Justification of the parameters of a vertical screw conveyor for transporting lunar regolith

This paper aims to develop a scientifi cally grounded method for determining the key technical parameters of a vertical screw conveyor–specifi cally, throughput and the power requirement of the driving electric motor. These parameters depend on the density and porosity of the transported material, the screw’s geometric characteristics, and the gravitational fi eld at the transportation site. The study also explores potential design constraints when handling lunar regolith. To achieve this objective, the authors applied established equations for screw conveyor parameter calculations, fundamental principles of bulk material mechanics, key electrodynamic equations for asynchronous motors, and specifi c behavioral characteristics of bulk materials during vertical screw transport, which were also investigated experimentally. As a result, a novel method is proposed for calculating the technical specifi cations of a screw conveyor under lunar conditions, based on known geometric parameters, fi lling ratio, and electric motor characteristics. The study further examines the infl uence of the conveyor’s fi lling ratio on performance and identifi es geometric limitations imposed by the operational boundaries of the selected motor. Acceptable values for transport height, screw diameter, other geometric parameters, and achievable fi lling ratios for a given motor are determined. The study substantiates that vertical screw conveyors are the most promising solution for lunar regolith transport. These systems are compact, adaptable, capable of integration within tubes or underground installations, operate continuously, function autonomously, and can be powered by solar energy.