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Void

Member

Registered: 2011-12-29

Posts: 7,141

Electric Vegitation

Here is an image I spared myself very little time to create:

'A' is where a fan can suction air out of the enclosure.  Note that to the bottom right is an inlet to allow air in.
'B' indicates a shingle like plate which can be given a negitive static electric charge, relative to the ambient outside electric charge.
'C' is a moisture cover, which also should be given UV blocking abilities.

Below are two electrical insulating struts.

The atmosphere of mars being less than 1% that of Earth, and also being colder than Earth, has less moisture content in general.

I believe that the atmospheric column contains 1/13,000th the moisture, but could be mistaken there.

However in the cold of night the atmosphere can saturate with moisture, so a method of collection can be considered.

Since the air is 6 millibars thick in general, and so less than 1/100 th as thick as the Earths, the fan should be able to change out the volume of the enclosure many times faster than it could in Earth's atmosphere.

The negitive electric charge could come from the rotor blade of the fan which would suction air out at point 'E', in the manner of a helicopter blade, which can generate charges up to 40,000 volts?  This does not restrict the use of some other method of charging 'A'.

The green squiggle is intended to depict lichen which would also have a (-) charge relative to the ambient outside.  The negitive charge should actually cause a film of pressurized atmosphere to surround the lichen parts, raising the potential for condensation, either of frost, or even liquid water at favorable temperatures.

Additionally, a negitive charge tends to attract (+) charged water molecules.

During the night when air is being drawn through the enclosure, the lichen should retain the relative properties mentioned above to the air being drawn over them.

The result should be frost, if the night air has a saturation of moisture.  The enclosure cover 'B' should also collect frost.
In the morning as things warm up, the fan can shut off, and the frost should warm, and well below zero, the lichen should be able to draw in moisture.  If the negitive charge has still maintained a static air pressure film over the lichen, it should even be possible for liquid water to form, and be absorbed by the lichen.  Then as the system drys out, and the moisture leaves the lichens, and is present in the enclosure air in a concentrated form, it should be possible to suction it out into a collection device to be condensed for other uses.

I am aware that Lichen is slow growing, and do not know if it can be engineered to grow faster. 

However, the purpose of this machine is to collect moisture, and the lichen are a convenient afterthought, as they have the natural properties to provide increased condensation surface, and also to absorb moisture.

Anyway if this scheme actually works and is practicle, it would increase the possibility that settlements could be at lower lattitudes then otherwise might be required by the need for water.

Pressurization of other plants seems a possiblity, but they cannot endure the extreemly cold Martian nights, so condensation is not an option.

Last edited by Void (2012-12-28 10:37:31)

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Done.