Developing an MVDC Bipolar Coaxial Cable System for Lunar Power Transmission

The increasing need for power on the lunar surface, expected to reach megawatt levels, aligns with NASA's goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, able to support over 100 personnel indefinitely. As humanity explores sustained lunar habitation and aims to establish bases, efficient and reliable power transmission becomes crucial. Power lines with high power density are needed, focusing on weight and volume while ensuring safety and cost-effectiveness in the harsh lunar environment. There are three possible locations for power lines on the lunar surface: above, on, or below the surface. Due to harsh lunar conditions like temperature fluctuations, micro meteoroid impacts, and radiation exposure, the initial two methods have limited effectiveness in transferring power on the moon. Underground deployment is considered safe and convenient; however, low soil thermal conductivity could pose a challenge. However, a temperature of -23.15 °C at a depth of 30 cm proves beneficial for waste heat. This study employs COMSOL Multiphysics to propose a novel method for developing and analyzing bipolar MVDC cables for power transmission beneath the lunar surface. Designed for ±10 kV voltage and 2 MW power, these cables offer an efficient solution for lunar power transmission and are resilient to harsh conditions.