Regolith Conveyor System
Electrodynamic / Screw-Auger Hybrid Regolith Conveyor
The electrodynamic and screw-auger hybrid regolith conveyor is a stationary transport system that moves lunar regolith between fixed processing stations across distances up to 20 meters. Conventional belt conveyors fail rapidly in lunar operations due to severe dust abrasion and mechanical jamming. Operating in a vacuum without atmospheric drag or air-assisted cleaning options, the hybrid architecture routes fine particles along a 10-kilovolt, 500-hertz electrodynamic traveling-wave channel that eliminates moving parts from the dust path. A redundant, sealed 100-millimeter screw auger conveys coarse fractions, sustaining a total transfer rate of 100 kilograms per hour at a combined power consumption of 150 watts.
Stationary regolith conveyor combining NASA Swamp Works' Electrodynamic Regolith Conveyor (ERC) for fines transport with a redundant screw-auger conveyor for coarser material — moves regolith between fixed processing stations (sieve → beneficiation → chemistry) without abrasive moving parts in the dust path.
Purpose
Avoid the high-wear failure mode of traditional belt conveyors (which jam and abrade rapidly in lunar regolith) by using electromagnetic traveling waves or sealed augers to transport material continuously between processing stations.
Context
Connects fixed ISR processing stations within the L1-MFG/L1-ISR plant. Coordinates with L3-ISR-TRANS-HOP (intake), L3-ISR-TRANS-VEH (mobile delivery), L3-ISR-TRANS-DOCK (interface to mobile units). Distinct from L3-ISR-TRANS-VEH which handles long-range mobile transport.
Principles
- ▸Electrodynamic Regolith Conveyor (ERC): traveling-wave electric field moves charged regolith particles along electrodes — no moving parts, no wear surface in dust path
- ▸Screw-auger conveyor: rotating Archimedean screw inside a sealed trough — high throughput, but with rotating-shaft seal wear
- ▸Pneumatic conveyance: regolith carried by gas stream — integrates with gas-handling but adds gas consumption
- ▸ERC typical throughput 0.5-2 kg/min per channel; auger 10-50 kg/min
- ▸ERC voltage 5-15 kV with 100-1000 Hz traveling wave
- ▸Combined approach: ERC for fines, auger for coarse — covers full size range
Typical implementations
- ▸NASA Swamp Works Electrodynamic Regolith Conveyor (ERC) prototype (NTRS 20220003556, 2022)
- ▸Pneumatic Excavator and Regolith Transport System (ResearchGate 268569543, AIAA 2008)
- ▸ScienceDirect Acta Astronautica 2023 — Dust Mitigation and Regolith Conveyance Technologies review
- ▸SpringerLink 2024 — Conveyor System Prototype for Lunar Regolith Transport
- ▸Industrial pneumatic conveyors (terrestrial heritage)
- ▸Mining auger conveyors (terrestrial)
Lunar considerations
- ▸Belt conveyors fail rapidly due to dust abrasion — Apollo experience and modern testing confirm this
- ▸Electrodynamic conveyor avoids moving parts in dust path — favored architecture per NASA Swamp Works
- ▸Pneumatic conveyance requires gas inventory — works well when gas-handling already present (e.g., near volatile capture)
- ▸Vacuum environment: no air-drag on particles, but also no air-assist for cleaning
- ▸Conveyor must accommodate 1/6 g — particle settling slower, sticking issues possible
- ▸Robotic-replaceable conveyor segments (modular design) via L1-MNT
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Continuous transport of regolith between fixed processing stations |
| inputs | Regolith feed from L3-ISR-TRANS-HOP or upstream processing, Power from L1-PDM (HV for ERC, motor for auger), Control signals from L3-ISR-CTRL-PROC |
| outputs | Regolith delivery to next processing station, Throughput, energy, and wear telemetry |
| throughput kg per hour | 100 |
| transport distance m | 20 |
| erc voltage kv | 10 |
| erc traveling wave hz | 500 |
| auger diameter mm | 100 |
| auger rpm | 30 |
| power consumption w erc | 50 |
| power consumption w auger | 100 |
| wear lifetime hours | 5000 |
Physical
| mass kg per meter | 5 |
| total mass kg | 100 |
| dimensions per meter | 100 × 100 mm cross-section + supports |
| materials | Aluminum 6061-T6 trough structure, Tungsten-coated stainless auger flighting, PEEK/PTFE ERC electrode insulators, Hardened-aluminum HV electrodes, Bellows-sealed BLDC auger drive motor, Sintered metal dust seals |
| operating temperature c | -40, 80 |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 150 |
| thermal range c | -40, 80 |
| lifetime years | 15 |
| mtbf hours | 30000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Regolith feed to sieve stage
- Processed regolith feed to chemistry/sintering
- Throughput and wear telemetry
Requires
- Buffered regolith from haulers/excavators
- HV + motor (~150 W)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Regolith Conveyor System" (L3-ISR-TRANS-CONV). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-ISR-TRANS-CONV
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.