Engineering topics

Layne Carter

Publications and source records attributed to Layne Carter.

4 records

NASA NTRS2020

2019 NASA Division of Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Fluid Physics Workshop Report

On October 16 and 17, 2019, NASA’s Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications (SLPSRA) Division held the 2019 NASA SLPSRA Fluid Physics Workshop at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Researchers from academia, industry, and Government agencies gathered to provide recommendations to NASA on exploration-related microgravity challenges in multiphase systems and thermal transport processes. The goal of the workshop was to identify overarching future research themes relevant to NASA’s exploration goals in three key areas: (1) boiling and condensation; (2) water recovery; and (3) heat pipes.

microgravity↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Upgrades to the International Space Station Urine Processor Assembly

The ISS Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) began operations in November 2008. Though the UPA has successfully generated distillate from crew urine, several modifications and upgrades have been implemented to improve overall system performance throughout the years. Current and future upgrades to the UPA will continue to focus on improved system performance and reliability, focusing next on a flight demonstration experiment of a vacuum pump utilizing scroll pump technologies. The upgraded Distillation Assembly, described in further detail in previous publications, will also be available for on-orbit integration within the year. The following paper discusses progress on the Purge Pump and Separator Assembly (PPSA), and concept considerations for future UPA upgrades.

Jill P Williamson↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of a Planetary Water Treatment System

As NASA prepares for human missions beyond the International Space Station (ISS), NASA personnel have begun development of a water treatment system that is optimized for operation on the Moon and Mars. This system will take advantage of the partial gravity of surface-based habitats while minimizing resupply mass and ensuring optimum reliability. An overview of expected water uses, waste streams, and architectures for a partial gravity water recovery system (WRS) is presented and compared to the WRS on ISS. This paper summarizes the current progress of evaluating various technologies and architectures for the potential mission profiles currently being considered.

Dean Leslie Muirhead↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Upgrades to the International Space Station Urine Processor Assembly

Since November 2008, the ISS Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) has successfully generated distillate from crew urine. Several rounds of modifications and upgrades have also been implemented to improve overall system performance throughout the years. The Distillation Assembly (DA) is the latest upgraded unit available, installed in September 2020. This unit has shown immediate performance improvements and redesign success. Most significant upgrades have been a redesigned drive train to eliminate belt slips, improved sealing to reduce leak paths and improve wear, and a redesigned liquid level sensor. The Purge Pump and Separator Assembly (PPSA) technology demonstration is the next available upgraded unit and has finished ground assembly and testing and is targeted for ISS delivery within the coming year. Most recent ground studies have identified areas to focus future UPA upgrade considerations with exploration missions in mind, specifically for better fault detection and isolations approaches as well as potential hardware redesigns to facilitate successful dormancy operations.

Urine Processor Assembly↗