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The present invention is directed to a method and system for enhancing the production of ammonia from gaseous hydrogen and nitrogen. Advantageously, the method and system does not emit carbon gases during production. The method and system enhances the production of ammonia compared to traditional Haber-Bosch reactions.
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Catalytic carbon dioxide reduction cartridge for oxygen recovery in life support systems of long term manned space flights
System for collecting excess carbon dioxide in space cabin is described. System collects carbon dioxide exhaled by human inhabitants and decomposes gas into carbon and water by reaction with hydrogen in presence of catalyst. Diagram of equipment involved in reaction is included.
Prototype units for carrying out the reduction of carbon dioxide to elementary carbon have been built and operated successfully. In some cases, however, startup difficulties have been reported. Moreover, the recycle reactor product has been reported to contain only small amounts of water and undesirably high yields of methane. This paper presents the results of the first phase of an experimental study that was carried out to define the mechanisms occurring in the reduction process. Conclusions are drawn and possible modifications to the present recycle process are suggested.
Regenerative processes for the revitalization of spacecraft atmospheres require an Oxygen Reclamation System (ORS) for the collection of carbon dioxide and water vapor and the recovery of oxygen from these metabolic products. Three life support subsystems uniquely qualified to form such an ORS are an Electrochemical CO2 Depolarized Concentrator (EDC), a CO2 Reduction Subsystem (BRS) and a Water Electrolysis Subsystem (WES). A program to develop and test the interface hardware and control concepts necessary for integrated operation of a four man capacity EDC with a four man capacity BRS was successfully completed. The control concept implemented proved successful in operating the EDC with the BRS for both constant CO2 loading as well as variable CO2 loading, based on a repetitive mission profile of the Space Station Prototype (SSP).
No abstract available
Oxygen recovery from metabolically-produced carbon dioxide (CO2) is of critical importance for long-duration manned space missions beyond low Earth orbit. On the International Space Station (ISS), oxygen is provided to the crew through electrolysis of water in the Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA). Prior to 2011, this water was entirely resupplied from Earth. A CO2 Reduction Assembly based on the Sabatier reaction (1) was developed by Hamilton Sundstrand and delivered to ISS in 2010. The unit recovers oxygen by reducing metabolic CO2 with diatomic hydrogen (H2) to produce methane and product water. The water is cleaned by the Water Purification Assembly and recycled to the OGA for continued oxygen production. The methane product is vented overboard.
No abstract available
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For long-term human missions, a closed-loop atmosphere revitalization system (ARS) is essential to minimize consumables. A carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction technology is used to reclaim oxygen (O2) from metabolic CO2 and is vital to reduce the delivery mass of metabolic O2. A key step in closing the loop for ARS will include a proper CO2 reduction subsystem that is reliable and with low equivalent system mass (ESM). Sabatier and Bosch CO2 reduction are two traditional CO2 reduction subsystems (CRS). Although a Sabatier CRS has been delivered to International Space Station (ISS) and is an important step toward closing the ISS ARS loop, it recovers only 50% of the available O2 in CO2. A Bosch CRS is able to reclaim all O2 in CO2. However, due to continuous carbon deposition on the catalyst surface, the penalties of replacing spent catalysts and reactors and crew time in a Bosch CRS are significant. Recently, technologies have been developed for recovering hydrogen (H2) from Sabatier-product methane (CH4). These include methane pyrolysis using a microwave plasma, catalytic thermal pyrolysis of CH4 and thermal pyrolysis of CH4. Further, development in Sabatier reactor designs based on microchannel and microlith technology could open up opportunities in reducing system mass and enhancing system control. Improvements in Bosch CRS conversion have also been reported. In addition, co-electrolysis of steam and CO2 is a new technology that integrates oxygen generation and CO2 reduction functions in a single system. A co-electrolysis unit followed by either a Sabatier or a carbon formation reactor based on Bosch chemistry could improve the overall competitiveness of an integrated O2 generation and CO2 reduction subsystem. This study evaluates all these CO2 reduction technologies, conducts water mass balances for required external supply of water for 1-, 5- and 10-yr missions, evaluates mass, volume, power, cooling and resupply requirements of various technologies. A system analysis and comparison among the technologies was made based on ESM, technology readiness level and reliability. Those technologies with potential were recommended for development.
Minimizing resupply from Earth is essential for future long duration manned missions. The current oxygen recovery system aboard the International Space Station is capable of recovering approximately 50% of the oxygen from metabolic carbon dioxide. For long duration manned missions, a minimum of 75% oxygen recovery is targeted with a goal of greater than 90%. Theoretically, the Bosch process can recover 100% of oxygen, making it a promising technology for oxygen recovery for long duration missions. However, the Bosch process produces elemental carbon which ultimately fouls the catalyst. Once the catalyst performance is compromised, it must be replaced resulting in undesired resupply mass. Based on the performance of a Bosch system designed by NASA in the 1990's, a three year Martian mission would require approximately 1315 kg (2850 lbs) of catalyst resupply. It may be possible to eliminate catalyst resupply with a fully regenerable system using an Ionic Liquid (IL)-based Bosch system. In 2016, we reported the feasibility of using ILs to produce an iron catalyst on a copper substrate and to regenerate the iron catalyst by extracting the iron from the copper substrate and product carbon. Additionally, we described a basic system concept for an IL-based Bosch. Here we report the results of efforts to scale catalyst preparation, catalyst regeneration, and to scale the carbon formation processing rate of a single reactor.
Minimizing resupply from Earth is essential for future long duration manned missions. The current oxygen recovery system aboard the International Space Station is capable of recovering approximately 50% of the oxygen from metabolic carbon dioxide. For long duration manned missions, a minimum of 75% oxygen recovery is targeted with a goal of greater than 90%. Theoretically, the Bosch process can recover 100% of oxygen, making it a promising technology for oxygen recovery for long duration missions. However, the Bosch process produces elemental carbon which ultimately fouls the catalyst. Once the catalyst performance is compromised, it must be replaced resulting in undesired resupply mass. Based on the performance of a Bosch system designed by NASA in the 1990's, a three year Martian mission would require approximately 1315 kg (2850 lbs) of catalyst resupply. It may be possible to eliminate catalyst resupply with a fully regenerable system using an Ionic Liquid (IL)-based Bosch system. In 2016, we reported the feasibility of using ILs to produce an iron catalyst on a copper substrate and to regenerate the iron catalyst by extracting the iron from the copper substrate and product carbon. Additionally, we described a basic system concept for an IL-based Bosch. Here we report the results of efforts to scale catalyst preparation, to scale catalyst regeneration, and to scale the carbon formation processing rate of a single reactor.
Current oxygen recovery technology onboard the International Space Station only recovers approximately 50% of the oxygen from metabolic carbon dioxide, thus requiring resupply mass in order to sustain life onboard. Future long duration manned missions will require maximum oxygen recovery in order to reduce resupply mass. Complete recovery of oxygen can be achieved through Bosch technology. The challenge with this technology is that the solid carbon produced during the process results in undesired catalyst resupply mass. Although there have been several approaches to solve this challenge, in order to totally eliminate the need for resupply only one potential process has been identified. This process is a fully-regenerable Ionic Liquid (IL)-based Bosch system that employs in situ resources. In 2016, efforts were made that proved the feasibility of an IL-based Bosch system. ILs were used to electroplate iron onto a copper substrate and to regenerate the iron by extracting the iron from the copper substrate and product carbon. In 2017, efforts were initiated to scale the proposed technology. Here we report the results of those efforts as well as an IL-based Bosch system concept and basic reactor design.
The production of ammonia through the Haber–Bosch process is regarded as one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. Despite significant efforts in optimizing the process, it still consumes 1 to 2% of the worldwide annual energy for the high working temperatures and pressures. The design of a catalyst with a high activity at milder conditions represents another challenge for this reaction. Herein, we combine density functional theory and microkinetic modeling to illustrate a strategy to facilitate low-temperature and -pressure ammonia synthesis through modified energy-scaling relationships using a confined dual site. Our results suggest that an ammonia synthesis rate two to three orders of magnitude higher than the commercial Ru catalyst can be achieved under the same reaction conditions with the introduction of confinement. Such strategies will open pathways for the development of catalysts for the Haber–Bosch process that can operate at milder conditions and present more economically viable alternatives to current industrial solutions.
Ammonia (NH 3 ) is necessary for food production and is commercially synthesized from nitrogen (N 2 ) and hydrogen (H 2 ) using the Haber–Bosch process. Significant amounts of ammonia are made every year in a reaction that requires high temperatures and pressures, with the Haber–Bosch accounting for ~1.6% of total annual global energy consumption. Electrocatalysts are also being explored to convert in an environmentally friendly manner N 2 to NH 3 at ambient temperature and pressure.