10.11.2024, Moscow.
Russia is developing technologies to establish an energy base on the Moon, which could provide it with an advantage in lunar exploration, stated Mikhail Kovalchuk, president of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute,” according to a report by RIA Novosti on November 10.
Kovalchuk emphasized that creating an energy installation on the Moon’s surface is key to lunar exploration and revealed that Russia already has prototypes for such a task. Last year, Russian scientists from Bauman Moscow State Technical University and VIAM proposed a hybrid energy installation project based on a nuclear reactor and Stirling cycle. The reactor is designed to be reliable and autonomous, utilizing proven technologies in fast liquid metal reactors. The modular design of the system will prevent a complete shutdown in case of a module failure, and high-temperature heat pipes will ensure efficient heat transfer.
The expected electrical power output of the installation is about 50 kilowatts, providing sufficient energy to support the infrastructure of a lunar base. The Stirling cycle will efficiently convert thermal energy into electricity using a heater, cooler, and regenerator, similar to systems used in submarines.
