A Regenerative Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell System Carrying a Lunar Outpost Through the Night

This study sizes a regenerative hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell system carrying a 15 kilowatt outpost load through the 354 hour night: night energy is 5 megawatt-hours, requiring 245 kilograms of hydrogen and 1959 kilograms of oxygen cycling through 2204 kilograms of water, a daytime electrical input of 14 megawatt-hours at a round-trip efficiency of 38 percent, and hydrogen storage volume of 6.1 cubic metres at the stated density. Sizing follows from computed energy budgets derived in the study. This is a computed study with no targeting or weapon application. The work is simulated and computed from stated assumptions, not measured.