Complex Engineering Problem: Critical Analysis

Course Title: Fuels and Energy Course Code: CHE-223 Credit Hours: 4(3,1)
Course
Dr. Zakir Khan Program Name: BS Chemical Engineering
Instructor/s:
Semester: 4th Batch: FA 19-BCE Section A&B
Assigned date:08-06-2021,
CEP #: 1 CEP Title: Fuel on Mars Submission date: 18-06-2021
Knowledge Profiles
WK-1 Theory-based natural sciences

WK-2 Conceptually-based mathematics, numerical analysis,

statistics and formal aspects of computer and
information science to support analysis and modelling
WK-3 Theory-based engineering fundamentals

WK-4 Engineering specialist knowledge that provides theoretical

frameworks and bodies of knowledge for the practice
areas; much is forefront

WK-5 Knowledge that supports Engineering design in the

practice areas

WK-6 Knowledge of Engineering practice (technology) in the

practice areas

WK-7 Comprehension of the role of Engineering in society and

identified issues in engineering practice: ethics and
professional responsibility of an engineer to public safety;
the impact of engineering activity: economic, social,
 cultural, environmental and sustainability

WK-8 Engagement with selected knowledge in the Research

literature

Problem Profiles
WP-1 Depth of Knowledge required
WP-2 Range of conflicting requirements
WP-3 Depth of analysis required
WP-4 Familiarity of issues
WP-5 Extent of applicable codes
WP-6 Extent of stakeholder involvement and level of conflicting
requirements

WP-7 Interdependence
EP-1 Consequences
EP-2 Judgement
PROBLEM STATENT

The current expedition of Mars will provide answers to too many questions related to life on Mars in the past.
The next two decades will be important to answer this and many more questions based on NASA’s
expeditions for next two decades. Water is utmost for existing of life and this exploration is all about the
searching of long supply line of water in the past, and if it is still existing under the surface. The NASA’s
helicopter “Ingenuity”, first power flights on Mars, has landed on February 18, 2021, and provided enough
evidence of water existing on Mars.

There would be intensive rocket flights from Earth to Mars for continues exploration on the red planet. These
rockets cannot carry large amount of fuel that carry them to the Mars and then return to Earth. The big
question is “What fuel resources will be available to make a rocket fuel on Mars” which help them to return
home. The Mars atmosphere mainly comprised of CO2 (95 %) along with Nitrogen, oxygen, and Argon. The
average temperature on Mars is -60℃ whereas it varies from -125℃ to 20℃.

Several research groups around the world are working on the Rocket fuel possibility on Mars. A group of
Washington University lead by Vijay Ramani has been working on the transformation of salt water (brine or
saline) into oxygen, hydrogen, and fuel (The detail can be finding in the research article provided).
Researchers at University of California, Irvine led by a physicist, Huolin Xin, has been working on a new
way of production methane-based rocket fuel on Mars. This method was theoretically presented by Elon
Musk and the Engineers by Spacex. They considered to utilize carbon dioxide and water from Ice on Mars to
produce Carbon and hydrogen to produce methane. This method is only carried out in the Labs and the
results are promising but not experimented in the real conditions on Mars.

You are required to propose what is the best resources, and best method available to produce rocket
fuel on Mars. Support your proposal with the knowledge of “selection of a suitable sources/methods”
along with the detailed literature that strengthens your selection. It is not necessary that you do
everything from available sources (literature), but you can also give your proposals by providing logics
and reasoning by knowing the raw material available on Mars for rocket fuel creation.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
1. Type of Problem:

Complex Engineering Activity  Complex Engineering Problem 

2. Characteristic Analysis:
(Highlight how these characteristics are valid in given problem?)

Difficult Decision
Uncertain Strategy
Confusing Idea
Continuous Product
Students will have to select the rocket fuel based on resources
and production methods to convert these sources to the viable
fuel considered the class knowledge about energy resources on
earth.
List of rocket fuel that needs to be produced on Mars.
Deciding the type of rocket fuel
Alternative rocket fuel characteristics will change the desired
sources/ methods.

Change in raw material will change types and methods of

Intractable Change production of fuel.

3. Knowledge Profiles involved:

WK-3 
WK-4 
WK-5 
WK-6 
WK-8 

4. Problem Skills involved:

WP-1 
WP-2 
WP-3 
WP-4 
WP-5 
WP-6 
WP-7 
EP-1 
EP-2 