Patent ID: 12186699

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Initially, this disclosure is by way of example only, not by limitation. Thus, although the instrumentalities described herein are for the convenience of explanation, shown and described with respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the principles herein may be applied equally in other similar configurations involving the subject matter directed to the field of the invention. The phrases “in one embodiment”, “according to one embodiment”, and the like, generally mean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase, is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and may be included in more than one embodiment of the present invention. Importantly, such phases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic. As used herein, the terms “having”, “have”, “including” and “include” are considered open language and are synonymous with the term “comprising”. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “essentially” is meant to stress that a characteristic of something is to be interpreted within acceptable tolerance margins known to those skilled in the art in keeping with typical normal world tolerance, which is analogous with “more or less.” For example, essentially flat, essentially straight, essentially on time, etc. all indicate that these characteristics are not capable of being perfect within the sense of their limits. Accordingly, if there is no specific +/−value assigned to “essentially”, then assume essentially means to be within +/−2.5% of exact. The term “connected to” as used herein is to be interpreted as a first element physically linked or attached to a second element and not as a “means for attaching” as in a “means plus function”. In fact, unless a term expressly uses “means for” followed by the gerund form of a verb, that term shall not be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f). In what follows, similar or identical structures may be identified using identical callouts.

With respect to the drawings, it is noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and are diagrammatic in nature to illustrate features of interest. Descriptive terminology such as, for example, upper/lower, top/bottom, horizontal/vertical, left/right and the like, may be adopted with respect to the various views or conventions provided in the figures as generally understood by an onlooker for purposes of enhancing the reader's understanding and is in no way intended to be limiting. All embodiments described herein are submitted to be operational irrespective of any overall physical orientation unless specifically described otherwise, such as elements that rely on gravity to operate, for example.

Described herein are embodiments directed to collecting vaporize gaseous atoms and molecules in an extremely low-pressure environment and collecting those vaporize gaseous atoms and molecules using cryogenically cooled surfaces, such as plates. Extremely low-pressure environment is defined herein as below 1×10−5bars, wherein pressure at sea-level on Earth is approximately 1 bar. Aspects of the present invention consider mining gaseous atoms and molecules on extraterrestrial bodies such as the Moon, asteroids, moons orbiting other planets, etc., for example. Many of these extraterrestrial bodies have little to no ambient pressure at or just beyond their surfaces and depending on the size of the extraterrestrial body have a significantly lower gravitational pull than that experienced on Earth.

Though embodiments of the present invention can be used in conjunction with many different extraterrestrial bodies, it is one object of the present invention to focus on mining gaseous atoms and molecules (materials) from the Moon. The Moon's atmosphere (the surface boundary exosphere) has a pressure of about 3×10−15bars and can range in temperature between 20° to 400° Kelvin. In the interest of continued exploration of the Moon as well as maintaining long-term residents on the Moon, extracting or otherwise mining important gaseous materials from the Moon, such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium, for example, reduces the dependency of transporting such gaseous materials from the Earth. Moreover, helium-3, a light stable isotope of helium having two protons and one neutron, which has promise as an important constituent in fusion reactions, is far more abundant on the Moon than the Earth. In some estimates, helium-3 is more than a thousand times more abundant on the Moon than compared to the Earth making the Moon a better target to obtain helium-3.

Certain embodiments of the present invention envision extracting target gaseous materials from the Moon by heating up moon regolith (lunar soil/minerals) to gas vaporizing temperatures defined as temperatures that are high enough to liberate/vaporize these target gaseous materials from moon regolith, or simply “regolith”. The vaporized target gaseous materials are then collected as liquid from condensation surfaces that are at or below the condensation temperatures corresponding to each of the target gaseous materials. When condensed i.e., liquefied, the liquid or frozen, which improves the transportation of these target materials.

In that light, embodiments of the present invention contemplate a vapor collection system that segregates higher temperature condensing vapor, such as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, from lower temperature condensing vapor, such as helium, that can be used at an extra-terrestrial body to collect target gaseous atoms and molecules that are floating around in a shielded environment at a pressure at or less than 1×10−5bar.

Presented below are embodiments of a segregating gas arrangement that generally comprises a gas segregation chamber, at least one cooling plate in the gas segregation chamber, and a carbon adsorber in an adsorption gas capturing chamber. The gas segregation chamber has a rim that when resting atop regolith defines a first interior environment. The cooling plates are in the gas segregation chamber, wherein the cooling plates are maintained at a first temperature above 5° K, which is a condensation temperature that higher temperature condensing gases will condense. The adsorption gas capturing chamber defines a second interior environment that is in communication with the first interior environment. The carbon adsorber is in the second interior environment and is maintained at a second temperature below 3° K. The carbon adsorber is configured to capture the low temperature condensing gas.

With respect toFIGS.1A and1B, the reservoir160is shown connected to and supported by the gas capturing arrangement base104via support legs101, however a skilled artisan will immediately appreciate that there are numerous other ways of supporting a reservoir160to the gas capturing arrangement100without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The carbon adsorber145and in some cases the entire adsorption gas capturing chamber140can be removed by an adsorber access arm180via an access port165in the reservoir160, which would be done after the upper gate valve124closes off the connecting passageway125. A sliding gas segregation chamber gate valve gate190(door) is interposed between the gas capturing arrangement base104and a rim120that is arranged and configured to rest atop a granular surface200, such as regolith. The sliding gas segregation chamber door190comprises an inlet aperture192that is aligned with an intake port121defined as the space within the inside boundary of the rim120. The sliding gas segregation chamber door190can be actuated by a motor196that can be electrically connected to a power source (not shown) via an electrical connector198. It should be appreciated that though motors, electronics, computers, algorithms may not be shown, such elements can be employed to enhance the functionality of the embodiments described below, however their absence does not change the fundamental functionality of the embodiments to enable the reader to appreciate the scope of the ideas presented herein.

As shown inFIG.1Cin view ofFIG.1D, the gas capturing arrangement100, and more particularly, the rim120is resting on or otherwise in contact with regolith200. The gas segregation chamber gate valve190is open providing communication between the internal segregation chamber environment112and the regolith200via the inlet region121, as shown inFIG.1B. The adsorption gas capturing chamber140is connected to the top housing surface118of the gas segregation chamber110via the connecting passageway125. The gate124of the upper gate valve126is open thereby providing communication between the internal segregation chamber environment112and the adsorption gas capturing chamber environment142. When the upper gate valve126is closed, the adsorption gas capturing chamber140can be separated from the gas segregation chamber110at the separation junction128. The adsorption gas capturing chamber140can be lifted from the gas segregation chamber110through the access port165in the reservoir160via the adsorber access arm180. Liquid cryogen is delivered from the reservoir160to the gas segregation chamber110via lines in the feed and return line conduit175and to the upper chamber heat sink144via the lines in upper chamber conduit146. In the present embodiment, the cryogenic liquid coolant reservoir160is held in place relative to the base104via the support legs101.

With continued reference toFIG.1D, as shown by the cross-section, the gas capturing arrangement100depicts the generic cooling plates105disposed inside of the gas segregation chamber110. The gas segregation chamber110can be configured and arranged like a cryopump with one or more plates105.

One embodiment contemplates a plurality of plates105with an upper first plate or plates106being at a first temperature, a middle second plate or plates107maintained at a second temperature, and a lower third plate or plates108maintained at a third temperature. This embodiment contemplates the option of the first temperature being colder than the second temperature, the second temperature being colder than the third temperature. In other words, the plates105get progressively colder as they near the top housing surface118. The first temperature can be maintained by pumping a first cryogenic fluid through lines in the first plate or plates106. The second temperature can be maintained by pumping a second cryogenic fluid through lines in the second plate or plates107. The third temperature can be maintained by pumping a third cryogenic fluid through lines in the third plate or plates108. Certain embodiments contemplate the first cryogenic fluid being liquid helium, the second cryogenic fluid being liquid hydrogen, and the third cryogenic fluid being liquid nitrogen.

Another embodiment contemplates one or more plates105in the gas segregation chamber110being infused with a third cryogenic fluid at a third temperature to segregate out a first gas, such as water vapor, that will condense and freeze on the surface of the one or more plates105. After a first period of time that is sufficient to segregate out the first gas, the one or more plates105can be infused with a second cryogenic fluid at a second temperature to segregate out a second gas, such as nitrogen, that will condense on the surface of the one or more plates105. After a second period of time that is sufficient to segregate out the second gas, the one or more plates105can be infused with a first cryogenic fluid at a first temperature to segregate out a third gas, such as oxygen and hydrogen, that will condense on the surface of the one or more plates105. The first cryogenic fluid is colder than the second cryogenic fluid, which is colder than the third cryogenic fluid. Certain embodiments contemplate the first cryogenic fluid being liquid helium, the second cryogenic fluid being liquid hydrogen, and the third cryogenic fluid being liquid nitrogen.

Yet another embodiment contemplates the one or more plates105in the gas segregation chamber110being infused with a single cryogenic fluid, such as liquid helium, that is configured to segregate all gasses out of the gas segregation chamber110except helium. In this embodiment, the one or more plates105can be maintained at a temperature slightly above the condensation temperature of helium, such as via heat boosts or design of the cryogenic fluid carrying passageways122in the cooling plates105.

The gas segregation chamber110is defined within a segregation chamber housing115. The segregation chamber housing115is defined by housing sides116that extend from a top housing surface118to a rim120. The segregation chamber housing115defines an internal environment112, which is in communication with an external environment102via an inlet region121at the rim120when the lower gate valve190is open. The inlet region121is an opening that spans that the rim120. For example, if the rim120is circular with a radius r, the inlet region121is the area of the circle (πr2). This assumes the inlet aperture192in the lower gate valve190is open or otherwise not obstructing the inlet region121. The external environment102is defined outside of the housing115.

The rim120is configured and arranged to rest atop a granular surface200, such as regolith. There can be a filter130that is configured to trap regolith dust from entering the internal environment210via the inlet region121. The filter130can be a HEPA filter or ULPA filter, for example. Certain embodiments envision to filter but rather the use of magnets with or without ionizers to electromagnetically prevent the regolith dust from entering the internal segregation chamber environment112.

The gas capturing arrangement100can further comprise a heating element150configured to emit energy152that heats a target volume154of regolith200at and beyond the rim120. The heating element150can be a laser that emits a laser beam, an ultrasound generator that emits ultrasound, a microwave generator that emits microwaves, a radiant heater that emits radiant heat, etc. When the regolith200is heated, gaseous elements are liberated and captured within the gas segregation chamber110. Some embodiments envision the heating element not being in the gas segregation chamber110but rather outside of the gas segregation chamber110, wherein the externally located heating element directs heat in the regolith200under the gas segregation chamber110.

The adsorption gas capturing chamber140is attached to the gas segregation chamber110via a connecting passageway125, which provides communication between the two chambers110and140. In this embodiment, communication can be broken between the internal segregation chamber environment112the adsorption gas capturing chamber environment142via the gate valve126when the gate124is closed. Certain embodiments contemplate the adsorption gas capturing chamber140being detachable from the gas segregation chamber110, such as for example at the gate valve126. Other embodiments contemplate the adsorption gas capturing chamber140being directly attached to the gas segregation chamber110(that is with no connecting passageway125therebetween).

With respect to the adsorption gas capturing chamber140, disposed therein is a carbon adsorber145configured and arranged to capture isolated gas that is not targeted to be captured in the gas segregation chamber110. The carbon adsorber145is comprised of a highly porous carbon that is well known for having a high surface area due to its high porosity. Certain embodiments envision capturing the isolated gas that migrates into the adsorption gas capturing chamber140in the pores of the carbon adsorber145. In the present embodiment, the carbon adsorber145is in contact with a heat sink142, which is maintained at or near the cryogenic temperature of the cryogenic fluid circulating therethrough via the upper chamber cryogen feed and return lines148. The heat sink142is a body at essentially the lowest temperature in the gas capturing arrangement100. The upper chamber heat sink144cools the carbon adsorber145by way of conduction to near the temperature of the heat sink142, within a degree or two Kelvin.

The adsorption gas capturing chamber140is connected to an adsorber access arm180that can assist in removing the adsorption gas capturing chamber140from the gas capturing arrangement100. Certain embodiments envision a duct182inside of the adsorber access arm180configured to pull gas collected in the carbon adsorber145for storage and transport via a secondary gas receiving system (not shown).

FIG.2Ais a line drawing of a cross-section view of the gas segregation chamber110consistent with embodiments of the present invention.FIG.2Ais in view ofFIG.1Cidentifying associated elements called out. In this embodiment, there are six cooling plates105attached to one another via a stem103extending through the center of the cooling plates105. The stem103can attach to the segregation chamber housing115via a web or spokes, not shown, which permit unobstructed movement of gas from the gas segregation chamber110into the adsorption gas capturing chamber140via the connecting passageway125. Each of the cooling plates105comprise cryogenic fluid carrying passageways122through which cryogenic fluid is circulated from the feed line172. The cryogenic fluid carrying passageways122ultimately loop back to the cryogenic fluid coolant reservoirs160via the return line174. The feed line172and return line174are shielded by a feed and return line conduit175. The cryogenic fluid is circulated through the cryogenic fluid carrying passageways122in the cooling plates105to bring the temperature of the cooling plates to below the condensation temperature of one or more target gasses in the internal segregation chamber environment112. In the present embodiment, the cooling plates105are disk shaped but other embodiments contemplate other shapes, such as blades, rectangles, etc., without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The gas segregation chamber110is considered a cryogenic ‘roughing pump’ to segregate out a majority of higher temperature condensing gasses from the lower temperature condensing gases before the lower temperature gasses migrate into the adsorption gas capturing chamber140.

In practice, the heating element150heats the regolith200to a temperature above which will liberate gasses trapped in the regolith200. The liberated gasses (of which there may be several different types, such as hydrogen, oxygen, helium, nitrogen, argon, etc.) enter the internal segregation chamber environment112via the inlet region121(when open) defined as either the area within the rim120or the area of the inlet aperture192, whichever is smaller. In some embodiments, the inlet area within the rim120is the same as the area of the inlet aperture192. The heating element150can diffuse energy to the surface of the regolith200. The energy can be radiant energy, microwave energy, ultrasonic energy, conductive energy from a contact heater, or a laser that sweeps over an area under the area within the rim120, just to name several non-limiting examples. In this embodiment a filter130interposed between the rim120and the cooling plates105prevents or at the least greatly reduces any dust from entering the internal segregation chamber environment112without blocking any gases.

With continued reference to the cooling plates105, certain embodiments envision the cooling plates105being maintained at a temperature that is cold enough to condense out all gasses except for helium. In this case, liquid helium is circulated through the cooling plates105to maintain a temperature of the cooling plates105slightly above the condensation temperature of helium. In this way, helium is segregated from the other gases and will migrate through the connecting passageway125and into the adsorption gas capturing chamber140, assuming the upper gate valve126is open. Meanwhile, the cooling plates105will, condensed water, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, etc. hence the roughing pump portion of the gas collection arrangement100. The valve126can be closed and the adsorption gas capturing chamber140can be separated at separation junction128for processing the contents of each chamber110and140remotely or on-site.

Certain other embodiments envision multiple different kinds of cryogenic fluid at different temperatures either made to flow through the cooling plates105successively to provide a successively colder internal segregation chamber environment112as discussed above. For example, liquid nitrogen can be made to flow through the cooling plates105first, followed by liquid oxygen, then liquid hydrogen and lastly followed by liquid helium. Another embodiment envisions the bottom two cooling plates105being maintained at a temperature that condenses water, the middle two cooling plates105being held at a temperature to condense oxygen and the upper two cooling plates105being held at a temperature that condenses hydrogen. This can be accomplished with multiple fluid cryogens or a single cryogen with different geometries of the cryogenic fluid carrying passageways122in each set of cooling plates105or optionally electric heaters embedded in the cooling plates105for temperature control, just to name several examples. The condensate on the cooling plates105can be collected and processed for later use. The heaters in the cooling plates105can further be used to heat the cooling plates105to a temperature the liberates the condensed gas from the plate surfaces for further processing.

FIG.2Bis a higher resolution cross-section line drawing of the cooling plates105consistent with embodiments of the present invention. As shown, there is a downward arrow indicating the direction of cryogenic fluid flow in the feed line172. The feed line172connects into each cooling plate105via the cryogenic fluid carrying passageways122. In the present embodiment, the cryogenic fluid carrying passageways122in each cooling plate105connect to one another through the stem103. The cryogenic fluid carrying passageway122in the bottom cooling plate105connects to the return line174in the stem103where it can flow (be pumped) back into the reservoir tank160, shown by the up facing arrow.

FIG.3is a higher resolution cross-section line drawing of the adsorption gas capturing chamber140and cryogenic liquid coolant reservoir160consistent with embodiments of the present invention. As shown, a pump158disposed in the reservoir160is configured to circulate cryogenic liquid coolant through the upper chamber cryogen feed and return lines148and in one embodiment the lower chamber cryogen feed line172and return line174. Other embodiments envision a separate pump circulating cryogenic liquid coolant through the lower chamber cryogen feed line172and return line174. The adsorption gas capturing chamber140comprises a carbon adsorber145that is in contact with the upper chamber heat sink144. The carbon adsorber145is cooled through conduction while the heat sink144is being cooled by the cryogen circulating through the upper chamber cryogen feed and return lines148. In operation, the adsorption gas capturing chamber140is envisioned to mostly contain helium gas (as the segregated, targeted gas) since the other gasses liberated from the regolith200are mostly condensed in the gas segregation chamber110. The helium gas contains a concentration of both He-3 and He-4 of which become trapped in the carbon adsorber145. Because He-3 condenses at around 3° K, the carbon adsorber145is kept below that temperature to help retain He-3 and He-4.

The contents of the carbon adsorber145, such as He-3 and He-4 from the example above, can be harvested by closing the gate valve126, separating the adsorption gas capturing chamber140from the connecting passageway125at the separation junction128, and removing the adsorption gas capturing chamber140through the access port185in the reservoir160. Once removed, the adsorption gas capturing chamber140can be replaced with a new or ready to use adsorption gas capturing chamber140. The adsorption gas capturing chamber140that has been collecting gas can be processed in a processing facility equipped to harvest or otherwise extract the gas captured in the adsorption gas capturing chamber140and the carbon adsorber145. Optionally, the gas captured in the adsorption gas capturing chamber140and the carbon adsorber145can be extracted without removing the adsorption gas capturing chamber140via the access arm duct182extending through the adsorber access arm180by connecting an extractor at the access port184at the top of the adsorber access arm180. In yet another harvesting option, the carbon adsorber145is envisioned to be a cartridge that is removable from the adsorption gas capturing chamber140and replaceable with a new or ready to use cartridge.

FIG.4is a block diagram describing method steps of using the segregating gas arrangement100consistent with embodiments of the present invention.FIG.4is intended to be seen in view of the preceding figures with the callout numbers corresponding to the elements referred to therein. Step302refers to the segregating gas arrangement100as described above. Though the adsorption gas capturing chamber140is shown connected to the top portion of the gas segregation chamber110, the adsorption gas capturing chamber140can be connected elsewhere. Certain other embodiments envision a single gas segregation chamber110(no separate adsorption gas capturing chamber140) with the carbon adsorber145therein using potentially separate temperatures at different times to capture higher condensing temperature gasses then lower condensing temperature gas/es as described herein.

Step204is a step for locating the segregating gas arrangement100to a spot/location on the Moon or some other extraterrestrial body and resting the rim120of the gas segregation chamber110atop regolith200. The positioning could be accomplished with a rover, manually, by a hovering device, or simply by deploying the segregating gas arrangement100from an orbiting or hovering craft.

Once deployed with the rim120resting on the regolith200, as shown in step306, the cooling plates105in the gas segregation chamber110are brought down to a temperature at or above 5° K, which can be accomplished by circulating liquid helium through channels122in the cooling plates105. The cooling plates105are one embodiment of a cooling surface, which could be one or more screens, blades, channels, or some other surface that can be chilled as understood by those skilled in the art. 5° K is the temperature that all higher condensing temperature gasses other than helium will condense, which will essentially segregate or otherwise rough the higher temperature condensing gasses out in the gas segregation chamber110. This process isolates helium gas (He-3 and He-4) to migrate into the adsorption gas capturing chamber140where it can be adsorbed by a carbon adsorber145maintained at below 3° K, which is a temperature that helium condenses. In order to accomplish these low temperatures, the liquid helium supplied by the reservoir160can be pressurized and further cooled. This process can be adjusted to different temperatures to target specific gasses having a higher condensing temperature than helium, such as targeting hydrogen or something else while roughing out even higher condensing temperature gasses.

As presented in step308, the gas to be captured within the segregating gas arrangement100is liberated from the regolith200under the rim120via a heater150that heats up the regolith200to temperatures that may exceed 800° K. The liberated gas enters the interior environment112of the gas segregation chamber110through an opening (inlet region)121in the rim120. In certain embodiments, the inlet region/opening121can be shut via a gate valve190to isolate at least the first interior environment112. When the gate valve190is closed, the gases trapped in the gas segregation chamber110can be contained for further processing without simply escaping back through the inlet region/opening121and into the exterior environment102.

With the different gasses in the segregating gas arrangement100, a majority of the higher temperature condensing gases condense on the cooling plates105(step310) preserving the lower condensing gases, such as helium, to condense in the carbon adsorber145(step312). The carbon adsorber145and helium can be isolated from the gas segregation chamber110by closing the upper gate valve126. In this way the carbon adsorber145can be removed from the adsorption gas capturing chamber140for further processing. Optionally, the adsorption gas capturing chamber140can be separated from and entirely removed from the segregating gas arrangement100at a junction between the gas segregation chamber110and the adsorption gas capturing chamber140(step314). Certain other embodiments envision a mobile gas collector (not shown) going to the segregating gas arrangement100and pulling the accumulated helium gas from the adsorption gas capturing chamber140via an access arm duct182in the adsorber access arm180that extends from the adsorption gas capturing chamber140. In another embodiment, the adsorption gas capturing chamber140can be heated to liberate the trapped helium gas in the carbon adsorber145when pulling the helium gas via the adsorber access arm180. A similar technique can be used with the gas segregation chamber110to collect the higher condensing temperature gases trapped therein.

With the present description in mind, below are some examples of certain embodiments illustratively complementing some of the apparatus embodiments discussed above and presented in the figures to aid the reader. Accordingly, the elements called out below are provided by example to aid in the understanding of the present invention and should not be considered limiting. The reader will appreciate that the below elements and configurations can be interchangeable within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments can include elements from the figures.

In that light, certain embodiments of the present invention envision a gas collection system100generally comprising a gas segregation chamber110, at least one cooling plate105in the gas segregation chamber110, an adsorption gas capturing chamber140connected to the gas segregation chamber110and a carbon adsorber145in the adsorption gas capturing chamber140. The gas segregation chamber110comprises a housing115, wherein the housing115is defined by housing sides116that extend from a top housing surface118to a rim120. A first interior environment112is defined within the housing115, wherein the first interior environment142is in communication with an external environment102through only the rim120. The external environment102defined outside of the housing115. At least one cooling plate105is in the gas segregation chamber110, wherein the least one cooling plate105comprises a passageway122that is configured to accommodate cryogenic fluid. An adsorption gas capturing chamber140is connected to the housing115, wherein the adsorption gas capturing chamber140comprises a second interior environment142that is in communication with the first interior environment112via a connecting port132. A carbon adsorber145is in the second interior environment142.

The gas collection system100further envisions the carbon adsorber145being a cartridge that is removable from the gas collection system100.

The gas collection system100further contemplates that the connecting port132leads into a connecting passageway125that comprises a valve126configured to separate the first interior environment112from the second interior environment142when closed. One embodiment contemplates the valve126being a gate valve. Another embodiment contemplates the carbon adsorber145being in communication with the gas segregation chamber110only when the valve126is open.

Another embodiment of the gas collection system100contemplates the adsorption gas capturing chamber140being removable from the housing115.

The gas collection system100can further comprise a heating element150that is configured to heat granular soil200under the rim120when the rim120rests atop the granular soil200. One embodiment contemplates the heating element150being selected from a group consisting of a laser, a radiant heater, an ultrasonic heater, or a microwave heater.

The gas collection system can further comprise a filter130being disposed between the at least one cooling plate105and the rim120, the filter130is configured to filter non-gaseous material from entering the first interior environment112from the external environment102.

The gas collection system100can further comprise a lower valve190that when closed seals the at least one cooling plate105from the external environment102.

The gas collection system100further imagines the carbon adsorber being an activated carbon adsorber.

The gas collection system can further comprise a heat sink144being in contact with the carbon adsorber145, wherein the heat sink144comprises cryogen feed and return lines148that are configured to cool the carbon adsorber145.

The gas collection system100can further comprise a pump158and a reservoir160that is configured to hold cryogenic liquid.

In another aspect of the present invention, some embodiments envision a gas collection arrangement100that generally comprises a gas segregation chamber110, at least one cooling plate105in the gas segregation chamber110, an adsorption gas capturing chamber140and a carbon adsorber145. The gas segregation chamber110defines a first interior environment112when a rim120of the gas segregation chamber110rests atop regolith200. The gas segregation chamber110also comprises at least one cooling plate105that is configured to capture higher temperature condensing gas but not low temperature condensing gas, wherein the gases are released from the regolith200. The adsorption gas capturing chamber140defines a second interior environment142that is in communication with the first interior environment112via a connecting port132. The carbon adsorber145is in the second interior environment142, wherein the carbon adsorber is configured to capture the low temperature condensing gas.

The gas collection arrangement100can further comprise a tank160that is configured to contain cryogenic liquid to cool the at least one cooling plate105to first temperature and the carbon adsorber145to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

The gas collection arrangement100further envisioning the low temperature condensing gas being helium and the high temperature gas including hydrogen and oxygen.

The gas collection arrangement100can further comprise a heat sink144that is connected to the carbon adsorber145, the heat sink144configured to cool the carbon adsorber at or below a temperature at which the low temperature condensing gas condenses.

The gas collection arrangement100can further comprise a valve126that is between the gas segregation chamber110and the adsorption gas capturing chamber140, the valve126is configured to cut off the communication between the first interior environment112and the second interior environment142.

Another embodiment of the present invention contemplates a segregating gas arrangement100generally comprising a gas segregation chamber110, at least one cooling plate105in the gas segregation chamber110, at least one cooling plate105in the gas segregation chamber110, and a carbon adsorber145. The gas segregation chamber110comprises a rim120that when resting atop regolith200defines a first interior environment112. The at least one cooling plate105is in the gas segregation chamber110, wherein the least one cooling plate105is maintained at a first temperature above 5° K, which is a condensation temperature at which higher temperature condensing gases condense. The adsorption gas capturing chamber140defines a second interior environment142that is in communication with the first interior environment112. The carbon adsorber145is in the second interior environment142and is maintained at a second temperature below 3° K. The carbon adsorber is configured to capture the low temperature condensing gas.

The segregating gas arrangement100further contemplates the gas segregation chamber110being configured to filter out a majority of the higher temperature condensing gases from entering the adsorption gas capturing chamber140.

Certain other embodiments of the present invention envision a gas segregating method comprising providing a segregating gas arrangement100comprising an adsorption gas capturing chamber140that is connected to a gas segregation chamber110. The gas segregation chamber110comprises a housing115that is defined by housing sides116that extend from a top housing surface118to a rim120. The method further comprises resting the rim120atop regolith200, wherein a first interior environment112is defined within the housing when the rim120is resting atop the regolith200. A first temperature above 5° K is maintained in at least one cooling surface105that is disposed in the gas segregation chamber110and a second temperature below 3° K is maintained at the carbon adsorber145in the second interior environment142. A majority of higher temperature condensing gases are condensed in the first interior environment112but not a lower temperature condensing gas is not condensed in the first interior environment112. The lower temperature condensing gas is captured in a carbon adsorber145that is located in the adsorption gas capturing chamber140, wherein the lower temperature condensing gas migrates from the first interior environment112to a second interior environment142that is defined within the adsorption gas capturing chamber140.

The gas segregating method can further comprise a step for removing the adsorption gas capturing chamber140from the gas segregation chamber110.

The gas segregating method can further comprise a step for circulating cryogenic fluid through the at least one cooling surface105and through a heat sink144that is in contact with the carbon adsorber145, the cryogenic fluid is held in a reservoir160of the segregating gas arrangement100.

The gas segregating method can further comprise a step for removing the carbon adsorber145from the segregating gas arrangement100.

The gas segregating method can further comprise a step for liberating the higher temperature condensing gases and lower temperature condensing gas from the regolith200by heating the regolith with a heater150that is cooperating with the segregating gas arrangement100.

The gas segregating method further envisions the at least one cooling surface105being a cooling plate.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended embodiments are expressed. For example, the orientation of the elements and the plate can include other geometries not explicitly shown in the embodiments above while maintaining essentially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Likewise, the materials and construction of the cooling surfaces105and heat sink145can be different but serve the same purpose without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. It should further be appreciated that the valves do not need to be gate valves but could be other valve construction including more than one valve, the basic construction is well known in the art and modification to present embodiments discussed can be made once a skilled artisan is in possession of the concepts disclosed herein. Moreover, the electronics and computing that enable the functionality of the gas collection system100are not described in detail because the electronics and computing elements either exist or are easily constructed by those skilled in the art.

It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made which readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.