Electricity
Electricity is the general term used to describe a number of electrical phenomena, such as Electrical power, electrical current and electric potential. It is associated with magnetism. It plays an important part in almost every modern technology. Electrical power can be transmitted easily a distance via conductors, such as metallic cables. A settlement on Mars cannot be imagined without electricity.
Generation
Electrical power can be generated from a number of energy sources.
Solar energy
Photovoltaics is the direct conversion of photons to electricity. On Mars, this has already been used extensively for most of the solar probes and rovers.
Nuclear energy
Nuclear reactions in nuclear materials produces heat, that can be converted into electricity either directly or using thermal processes.
Thermoelectric generators
A thermoelectric generator produces electricity from differences in thermal energy between two or more areas.
Photovoltaics from very hot cores (fourth generation nuclear)
MHD generators
Turbogenerators
A combination of a turbine and a generator used to produce electricity. The generator uses the interaction between magnetic fields and conductors to generate an electrical current.
Mechanical Generators
The interactions between moving magnets or electromagnets can be used to produce electricity.
Piezoelectrics
Piezoelectricity is the generation of electricity as a direct result of mechanical deformation.
Electrochemistry
Uses of Electricity
Electricity can be directly used to produce
- Heat
- Light
- Movement of machine parts.
Electrical energy can be directly stored in capacitors and inductors, but only in very small amounts. Large amounts can be stored indirectly in other energy forms.
Significance for a Martian colony
Inevitabilities
For some settlement applications electricity can not be avoided. This is true for radio link and night time lighting.
Alternatives
Although there is some comfort in using electricity for a variety of applications, there are on the other hand some disadvantages to be considered. The storage of large amounts of electrical energy is a problem. Moreover, every transformation causes some loss of energy. The following alternatives may provide an advantage:
- Movement of machine parts can alternatively be created by muscle work, pneumatics or hydraulics. Muscle work is, for a certain degree, always available. Combination with physical exercise should be considered. Compressed-air is an easy storage for pneumatic energy.
- Heating can be avoided with a thick thermal insulation. At best the human metabolism and the lighting cause enough heat for a comfortable room temperature.
- Automation can be implemented with pneumatics.
