Gas storage and transport in porous media: From shale gas to helium-3. (15th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Linyang; Wu, Keliu; Chen, Zhangxin; Yu, Xinran; Li, Jing; Yang, Sheng; Hui, Gang; Yang, Min
• Is Part Of: Planetary and space science. Volume 204(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-15
• Subjects: Lunar regolith -- Helium-3 storage -- Knudsen diffusion -- Helium-3 spreading -- Helium-3 mining; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Atmosphere, Upper -- Periodicals; Sciences spatiales -- Périodiques; Haute atmosphère -- Périodiques; 523
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2021.105283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0633

Abstract

Abstract: Helium-3, a potential fusion fuel which is widely deposited in the lunar regolith, may act as a leading role in the future energy supply. Despite abundant investigations of the lunar regolith properties, the research of the transport behavior of helium-3 in porous media is still lacking, which is essential for the prediction of its distribution characteristics. In this work, the storage mechanisms of helium-3 in the lunar regolith are firstly reviewed, and it is found that the primary driving force for the diffusion of helium-3 in porous media arises from its local supersaturation caused by the solar wind flux. After an estimation of the Knudsen number ( K n ), it is concluded that Knudsen diffusion is the only transfer regime for the transport of helium-3 in the lunar subsurface because of a rarefaction effect. Moreover, the diffusion coefficient of helium-3 in porous media is predicted and the factors affecting this coefficient are analyzed. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis is performed due to the uncertainty of the geometric factors of the lunar regolith. Finally, the storage and transport behavior for shale gas and helium-3 are compared, and the prospect for the mining of helium-3 is discussed. Highlights: The storage and transport mechanisms of helium-3 in the lunar regolith are analyzed. Knudsen diffusion is found to be the only flow regime for the transfer of helium-3 in porous media. The diffusion coefficient for the transport of helium-3 is predicted. The ways of storage and transport for shale gas and helium-3 are compared and discussed.