Energy Options for Future Humans on Titan

Abstract

We review the possibilities for in situ energy resources on Titan for use by future humans, including chemical, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower. All of these options, with the possible exception of geothermal, represent effective sources of power. Combustion of methane (after electrolysis of the native water), in combination with another source of power such as nuclear, is a viable option; another chemical source of energy is the hydrogenation of acetylene. The large seas Kraken and Ligeia potentially represent effective sources of hydropower. Wind power, particularly at altitudes ~40 km, is expected to be productive. Despite the distance from the sun and the absorbing atmosphere, solar power is (as on Earth) an extremely efficient source of power on Titan.

Study of Chemical Processes Initiated by Electrical Discharge in Titan-Related Atmosphere at Laboratory Temperature and Pressure

“…This is also consistent with the comparison of the results from the optical emission spectroscopy, 78 which shows an increase of the CN radicals' concentration at lower methane concentrations only. 25,30 The PTR-TOF technique has a disadvantage in its resolution limit and thus some compounds could not be distinguished. This is, unfortunately, also the case of HCN.…”

“…Reactions in the N 2 −CH 4 Mixture. Hydrogen cyanide formation can occur with varying probabilities in a single step as outlined in the following reactions 25,26…”

“…Even though the methane content is low, it is enough to keep nitrogen in the gaseous phase so that nitrogen does not condense in the stratosphere and troposphere. 24,25 Besides nitrogen and methane, Titan's lower atmosphere contains a huge number of other hydrocarbons (such as ethane, etc.) and various simple cyano molecules (like hydrogen cyanide, acetonitrile, etc).…”

“…23,24 Titan's atmosphere is also highly abundant in hydrogen. 25 More complex hydrocarbons arise from the small molecules in the upper atmosphere and then descend into the lower layers where methane condenses. Here, they can become part of the haze and coagulate further down forming the rainfall composed of hydrocarbons.…”

Potential Severe Effects of a Biosphere Collision and Planetary Protection Implications

“…Titan has abundant wind and hydro power (Hendrix et al, 2017) , organics for making plastics, a stable environment and complete protection from ionizing radiation and large meteorites. Titan's planetary protection status needs to be confirmed but forward and backward contamination of any native Titan life seems unlikely at such low temperatures.…”