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ESA Document - Emits - ESA

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Figure 4-52: Regenerative Fuel Cell with O2/CO/H2 as reactants<br />

HMM<br />

Assessment Study<br />

Report: CDF-20(A)<br />

February 2004<br />

page 305 of 422<br />

Fuel cell technology becomes extremely interesting on the Martian surface, as soon as the fuels<br />

can be found there. Unfortunately, until now, except the ice located in some spots close to the<br />

poles, the only interesting element is the CO2. Some processes are studied to reduce the CO2 to<br />

CO and then O2 ([RD70]), but therefore, power is first needed. Such a process should be really<br />

interesting for a permanent mars base but not for a mission of only 37 days.<br />

[RD68] and [RD69] present the use of a regenerative-SOFC on the Martian surface using that<br />

concept of oxygen extraction from the mars atmosphere. With that concept, the fuel cells could<br />

provide:<br />

• power for the electrical equipments<br />

• heat for the thermal system<br />

• fuel for the take-off from Mars<br />

• oxygen and water for the life support<br />

Figure 4-53: R-SOFC potential system on Mars

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