System and method of extracting and collecting water from a regolith
US11905833B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 1, 2019 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 19, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P80/20
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method of extracting frozen water from soil or a regolith and capturing the water is provided. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a water collection system to extract and collect water from regolith. The system is configured to heat the regolith in situ to a temperature at which frozen water in the regolith will vaporize. The water vapor is then captured and collected. In one embodiment, the system includes a power system to provide energy to the regolith to heat the regolith, an enclosure to trap the water vapor released from the heated regolith, and a container operably interconnected to the enclosure to collect the water vapor. In one embodiment, the system can be positioned at a production facility on the Earth, the Moon, Mars, or an asteroid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.