle of said
satellite.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said satellite is the moon of
Earth.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein said satellite is Earth.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein said satellite is the planet
Mars.
11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of further
cooling the He-3 as required to complete liquefication and
compression thereof.
12. The method of claim 1, further including the step of collecting
and storing the liquefied He-3 into a suitable container.
13. An apparatus for recovering Helium-3 (He-3) from titanium
dioxide, including: a solar collector suitable for receiving
ilmenite ore (FeTiO3) containing titanium dioxide with He-3
adsorbed therein, said solar collector being adapted to heat the
titanium dioxide to a temperature of at least about 123 degrees
Celsius to drive off the He-3 in a gaseous form when said solar
collector is oriented so as to directly receive radiation from the
sun; and an optically transparent collection vessel surrounding
said solar collector for collecting the He-3 driven off by the heat
of said solar collector, said collection vessel being adapted to
allow the vaporized He-3 to cool when said solar collector becomes
shaded from direct radiation from the sun.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said solar collector
comprises a reflector.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said solar collector
comprises a parabolic reflector.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, further including a conveyor for
conveying the ilmenite ore through said solar collector.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said collection vessel is
vacuum tight, and includes at least one resealable opening for
introducing the ilmenite ore into said collection vessel.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, further including a cooling unit for
concentrating and liquefying the He-3.
19. The apparatus of claim 13, further including a container for
collecting and storing the liquefied He-3 for transport.
20. A system for recovering Helium-3 (He-3) from titanium dioxide,
including: a rotating satellite; a solar collector, operatively
associated with the satellite, and suitable for receiving ilmenite
ore (FeTiO3) containing titanium dioxide with He-3 adsorbed
therein, said solar collector being adapted to heat the titanium
dioxide to a temperature of at least 123 degrees Celsius to drive
off the He-3 in a gaseous form when the satellite and associated
solar collector are oriented so as to directly receive radiation
from the sun; an optically transparent collection vessel
surrounding said solar collector for collecting the He-3 driven off
by the heat of said solar collector, said collection vessel being
adapted to allow the vaporized He-3 to cool as the satellite
rotates causing said solar collector to be shaded from direct
radiation from the sun; a cooling unit associated with said
collection vessel for concentrating and liquefying the He-3; and a
container for collecting and storing the liquefied He-3 for
transport from said satellite.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e)
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/205,450, filed
May 19, 2000, entitled "Method of Extraction Of Helium-3 Gas From
Ilmenite Ore Utilizing Radiant Solar Energy."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to the recovery of
Helium-3 from ilmenite (iron titanate or FeTiO3) ore, and more
particularly to a method of recovering Helium-3 from ilmenite ore
located on or near the surface of the moon, for the purpose of
using the Helium-3 in nuclear reactors for generation of
pollution-free electrical power for commercial or industrial uses,
for use as a fuel to propel space vehicles, and for other
purposes.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] By the year 2050AD mankind may have run out of all of the
economically recoverable fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and
natural gas. There may also be no place to put the toxic residues
of present nuclear fission reactors. West Valley, N.Y. no longer
wants such waste and neither does Nevada. Worse yet, in 2050AD all
of the alternate sources of energy, such as hydroelectric, wind,
wood, tidal, geothermal and solar, will not supply even 25 percent
of the estimated energy that will be needed to feed the Earth's
projected population.
[0006] Present day nuclear fission reactors operate like a slow
atomic ("A") bomb, splitting heavy plutonium or uranium atoms into
smaller elements and giving off power. American and Russian nuclear
engineers and physicists have succeeded in slowing down the fission
reaction to produce useful power, as exemplified by Three-Mile
Island and Chernobyl (clearly a mixed blessing!). Others have
accomplished this more successfully. France generates a significant
part of its energy requirements from fission reactors and has
achieved a perfect safety record. Their reactors are all of the
same design and are run by nuclear engineers. The United States
builds its fission reactors all differently and mostly leaves the
actual operation of the reactors to technicians. But France still
has the same problem with disposal of the toxic residues.
[0007] Mankind may have no alternative but to develop the ability
to harness useful energy from nuclear fusion. To date, it has not
been feasible to produce a controlled, sustainable nuclear fusion
reaction, at least not to the point of producing useful power.
However, progress is being made in this area. Nuclear fusion
reactors operate like a slow hydrogen ("H") bomb, fusing light
weight atoms such as hydrogen or helium. Present nuclear fusion
reactors are classified by the method used to support the nuclear
fusion reaction, which takes place at a temperature much hotter
than the surface of the Sun. No vessel or container on Earth can
hold such a reaction. Hence, the reaction must be suspended by
either electromagnetic, gravitational (inertial), or electrostatic
fields.
[0008] The TOKAMAK at Princeton N.J. operates by magnetic
confinement in a huge 250-ton water-cooled electromagnet. The
electromagnet exquisitely controls and shapes a magnetic field that
physically supports the reaction. The TOKAMAK has never operated
longer than a few seconds at a time and the federal government has
withdrawn its support.
[0009] With inertial confinement, hundreds of powerful lasers are
pointed concentrically at a gold capsule containing a small amount
of hydrogen. The pressure and the temperature of the capsule are
raised to fusion levels, producing a burst of energy. This process
must then be repeated, perhaps 100 times per second, to provide a
reasonably continuous flow of power. Two such reactors exist in the
USA, one in Rochester N.Y. and one in Livermore Calif. As far as
known, neither has ever approached a "break-even" point in power
generation.
[0010] With electrostatic confinement, the fusion reaction is
confined by electrostatic forces within a large potential well that
is centrally located within a vacuum chamber. The potential well
may be provided by a spherical grid that is highly negatively
charged to act a physical anode, or by confining electrons using a
quasi-spherical-cusp magnetic field to form a highly negatively
charged virtual anode. Dr. Gerald Kulzinski and co-investigators at
the Fusion Technology Institute at the University of
Wisconsin/Madison have successfully demonstrated a fusion reaction
using electrostatic confinement (a spherical grid anode is used)
and positive ions of deuterium (D) and helium-3 (He-3 or .sup.3He)
as the reaction fuel. The ions are inserted into the vacuum chamber
and fall through the large potential well created by the anode.
Within the anode's strong electrostatic field, the ions oscillate
backward and forward at increasing speed until fusion occurs.
Because a mixture of D and He-3 ions is introduced into the vacuum
chamber, both a D-D fusion reaction and a D-.sup.3H fusion reaction
occur, producing a steady stream of neutrons, protons, electrons,
helium-4 (He-4), tritium, gamma and x-rays. It has been postulated
that if He-3 ions alone could be introduced into the vacuum
chamber, and if a large enough potential well could be generated
(i.e., -200 kV), a .sup.3H-.sup.3H fusion reaction would occur,
producing He-4 and two protons that come off at very high energies.
The beauty of the .sup.3H-.sup.3H reaction is that the fuel (He-3)
is non-radioactive, the process is non-radioactive, and the residue
(He-4) is non-radioactive. In fact, the residue, He-4, is used to
inflate childrens' balloons. Thus, He-3 may be the perfect fuel for
fusion-based nuclear power generation.
[0011] Another He-3 application would be space travel. Rocket
scientists agree that mankind has about reached the limit of human
ability to travel in space using chemical rockets. To achieve
anything near the speed of light we will need a new energy source
and a new propellant. Nuclear fission is not an option, but nuclear
fusion of light weight elements such as He-3 would permit more
nearly approaching the speed of light.
[0012] Additional uses for He-3 may also be imagined. Indeed,
history has repeatedly shown that when a new method or material
becomes available, new uses for it arise. He-3 is no exception. It
is only recently that reports have emerged from Thomas Daniel at
the University of Virginia Health center and from other sources, of
the use of He-3 to greatly augment the utility of ions in the
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedure in visualizing lung
lesions. The patient breathes a few breaths of He-3 that has been
super-polarized by laser irradiation as the patient breathes it.
The gas holds this polarization for a few seconds and the resulting
polar response is many times more effective than that of the normal
water response that the MRI usually sees. This permits
visualization of lung lesions down to a resolution of 1 mm. When
gasses are "hyperpolarized," it means a large quantity of the
atomic nuclei's "spin"--a magnetic property of quantum
particles--point in the same direction. The hyperpolarized gasses
provide an MRI signal that is about 100,000 times stronger than the
signal produced by water, the substance that is normally visualized
by MRI scans, according to Dr. Daniel.
[0013] Physicists Gordon Cates and William Happer at Princeton
University, along with Mitchell Albert of Brigham and Womens'
Hospital in Boston, are primarily credited with the idea of using
polarized gasses for medical imaging. Unfortunately, the present
cost of the He-3 (about $400/liter) rules it out for routine
clinical use and much effort is directed to use of the less
effective, but cheaper, xenon gas for this purpose. Certainly the
availability of reasonably priced He-3 would encourage more
research into other possible uses.
[0014] The primary disadvantage of He-3 is that there is not much
of this material available on Earth. It comes up to the Earth's
surface as a tiny percentage of natural gas. There is also a small
additional supply of He-3 in old nuclear weapons in the form of
radioactive tritium gas (H-3), which decays into, of all things,
He-3 in about 13 years (half-life). Thus, there may be enough He-3
here on Earth to build one big earth-bound reactor and one small
orbiting reactor. Beyond that, mankind must find another source of
He-3. One very promising source is the Earth's moon.
[0015] He-3 comes from the Sun in an ionized form on the solar
wind. The ions hit the Earth's magnetic field and get diverted
away. Because the ions cannot land on Earth, they drift around and
eventually land on the Moon. They have been landing there for four
billion years. It is estimated that there is more He-3 energy on
the Moon than the Earth has ever had in the form of fossil fuels.
In particular, it is believed that there is sufficient He-3
available on Earth's moon to supply the energy needs of Earth for
approximately one thousand years. After that it may be possible to
collect the He-3 from Mars or other planets and their moons.
[0016] He-3 on the Moon is contained in an ore called ilmenite
(iron titanate), that contains titanium dioxide. He-3 comes
adsorbed on the titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2). The ilmenite must be
scraped off the lunar surface and refined to obtain the titanium
dioxide. It is said that heating the titanium dioxide to 7000
Celsius will release the adsorbed He-3.
[0017] In an article entitled "Fusion Power From Lunar Resources"
by Kulcinski and Schmitt, Fusion Technology, Vol. 21, p. 2221-2229
(July 1992), a proposal is made to mine ilmenite ore on the lunar
surface using a lunar mining vehicle. The principle of the miner
operation is that sunlight is relayed from stationary mirrors to
the slowly moving miners to heat the ore and power the miner during
the lunar day (14 Earth days). The released gases, which include
He-4 and He-3, are collected in tanks, which are then transported
back to a mining base camp. During the lunar night, the gaseous
mixture is exposed to the "coldness" of space, and all the
components except He-4 and He-3 are condensed. The He-3 is
thereafter separated from the He-4 by "superleak" techniques, which
are said to be well known on Earth.
[0018] A disadvantage of the foregoing He-3 mining proposal is that
the miner is required to both mine ilmenite ore and process the
He-3 therefrom. A relatively complicated mirroring arrangement is
required to heat the ore and power the miners, presumably after the
minors have finished mining and are placed at a fixed location.
Insofar as the miners are mobile, they will be relatively small,
and the amount of He-3 gas they can generate and hold will be
limited. Finally, whatever He-3 gas they do generate needs to be
offloaded for condensation at a remote processing location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The foregoing problems are solved and an advance in the art
is provided by a novel method for extracting Helium-3 gas from
ilmenite ore using direct radiant solar energy. In accordance with
the present invention, there is provided a method of recovering
Helium-3 from titanium dioxide, including the steps of: collecting
a quantity of titanium dioxide having He-3 adsorbed therein,
placing the titanium dioxide having adsorbed He-3 in a solar
collector, heating the titanium dioxide in the solar collector
within an optically transparent collection vessel to a temperature
of at least about 123 degrees Celsius to drive off the He-3 in a
gaseous form, cooling the vaporized He-3 so as liquefy the He-3;
and recovering and storing the liquefied He-3 into a suitable
container. The invention further contemplates an apparatus for
recovering He-3 from titanium dioxide, including a rotating
satellite, a mining apparatus for collecting a quantity of titanium
dioxide having He-3 adsorbed therein, a solar collector (which may
be parabolic in shape) operatively associated with the satellite
and suitable for receiving the titanium dioxide, the solar
collector heating the titanium dioxide to a temperature of at least
about 123 degrees Celsius to drive off the He-3 in a gaseous form
when the satellite and associated solar collector are oriented so
as to directly receive concentrated radiation from the sun, an
optically transparent collection vessel surrounding the solar
collector for collecting the He-3 driven off by the heat of the
solar collector, the collection vessel being adapted to allow the
vaporized He-3 to cool as the satellite rotates causing the solar
collector to be shaded from direct radiation from the sun, wherein
the collection vessel further includes a system for concentrating
and liquefying the He-3 and a system for collecting and storing the
liquefied He-3 in a suitable container.
[0020] It is therefore an object of the invention is to utilize
radiant solar energy for He-3 extraction.
[0021] A further object of the invention is to concentrate the
normal solar radiant energy using parabolic solar reflectors so as
to achieve a higher temperature of the titanium dioxide to
facilitate the boiling off of He-3 gas.
[0022] A further object of the invention is to utilize the normal,
very low ambient temperature of the lunar environment during the
lunar night to facilitate the liquefication of the He-3 gas.
[0023] A further object of the invention is to liquefy the
resulting He-3 to facilitate its transport to nuclear fusion
reactor sites.
[0024] A further object of the invention is to provide a reasonably
cheap source of rocket fuel at the sight of rocket refueling (the
Moon) to facilitate space travel from a space station on the
Moon.
[0025] A further object of the invention is to provide a suitable
rocket fuel at reasonable cost to permit accelerating rockets
closer to the speed of light, which cannot be accomplished by
chemical rockets.
[0026] A further object of the invention is to provide a fuel that
does not produce greenhouse gasses as a by-product of power
generation.
[0027] A further object of this invention is to provide fuel for a
power generation in system which is not subject to the limitation
in efficiency (usually about 40%) of the Carnot cycle for a heat
engine. He-3 power generation is an entirely electrical reaction,
like a fuel cell, and thus its efficiency is not limited by the
Carnot cycle.
[0028] Yet another object of the invention is to provide methods
and apparatus suitable for use on other planetary bodies (e.g.,
Mars) or satellites thereof, in which the present invention may
present a viable source of fuel for a galactic space exploration
and/or colony.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the invention will become apparent in the accompanying description
when read in view of the drawings in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of exemplary containment vessel
shown on the surface of a satellite in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a focusing, parabolic solar
collector used in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0032] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the process employed by an
embodiment of the present invention superimposed on a lunar time
line.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] The present invention will now be described in connection
with a preferred embodiment. However, it will be understood that
there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment
described. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included
within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
[0034] For a general understanding of the present invention,
reference will be made to the drawings wherein like reference
numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements.
Thus, referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a representation of a
plastic or similarly transparent containment or collection vessel
30. As depicted, the collection vessel 30 may be constructed as a
geodesic dome or similar hoop-shaped (semi-cylindrical) design so
as to enable full access to the direct solar radiation when the
collection vessel is in direct, sunlight 40. The collection vessel
30 is preferably vacuum-tight, and may be entered or accessed via
one or more resealable openings therein (not shown) for the purpose
of "charging" the system with ilmenite ore, and extracting the
products subsequent to processing. The collection vessel 30 thus
also contains the titanium dioxide that is extracted from the
ilmenite ore. In a preferred embodiment, the collection vessel 30
is operatively affixed to the surface 36 of a terrestrial satellite
such as Earth's moon, and may be relocated to different ore/mining
locations.
[0035] Referring also to FIG. 2, within the collection vessel 30
are one or more parabolic or similar concentrating solar reflectors
or collectors 50 having a conveyor 60 or similar transport
mechanism for moving the ilmenite ore 70 therethrough in the
direction of arrow 80. The solar collectors 50 are designed to
receive the direct solar radiation 40 and concentrate or focus it
at the location of the ore in order to magnify the effect of the
Sun's solar radiant energy and "boil-off" the He-3, which will be
retained within the collection vessel 30. Although the solar
collectors 50 may not be needed at certain lunar latitudes (i.e.,
where there is sufficient intensity of the Sun's solar radiation
energy at the site of the lunar refinery), they are preferred.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is depicted a flowchart
illustrating the process steps in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention. He-3 can be extracted from ilmenite ore at a
temperature of between about 200 degrees Celsius and 1000 degrees
Celsius. It is believed that extraction by direct solar radiation,
enhanced by the solar collectors 50, is best accomplished at a
temperature somewhere between these extremes, for example, at about
700 degrees Celsius. The solar radiation extraction of He-3 from
titanium dioxide (which may also be previously refined from the raw
ilmenite ore) would follow these same patterns. At step 100, the
refining process/system is "charged," whereby the ilmenite ore, or
perhaps titanium dioxide already recovered therefrom, is placed
within the collection vessel 30, above the reflecting solar
collectors 50, if present.
[0037] Subsequently, the satellite rotates into direct sunlight
(beginning of lunar day), and is held there for approximately two
weeks, as the Moon rotates toward the Sun in step 110. The titanium
dioxide will become very hot and the He-3 will boil off. The mean
daytime temperature on the Moon is 107 degrees Celsius and the
maximum temperature is 123 degrees Celsius. With the solar
collectors 50, a temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius could be
obtained that would boil off 100% of the He-3, but reduced
fractions could be retrieved at a lower temperature, including
temperatures as low as 123 degrees Celsius.
[0038] After approximately two Earth weeks, the Moon rotates away
from the Sun and step 120 begins. This will result in very cold
temperatures within the collection vessel 30 (e.g., minus 153
degrees Celsius mean temperature and minus 232 degrees Celsius
minimum temperature), which would go a long way toward liquefying
the He-3. However, as further indicated by step 120, although He-3
liquefication will be promoted by virtue of the collection vessel
30 being exposed to the lunar night, it is believed that additional
cooling will be necessary to complete the liquefication and
compression of the He-3. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, a cooling
unit 90 may be associated with the collection vessel 30 by placing
the cooling unit therein, or by locating the cooling unit 90
remotely from the collection vessel and providing an He-3 transport
line therebetween. After the He-3 is completely liquefied and
compressed according to step 120, it is retrieved and stored in
step 130 for subsequent transport to Earth as liquid He-3, e.g.,
via a space shuttle. As shown in FIG. 1, a containment vessel 95
that is operatively connected to the cooling unit 90 may be used
for this purpose.
[0039] It is estimated that single shuttle load (25 tons) of liquid
He-3 brought back from the Moon could supply all of the energy
needs of the United States for a year. The cost of the He-3,
including the shuttle, the Moon colony, and the ilmenite refinery,
amortized over a suitable number of decades, has been calculated to
be an equivalent oil cost of about $8 per equivalent barrel of oil.
Today, a barrel of oil cost about $22!
[0040] Note, moreover, that most of the "greenhouse gasses" which
contribute to global warming on the Earth are carbon dioxide from
the combustion of fossil fuels. The generation of power from He-3
completely eliminates this source of pollution from our planet.
[0041] An additional benefit of Moon-based He-3 mining is that the
refining process, in addition to producing He-3, will produce
by-products of water, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and other elements
needed to make a manned Moon-colony self-sustaining. Having little
atmosphere or gravity, a Moon-colony should then be an ideal space
station from which to launch further space exploration. It would be
very attractive to refuel space ships where the fuel is located,
rather than transporting the fuel to a space station.
[0042] Of course, it will be appreciated that the Moon is not the
only satellite capable of producing He-3 according to the
above-described method. Earth's planetary neighbors, such as Mars,
may also be suitable sites for He-3 recovery. On the other hand,
should political or economic conditions preclude some of these
manufacturing/refining operations on the Moon, Mars or other
terrestrial bodies, the subject invention may still be applicable
in desert areas of Earth or on other satellites.
[0043] Accordingly, a method and apparatus have been disclosed for
the recovery of He-3 from ilmenite ore, and more particularly from
ilmenite ore located on the surface and near surface of the Moon or
other satellite. The He-3 may be used in nuclear reactors for
generation of pollution-free electrical power for commercial or
industrial uses, for use as a fuel to propel space vehicles, and
for other purposes such as medical use.
[0044] The techniques described herein are advantageous because
they are efficient and simple compared to other approaches proposed
for the mining and refining of He-3 from ilmenite. The system,
while ideal for a lunar-based operation, can be adapted to any
number of satellite configurations. In addition, it can be used to
generate and collect by-products that may be important for extended
stay or exploration of space. The techniques of the invention are
further advantageous because they utilize readily implementable
technology and the inherent rotation of satellites to provide a
range of alternatives, each of which is useful in appropriate
situations. As a result of the invention, it is now possible to
economically collect and refine ilmenite ore to produce He-3 and
other useful by-products.
[0045] Although the invention has been described in conjunction
with preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that
many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent
to those skilled in the art. The invention is intended to embrace
all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall
within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *