Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “ammonia separation”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

The ISS 2B PVTCS Ammonia Leak: An Operational History

In 2006, the Photovoltaic Thermal Control System (PVTCS) for the International Space Station's 2B power channel began leaking ammonia at a rate of approximately 1.5lbm/year (out of a starting approximately 53lbm system ammonia mass). Initially, the operations strategy was "feed the leak," a strategy successfully put into action via Extra Vehicular Activity during the STS‐134 mission. During this mission the system was topped off with ammonia piped over from a separate thermal control system. This recharge was to have allowed for continued power channel operation into 2014 or 2015, at which point another EVA would have been required. Without these periodic EVAs to refill the 2B coolant system, the channel would eventually leak enough fluid as to risk pump cavitation and system failure, resulting in the loss of the 2B power channel - the most critical of the Space Station's 8 power channels. In mid‐2012, the leak rate increased to approximately 5lbm/year. Once discovered, an EVA was planned and executed within a 5 week timeframe to drastically alter the architecture of the PVTCS via connection to a dormant thermal control system not intended to be utilized as anything other than spare components. The purpose of this rerouting of the TCS was to increase system volume and to isolate the photovoltaic radiator, thought to be the likely leak source. This EVA was successfully executed on November 1st, 2012 and left the 2B PVTCS in a configuration where the system was now being adequately cooled via a totally different radiator than what the system was designed to utilize. Unfortunately, data monitoring over the next several months showed that the isolated radiator was not leaking, and the system itself continued to leak steadily until May 9th, 2013. It was on this day that the ISS crew noticed the visible presence of ammonia crystals escaping from the 2B channel's truss segment, signifying a rapid acceleration of the leak from 5lbm/year to 5lbm/day. Within 48 hours of the crew noticing the leak, an EVA was in progress to replace the coolant pump - the only other replaceable leak source. This paper will explore the management of the 2B PVTCS leak from the operations perspective. It will discuss the methodology of performing the STS‐134 refill, the considerations and contingency plans which went into the architectural overhaul of the system in 2012, and the unprecedented effort which went into the EVA response to the visible leak of May 2013. In particular the paper will focus on the techniques utilized by flight controllers to monitor the system health and to respond to such instances as the rapid May 2013 leak by putting the electrical system in a safe configuration for loss of cooling, and will use recorded telemetry of these events to describe system response to EVA crew and ground actions. It will discuss the innovative design for redundancy of the integrated truss structure's cooling systems which allowed for this leak to be managed with minimal impact to other ISS operations and electrical services, contrasted against the real unintended operations consequences of utilizing the flexibility of the spacecraft's design in this manner. The paper will discuss how the training of the crew and flight controller personnel has adapted to the changing architecture of the power system and the unpredictable nature of the 2B leak.

Vareha, Anthony↗
NASA NTRS2014

Optical Multi-Gas Monitor Technology Demonstration on the International Space Station

There are a variety of both portable and fixed gas monitors onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Devices range from rack-mounted mass spectrometers to hand-held electrochemical sensors. An optical Multi-Gas Monitor has been developed as an ISS Technology Demonstration to evaluate long-term continuous measurement of 4 gases. Based on tunable diode laser spectroscopy, this technology offers unprecedented selectivity, concentration range, precision, and calibration stability. The monitor utilizes the combination of high performance laser absorption spectroscopy with a rugged optical path length enhancement cell that is nearly impossible to misalign. The enhancement cell serves simultaneously as the measurement sampling cell for multiple laser channels operating within a common measurement volume. Four laser diode based detection channels allow quantitative determination of ISS cabin concentrations of water vapor (humidity), carbon dioxide, ammonia and oxygen. Each channel utilizes a separate vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) at a different wavelength. In addition to measuring major air constituents in their relevant ranges, the multiple gas monitor provides real time quantitative gaseous ammonia measurements between 5 and 20,000 parts-per-million (ppm). A small ventilation fan draws air with no pumps or valves into the enclosure in which analysis occurs. Power draw is only about 3 W from USB sources when installed in Nanoracks or when connected to 28V source from any EXPRESS rack interface. Internal battery power can run the sensor for over 20 hours during portable operation. The sensor is controlled digitally with an FPGA/microcontroller architecture that stores data internally while displaying running average measurements on an LCD screen and interfacing with the rack or laptop via USB. Design, construction and certification of the Multi-Gas Monitor were a joint effort between Vista Photonics, Nanoracks and NASA-Johnson Space Center (JSC). Vista Photonics developed the core technology and built the sensor. Nanoracks designed, constructed the enclosure, interfaces, and battery power management circuitry, integrated all subsystems into the enclosure, and then managed the certification tests, documentation and manifesting. The unit was calibrated in the JSC Toxicology Laboratory. The Multi-Gas Monitor is manifested to fly as a technology demonstration to the ISS in November 2013 and will operate for at least 6 months with data sent to the ground for evaluation. The primary goal is to demonstrate long term interference free operation in the real spacecraft environment.

Pilgrim, Jeffrey S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Nitrogen supply system based on hydrazine dissociation

Future long-duration manned space missions will require a method of generating N2 for cabin leakage makeup and repressurization. Life Systems, working with NASA, is developing a Nitrogen Supply Subsystem (NSS) based on the dissociation of N2H4 into a mixture of H2 and N2. The latter is separated to provide the makeup N2. Recent advances in specific hardware developments have resulted in the design and fabrication of a nominal 3.6 kg/day N2 generation module. The design integrates a N2H4 catalytic dissociator, three ammonia (NH3) dissociation stages and four H2 separation stages into a 33 kg, 14 cu dm module. A technique has been devised to alternate the NH3 dissociation and H2 separation stages to give high N2 purity in the product stream. Tests have shown the product stream to contain less than 0.5 percent H2 and 20 ppm NH3. This paper discusses the development and test activities of the NSS program. It reviews the design, configuration, operation and projected performance characteristics of a 4.4 kg/day NSS suitable for NASA's planned Space Operations Center.

Heppner, D. B.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Isopotential Electron Titration of Ammonia Charge Transfer on Metal Catalysts

Electron transfer between adsorbates and surfaces determines the binding strength and reactivity of chemical moieties on materials designed for separations and catalysis. To quantify electron exchange, the extent of charge transfer resulting from ammonia adsorption on a Ru surface was measured by isopotential electron titration (IET) on a Ru catalytic condenser, where isopotential conditions were maintained between Ru and silicon separated by an insulating HfO 2 layer during gas phase ammonia adsorption. Charge transfer upon ammonia adsorption on a Ru catalytic condenser increased from 40 to 1200 nC/cm 2 at 75 and 225 °C, respectively. Charge transfer measurements provided a direct estimate of ammonia adsorption thermodynamics on Ru without knowing surface coverages a priori, revealing an adsorption enthalpy of −53 ± 10 kJ/mol and entropy of −61 ± 26 J/mol·K. Combining experimentally-measured charge transfer with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations informed adsorbate surface coverages determined that 0.058 electrons were transferred to the Ru surface for each molecular ammonia adsorption event (δ NH 3 = 0.058 ± 0.005 e – /NH 3 *), consistent with calculated Bader charges. The ability to measure the extent of charge transfer for adsorbed species provides a fundamental descriptor to understand existing and new chemically functional surfaces, providing a foundational method for the emerging field of thermochemical surface coulometry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1985

Other Challenges in the Development of the Orbiter Environmental Control Hardware

Development of the Space Shuttle orbiter environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) included the identification and resolution of several interesting problems in several systems. Some of these problems occurred late in the program, including the flight phase. Problems and solutions related to the ammonia boiler system (ABS), smoke detector, water/hydrogen separator, and waste collector system (WCS) are addressed.

Gibb, J. W.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Liquid Sorption-Enhanced Haber–Bosch Process

The use of a liquid sorbent in a traditional Haber-Bosch process enables significant improvements in energy efficiency and potential cost savings for arguably the most important chemical process on the planet. The approach presented in this report employs an incompressible liquid sorbent that absorbs and releases ammonia (NH 3 ) under specific conditions. To achieve this, we investigate reactions of ammonia and pure phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 , PA), which rapidly neutralize to form an equilibrated solution of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP) that functions as a reversible and regenerable sorbent. Through intimate contact of the gas-phase Haber-Bosch reaction mixture with this liquid absorbent, complete equilibrium uptake may be achieved in an appropriately sized separator, and facile separation occurs through the use of independent liquid and gas phases. Following depressurization and release of the ammonia product, only the incompressible fluid needs to be repressurized and returned to the reactor. This study documents proof-of-concept absorption and desorption experiments carried out in 75 mL batch reactors, predominantly charged with precise MAP and DAP mixtures that equilibrate at process-relevant temperatures and pressures. We then assemble the first thermodynamic relationships that underlie this advantaged separation strategy, validated by reactive force field (ReaxFF) interatomic potential simulations, and benchmarked with traditional separation routes via process modeling and technoeconomic analysis. The scale of energy consumption in the century-old Haber-Bosch process is massive, and the elegant liquid sorption approach reported here offers opportunities to enhance its energy efficiency for the next frontier of ammonia synthesis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1995

Separation and Detection of Toxic Gases with a Silicon Micromachined Gas Chromatography System

A miniature gas chromatography (GC) system was designed and fabricated using silicon micromachining and integrated circuit (IC) processing techniques. The silicon micromachined gas chromatography system (SMGCS) is composed of a miniature sample injector that incorporates a 10 microliter sample loop; a 0.9 meter long, rectangular shaped (300 micrometer width and 10 micrometer height) capillary column coated with a 0.2 micrometer thick copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) stationary phase; and a dual detector scheme based upon a CuPc-coated chemiresistor and a commercially available 125 micrometer diameter thermal conductivity detector (TCD) bead. Silicon micromachining was employed to fabricate the interface between the sample injector and the GC column, the column itself, and the dual detector cavity. A novel IC thin-film processing technique was developed to sublime the CuPc stationary phase coating on the column walls that were micromachined in the host silicon wafer substrate and Pyrex (r) cover plate, which were then electrostatically bonded together. The SMGCS can separate binary gas mixtures composed of parts-per-million (ppm) concentrations of ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) when isothermally operated (55-80 degrees C). With a helium carrier gas and nitrogen diluent, a 10 microliter sample volume containing ammonia and nitrogen dioxide injected at 40 psi ((2.8 x 10(exp 5)Pa)) can be separated in less than 30 minutes.

Kolesar, Edward S.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Electrodialysis and nitrate reduction (EDNR) to enable distributed ammonia manufacturing from wastewaters

Underutilized wastewaters containing dilute levels of reactive nitrogen (Nr) can help rebalance the nitrogen cycle. This study describes electrodialysis and nitrate reduction (EDNR), a reactive electrochemical separation architecture that combines catalysis and separations to remediate nitrate and ammonium-polluted wastewaters while recovering ammonia. By engineering operating parameters (e.g., background electrolyte, applied potential, electrolyte flow rate), we achieved high recovery and conversion of Nr in both simulated and real wastewaters. The EDNR process demonstrated long-term robustness and up-concentration that recovered >100 mM ammonium fertilizer solution from agricultural runoff that contained 8.2 mM Nr. EDNR is the first reported process to our knowledge that remediates dilute real wastewater and recovers ammonia from multiple Nr pollutants, with an energy consumption (245 MJ per kg NH 3 –N in simulated wastewater, 920 MJ per kg NH 3 –N in agricultural runoff) on par with the state-of-the-art. Demonstrated first at proof-of-concept and engineered to technology readiness level (TRL) 4–5, EDNR shows great promise for distributed wastewater treatment and sustainable ammonia manufacturing.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1987

Effects on H(-) production in a multicusp ion source by mixture of H2 with H2O, NH3, CH4, N2H4, and SF6

Effects of H(-) production in a multicusp ion source are measured by separately mixing with hydrogen small amounts (0.33-10 percent) of water, ammonia, methane, and hydrazine these are molecules which produce large amounts of H(-) via dissociative attachment (DA) resonances at higher electron energies. The mixing was done in a separate reservoir, with careful measurement of individual pressures. Experimental enhancements of 1.4 and less were observed, whereas calculated enhancements, using accurate DA cross sections for ground-state H2, should have produced factors of 1.5, 3.0, 1.3, and 2.4 enhancements for water, ammonia methane, and hydrazine, respectively, at a mean electron energy of 1.0 eV in the extraction region. The difference is accounted for by including, in the enhancement calculation, vibrationally and rotationally excited H2 molecules, with v-double prime = 5-11, and J-double prime = 0-5, and the large DA cross sections for the excited H2 (v-double prime, J-double prime). The relative populations of H2 (v-double prime, J-double prime) thus obtained are found to be substantially smaller than those predicted by theoretical calculations. The effect on H(-) current was also studied by mixing small amounts of SF6 with H2. A 1.5 percent mixture was found to reduce the H(-) output by one half.

Orient, O. J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

A new method for the preparation of polymeric porous layer open tubular columns for GC application

A new method to prepare polymeric PLOT columns by using in situ polymerization technology is described. The method involves a straightforward in situ polymerization of the monomer. The polymer produced is directly coated on the metal tubing. This eliminates many of the steps needed in conventional polymeric PLOT column preparation. Our method is easy to operate and produces very reproducible columns, as shown previously (T. C. Shen. J. Chromatogr. Sci. 30, 239, 1992). The effects of solvents, tubing pretreatments, initiators and reaction temperatures in the preparation of PLOT columns are studied. Several columns have been developed to separate (1) highly polar compounds, such as water and ammonia or water and HCN, and (2) hydrocarbons and inert gases. A recent improvement has allowed us to produce bonded polymeric PLOT columns. These were studied, and the results are included also.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗
DOE OSTI2026

RuKY Catalyst‐Packed Permeation Membrane for Quantitative Ammonia and d3‐Ammonia Dehydrogenation to Ultrapure Hydrogen

Ammonia is a promising carbon-free hydrogen carrier, but incomplete ammonia dehydrogenation (cracking) generates atmospheric emissions of NO x , a potent greenhouse gas. Additionally, incomplete cracking of ammonia leads to regulatory challenges in nuclear and fusion power, where tritiated ammonia (NT 3 ) emissions are strictly controlled. Therefore, we report the use of low-temperature ammonia dehydrogenation catalysts (3%Ru/1%Y/12%K/Al 2 O 3 ) in a palladium alloy H 2 permeation membrane for quantitative conversion of ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen at industry-relevant conditions. This catalytic membrane reactor system achieved an astonishing effluent concentration of <1 ppm at 450°C under a 100% NH 3 stream, which is far beyond the 99.6% conversion target required for the adoption of ammonia as a vehicle fuel. The low-temperature ammonia dehydrogenation catalyst was tested in a packed bed reactor with NH 3 and ND 3 to both elucidate the reaction mechanism and to quantify the kinetic isotope effect of the membrane reactor. The rate-limiting step at temperatures relevant to the palladium membrane are isotope independent, indicating that the isotopologue content will not modify the desired reaction kinetics. By reducing emissions to below-trace levels with no additional separation, this work provides a path to greatly simplified and miniaturized ammonia cracking processes.

ammonia decomposition↗
NASA NTRS1973

Evaluation of Electrochemical Nitrogen/hydrogen Gas Separator

An electrochemical nitrogen-hydrogen separator subsystem was investigated for use following catalytic dissociation of ammonia or hydrazine in a storage system being considered for long-duration manned space flight. An experimental cell with concentric tubular Pd-25Ag alloy hydrogen diffusion electrodes and hermetically sealed aqueous caustic electrolyte was developed.It was found that this cell operated satisfactorily at 210 C to 245 C and produced dry nitrogen and dry hydrogen with either or both gases at pressures up to 6.8 atmospheres (100 psia) or higher for storage. The final cell developed was operated satisfactorily for 176 days (4200 hours) with no evidence of deterioration of current-voltage performance. The best experimental performance was obtained at 245 C at currents up to 4 amperes (180 ma/sq cm and 360 ma/sq cm anode and cathode current densities, respectively) with a maximum steady-state cell voltage of 0.125 volt for an anode feed of pure hydrogen.

Clifford, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Simulated ASTER data for Geologic Studies

The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflectance Radiometer (ASTER) is a high spatial resolution imaging instrument, due to be launched on NASA's Earth Observing System AM-1 satellite platform in 1998. ASTER acquires data in 14 bands, spanning the wavelength region from the visible, near infrared, short wavelength infrared, and thermal infrared, with spatial resolution varying from 15 m to 90 m, depending on wavelength region. In order to evaluate our ability to use ASTER data for geological mapping, we used aircraft data over Cuprite, Nevada to create a simulated 14-band ASTER data set. The study site has sparse vegetation, and exposes a wide range of unaltered and hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks. The wide range of wavelengths covered by ASTER allowed us to recognize or separate iron oxide minerals, clay-bearing minerals, sulfate minerals, ammonia minerals, siliceous rocks, and carbonates. Combined with laboratory spectral measurements, we were able to identify these constituents. Based on both sets of information, we produced an alteration map showing the distribution of argillized rocks, opalized rocks with alunite, silicified rocks, and areas dominated by kaolinite and buddingtonite. The map was as accurate as published maps made by traditional field methods. ASTER promises to be a major improvement over existing satellite systems for geologic mapping.

Advanced↗
NASA NTRS1993

[Determination of six main components in compound theophylline tablet by convolution curve method after prior separation by column partition chromatography]

On a partition chromatographic column in which the support is Kieselguhr and the stationary phase is sulfuric acid solution (2 mol/L), three components of compound theophylline tablet were simultaneously eluted by chloroform and three other components were simultaneously eluted by ammonia-saturated chloroform. The two mixtures were determined by computer-aided convolution curve method separately. The corresponding average recovery and relative standard deviation of the six components were as follows: 101.6, 1.46% for caffeine; 99.7, 0.10% for phenacetin; 100.9, 1.31% for phenobarbitone; 100.2, 0.81% for theophylline; 99.9, 0.81% for theobromine and 100.8, 0.48% for aminopyrine.

NASA Program Flight↗
NASA NTRS1999

Miniature Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer Array

JPL is funded by Code U to develop a Miniature QMSA for an EVA flight test. The initial intent was to fly an experiment internal to the astronaut suit during a shuttle EVA. Following discussions with JSC the suit application was abandoned in favor of other more urgent needs. The JSC EVA office was particularly interested in hydrazine detection on the astronaut suit. While discussing and exploring the implementation of such an experiment, managers at JSC suggested combining the interests of two JSC groups. The Life Support and Thermal Systems Branch, Crew and Thermal Systems Division has a need for an ammonia detection instrument, while the EVA office has a need for hydrazine detection. The two groups were pursuing separate single-purpose solutions. Instead, the JPL QMSA offers a single instrument solution via a portable instrument to be used by an astronaut on an EVA. Such an instrument would serve both the ammonia leak detection and the hydrazine contamination needs. The need for the QMSA was defined as urgent and targeted for a January 1999 flight. While the original JPL task (as funded by Code U) was for an experiment flight with JPL delivery in October 1998, this task was for a qualified flight instrument with a planned JPL delivery in August 1998. This schedule was very demanding and dictated a fast-tract implementation.

Karmon, D.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Real-Time Detection of Hydrogen and Ammonia Isotopologues for Impurity Removal and Recovery of Tritium

To accommodate gas measurements for impurity removal and recovery of tritium, a silver-coated optical or waveguide is employed for collecting Raman scattered signals to determine relative hydrogen and ammonia isotopologue populations in real time. The data and results presented here demonstrate an analytical methodology for the analysis of four ammonia and three hydrogen isotopologues in a hydrogen–deuterium exchange reaction by gas phase Raman spectroscopy. Standard chemometric modeling techniques effectively unravel the signatures of the isotopologues involved observed here; however, a sophisticated quantum chemical approach supports the spectral assignments. An interpretation of the data presented here can emphasize the practicality and reliability of the gaseous monitoring system in complex chemical environments for the hydrogen fuel economy as well as the more distant energy source from a facility that handles tritium. There are still considerable concerns about the measurement of tritium in isotope separation and radiological impurities from gas processing. A common impurity in gas processing is ammonia, which can form readily in the presence of nitrogen and tritium. Substituted ammonia (NQ 3 ), where Q = H, D, or T, is traditionally removed through getters or diffusers along with other non-hydrogen contaminants. A preferable analytical approach is noninvasive and can be deployed for real-time process evaluation in radiological environments.

Ammonia↗
NASA NTRS2014

Gemini NorthNIRI Spectra of Pluto and Charon: Simultaneous Analysis of the Surface and Atmosphere

94035We report on our analysis of blended Pluto and Charon spectra over the wavelength range 1.4 to 2.5 m as obtained by the NIRI instrument on Gemini North on June 25-28, 2004. The data have a resolving power () around 1500 and a SNR around 200 per pixel. The observed blended spectra are compared to models that combine absorption from the solid ice on the surface using Hapke theory, and absorption from the gaseous atmosphere. We assume the spectrum is a combination of several spatially separate spectral units: a CH4-rich ice unit, a volatile unit (an intimate mixture of N2, CH4 and CO), and a Charon unit (H2O, ammonia hydrate and kaolinite). We test for the presence of hydrocarbons (i.e. C2H6) and nitriles (i.e. HCN) and examine cases where additional ices are present as either pure separate spatial units, mixed with the CH4-rich unit or part of the volatile unit. We conclude that 2-4 of Plutos surface is covered with pure-C2H6 and our identification of C2H6 is significantly strengthened when absorption due to gaseous CH4 is included. The inclusion of Plutos atmosphere demonstrates that low-resolution, high-SNR observations are capable of detecting Plutos atmosphere during a time when Plutos atmosphere may have been undergoing rapid changes (1988-2002) and no high-resolution spectra were obtained. In particular, we identify features at 1.665 and 2.317 m as the Q-branch of the 23 and 3+4 bands of gaseous CH4, respectively. The later band is also evident in many previously published spectra of Pluto. Our analysis finds it is unnecessary to include 13CO to explain the depth of the 2.405 m, which has been previously suggested to be a spectral blended with C2H6, but we cannot definitively rule out its presence. Funding for this work (Cook) has been provided by a NASA-PATM grant.

Charon↗
NASA NTRS1999

The Vertical Structure of Major Meteorological Features on Jupiter: The Great Red Spot and White Ovals BC and DE

Multi-spectral imagery of Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) and two White ovals acquired by the Galileo/NIMS are used to constrain the spatial variability of the vertical aerosol structure and the distribution of ammonia in and around these most-prominent anti-cyclonic features. All three features exhibit a high-altitude core spanning about 3/4 of their visual size when viewed with moderate absorption wavelengths, indicating a bulk elliptical, "wedding cake" shape in their overall three-dimensional cloud structure. A distinctive spiral pattern within the GRS core is seen in moderate methane and hydrogen absorption bandpasses. This pattern - which has been modelled to show a 2 km variation in cloudtop pressure within the GRS - is inconsistent with a different spiral-shaped pattern observed in ammonia-sensitive wavelengths, thus indicating spatial variability not only in the column abundance of ammonia within the GRS, but in its mixing ratio as well. White Ovals BC and DE were observed in February 1997, just a year before their unusual merger into a single feature. At the time of these observations, the centers of the two anti-cyclones were about 16 degrees apart, separated by a complex cyclonic feature which exhibited unusual spatial variability in its appearance in images acquired at ammonia-sensitive wavelengths. In particular, the northern half of this feature has the largest ammonia column abundance seen within the environs around the white ovals, indicating unusual variability in either cloud structure/altitude and/or ammonia humidity within the cyclone.

Baines, Kevin H.↗