Better Bring a Jacket

“To infinity and beyond!” Ah yes, the famous words spoken by that modern day Pinocchio-like action figure Buzz Lightyear in the recently reincarnated 3D version of Disney’s Toy Story. But the reason I begin with this quote is not to transition with a movie review, but rather to prepare you all to open your minds. One must tap into their imagination to rationally seek an answer to the following question; How soon will our society be able to flourish in outer space? Well several students at UNT are making the necessary efforts to come up with the answer to this question, as they research the possibility of developing a fully functioning, efficient, and reliable Cryogenic Rankine Cycle, or CRC.


Okay, I know. Cryogenic Rankine Cycle is a little intimidating. So let’s go step by step. The simplest definition of cryogenic is; of or relating to low temperatures. A Rankine cycle is a thermodynamic cycle that transforms heat into work. Now what happens when you combine these two definitions? 1 +1 =2. Right? Hold on let me grab my calculator…right. So then Cryogenic + Rankine Cycle = a thermodynamic cycle which has the ability to operate at very low temperatures. Most Rankine cycles use water as the working fluid, and are responsible for generating roughly 80% of all electric power used to make our current way of life possible. However, last time I went to the Moon I noticed that outer space is pretty darn cold. Felt almost as cold as -153°C. And sure enough www.universetoday.com verified my natural thermometric abilities. At these extremely low temperatures water freezes, which is why a different material must be used if a cycle similar to the one used on earth is to be successful in space. When I asked one of the members of UNT’s CRC team what the goal of the project is he answered, “Essentially the purpose of the project is to develop space-based power generation”.

Members of the CRC project at UNT are looking to determine the usefulness of liquid nitrogen in the Rankine cycle, because it does not freeze at these low temperatures found in outer space. Liquid Nitrogen freezes at -210°C on earth. One step in qualifying liquid nitrogen is to determine its contact angle. The students are using a laser to take pictures of the liquid nitrogen in order to do this. Once the contact angle is known, then a barrier can be made which only allows gas molecules to penetrate it. This prevents liquid from entering parts of the cycle like the turbine. This is important because if liquid entered the turbine it will cause it to malfunction. Currently, the members of the Cryogenic Rankine Cycle at UNT are applying for a grant from NASA.

So in order for the human race to ever have a chance of establishing a society on or around the moon, we must be able to generate electricity efficiently, and if the students at UNT are successful in formulating a CRC, it will be the first of its kind. This means at least two things...big $$$ for them and big steps in technology for the human race. Maybe Buzz Lightyear’s catchy phrase will prove to be a prophetic one.