On the possibility of using artificial ecosystems for maintenance of human life

• Main Author: Y. L. Tkachenko
• Format: Dataset
• Language: Russian
• Published: Theoretical and Applied Ecology 2017
• Subjects: extreme vital functions; artificial ecosystem; independent power supply; closed gas exchange; water recycling; dome structures; Arctic; Fuller
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25750/1995-4301-2017-2-114-119; http://envjournal.ru/ari/v2017/v2/17220.pdf

The article suggests how to use artificial ecosystems, i. e. residential units built on the principle of closure of internal material flows in order to ensure human life in extreme conditions, such as the Arctic, arid deserts, high mountains, in the areas of chemical and radioactive contamination. From the outside this artificial ecosystem requires only the influx of energy revenues which may be provided at the expense of local renewable sources: wind, sunlight, moving water, temperature difference, etc. Universal power supply may be a microbial battery, in which electricity is produced by microorganisms capable through metabolism to implement transfer of electrons. The history of creation of artificially closed ecosystems is presented by the example of work on the program “Bios” at the Institute of Biophysics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Krasnoyarsk). As a result it was proved that it is possible to obtain the necessary oxygen, food, and pure water due to cultivation of higher and lower plants in phototrophic links of an artificial ecosystem. This article provides an experience-based diagram of the matter cycle in the module. The review of the equipment is given that should be used for a stand-alone power supply module and the organization of closed gas exchange and water recycling inside the module. The types of plants are suggested that suit for growing and producing vegetable supply for the inhabitants of the module. As the dome structures for placement create an artificial ecosystem it is proposed to use a hemispherical structure designed by R. Buckminster Fuller. It consists of a symmetrical grid of flat triangular elements. The base of the dome is attached to the ground by means of screw piles. It is proposed to use polyethylene foam (“penolon”) as a material for the cladding of the dome.