Production of electrical power in very extreme-temperature environmental conditions: A new implementation of thermoelectric generators

This paper investigates the application of electrical power generation based on solid-state thermoelectric generators (TEG) as a novel technological method by taking advantage of the very extreme temperature environmental conditions on the other planets such as Moon and Mars planets as a permanent, cost effective method and almost maintenance free system. The primary purpose of this paper is to provide a solution to energy production problem for two important human historical projects: human colonization on the Mars and on the Moon. Temperature on the moon is very hot in the daytime, about 100 degrees C that lasts about 13.5 days of earth. At night, the lunar surface gets very cold, as cold as minus 173 degrees C that again lasts 13.5 days of earth. While temperatures on the lunar surface vary widely on location, although beyond the first few centimeters of the regolith the temperature is a nearly constant −35 C (at a depth of 1 meter). This phenomena inspires a full practical plan for production and storage of coolants during the night time and applying it to cold head of TEGs during day time and vice versa production and storage of hot fluid during daytime and applying it to hot side of TEGs during night time, that is presented in this paper as a novel and cost effective electrical power generation method. We also propose the concept of static sunlight collector that has two dominant advantages in respect to parabolic sunlight collectors, having much more stable and stout construction which is resistance against winds and it is not necessary to change its direction to follow moving of sun in sky.