Utilizing water ice from the lunar permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) is essential for sustainable space exploration. This study explored the optimization of thermal mining methods for in-situ water ice extraction, focusing on how to adjust the configuration of heating rods to meet the flexible operational needs on the Moon, alongside the effects of water ice particle size and heating temperature. Our findings suggest that optimizing the heating temperature according to the water ice particle size and arrangement of heating rods significantly improves extraction performance. Specifically, by maintaining the water ice particle size greater than 20 mu m, we increase the thermal conductivity of the regolith-ice mixture by approximately 135 % compared to dry regolith, greatly shortening the extraction time. Notably, precise control of extremely low heating temperatures allows for significant expansion of the extraction range of a single heating rod. In scenarios where time constraints are minimal, the extraction range can be significantly expanded. Our innovative approach, grounded in fundamental heat transfer principles, demonstrates broad applicability and potential extension to water ice extraction on other celestial bodies. These findings provide a crucial foundation for efficient lunar resource utilization, satisfying the critical needs of future lunar missions and advancing human presence on the Moon.

来源平台：APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING