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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.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Techno-Economic Screening Analysis of CO2 Removal Through Enhanced Weathering

Terrestrial enhanced weathering has emerged as a technology of interest due to its simplicity, low energy requirement, and potentially low capital investment requirement. Due to the novelty of this technology, there is limited literature exploring the techno-economics of the process. This presentation reports on a screening techno-economic analysis that examines the impact of key factors that influence terrestrial enhanced weathering performance and cost. Two cases are considered for analysis, based on the material used: (1) Naturally occurring mined igneous rock (2) Industrial waste materials (like biomass ash or cement kiln dust) The analysis considers locating the terrestrial enhanced weathering system in the Midwestern United States, because of proximity to alkaline materials, availability of farmland, and appropriate ambient conditions for weathering. For the igneous rock case, the size of the system is based on the average amount of igneous rock available from a single mine—250,000 tonnes/year. For the industrial waste case, the size of the system is based on the amount of suitable waste material produced by an industrial hub—150,000 tonnes/year.

Leptinsky, Sarah↗
NASA NTRS1977

Removing CO2 and moisture from air

Foamed-aluminum blocks act as passive heat exchanger to improve efficiency. Improved closed-cycle atmospheric scrubber, level of carbon dioxide, and water vapor are reduced without affecting temperature of airstream. Exchangers draw impurities from air without additional heaters of auxillary equipment.

Tepper, E. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Extended duration orbiter study: CO2 removal and water recovery

Two electrochemical depolarized carbon dioxide concentrator subsystems were evaluated against baseline lithium hydroxide for (1) the baseline orbiter when expanded to accommodate a crew of seven (mission option one), (2) an extended duration orbiter with a power extension package to reduce fuel cell expendables (mission option two), and (3) an extended duration orbiter with a full capability power module to eliminate fuel cell expendables (mission option three). The electrochemical depolarized carbon dioxide concentrator was also compared to the solid amine regenerable carbon dioxide removal concept. Water recovery is not required for Mission Option One since sufficient water is generated by the fuel cells. The vapor compression distillation subsystem was evaluated for mission option two and three only. Weight savings attainable using the vapor compression distillation subsystem for water recovery versus on-board water storage were determined. Combined carbon dioxide removal and water recovery was evaluated to determine the effect on regenerable carbon dioxide removal subsystem selection.

Marshall, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Regenerative CO2 removal for PLSS application

Various concepts for the design of the nonelectrochemical absorber were defined and evaluated. A preliminary design based on the use of hollow fiber membranes was developed. Small scale bench testing demonstrated the carbon dioxide removal capability and provided design data for scale-up to the one person level. A full scale conceptual design of the absorbent regeneration hardware using six electrochemical cells was also completed. The design was supported by single cell testing and showed that a full scale regeneration system, operating continuously over 24 hours, can regenerate the absorbent from one extravehicular activity mission. The single cell regeneration hardware was operated for over 800 hours.

Heppner, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Advanced CO2 removal process control and monitor instrumentation development

A progam to evaluate, design and demonstrate major advances in control and monitor instrumentation was undertaken. A carbon dioxide removal process, one whose maturity level makes it a prime candidate for early flight demonstration was investigated. The instrumentation design incorporates features which are compatible with anticipated flight requirements. Current electronics technology and projected advances are included. In addition, the program established commonality of components for all advanced life support subsystems. It was concluded from the studies and design activities conducted under this program that the next generation of instrumentation will be greatly smaller than the prior one. Not only physical size but weight, power and heat rejection requirements were reduced in the range of 80 to 85% from the former level of research and development instrumentation. Using a microprocessor based computer, a standard computer bus structure and nonvolatile memory, improved fabrication techniques and aerospace packaging this instrumentation will greatly enhance overall reliability and total system availability.

Heppner, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Carbon Dioxide Adsorption on a 5A Zeolite Designed for CO2 Removal in Spacecraft Cabins

Carbon dioxide adsorption data were obtained for a 5A zeolite manufactured by AlliedSignal Inc. (Des Plaines, Illinois). The material is planned for use in the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) for U.S. elements of the International Space Station. The family of adsorption isotherms covers a temperature range of O to 250 C, and a pressure range of 0.001 to 800 torr. Coefficients of the Toth equation are fit to the data. Isosteric heats of adsorption are derived from the equilibrium loading data.

Mulloth, Lila M.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Development of a Prototype Algal Reactor for Removing CO2 from Cabin Air

Controlling carbon dioxide in spacecraft cabin air may be accomplished using algal photobioreactors (PBRs). The purpose of this project was to evaluate the use of a commercial microcontroller, the Arduino Mega 2560, for measuring key phot~ioreactor variables: dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, light, and carbon dioxide. The Arduino platform is an opensource physical computing platform composed of a compact microcontroller board and a C++/C computer language (Arduino 1.0.5). The functionality of the Arduino platform can be expanded by the use of numerous add-ons or 'shields'. The Arduino Mega 2560 was equipped with the following shields: datalogger, BNC shield for reading pH sensor, a Mega Moto shield for controlling CO2 addition, as well as multiple sensors. The dissolved oxygen (DO) probe was calibrated using a nitrogen bubbling technique and the pH probe was calibrated via an Omega pH simulator. The PBR was constructed using a 2 L beaker, a 66 L box for addition of CO2, a micro porous membrane, a diaphragm pump, four 25 watt light bulbs, a MasterFiex speed controller, and a fan. The algae (wild type Synechocystis PCC6803) was grown in an aerated flask until the algae was dense enough to used in the main reactor. After the algae was grown, it was transferred to the 2 L beaker where CO2 consumption and O2 production was measured using the microcontroller sensor suite. The data was recorded via the datalogger and transferred to a computer for analysis.

Patel, Vrajen↗
NASA NTRS2015

Computer Simulation and Modeling of CO2 Removal Systems for Exploration 2013-2014

The Atmosphere Revitalization Recovery and Environmental Monitoring (ARREM) project was initiated in September of 2011 as part of the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) program. Under the ARREM project and the follow-on Life Support Systems (LSS) project, testing of sub-scale and full-scale systems has been combined with multiphysics computer simulations for evaluation and optimization of subsystem approaches. In particular, this paper will describes the testing and 1-D modeling of the combined water desiccant and carbon dioxide sorbent subsystems of the carbon dioxide removal assembly (CDRA). The goal is a full system predictive model of CDRA to guide system optimization and development.

Coker, R.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Using the System Complexity Metric (SCM) to Compare CO2 Removal Systems

A fundamental cause of difficulty in large engineering projects is their inherent complexity. An impression of complexity occurs if a system is simply difficult to understand, where there is no obvious mental model that correctly predicts its behavior. Higher system complexity is usually associated with higher cost and higher failure rate. Complexity is perceived if a system has many diverse components, multiple interactions and feedback loops, transients and dynamic behavior, and unanticipated failure modes. Identifying and removing these signs of complexity should improve performance and reduce the cost and failure rate. Complexity can be directly measured by the number of components and their interactions. The System Complexity Metric (SCM) is defined as the sum of the number of parts in a system, N, plus the number of the one-way interconnections between them, I. SCM = N + I. The SCM is easily determined by direct inspection of the system block diagram. SCM can be used to compare systems and to guide their redesign to reduce cost and failure rate. Carbon dioxide removal systems are analyzed using SCM, cost, and failure rate. As in previous work, cost is directly proportional to SCM and that failure rate increases as a power of SCM for large differences in SCM. The SCM ranking of carbon dioxide removal systems is the same as their ranking in detailed analysis and practice.

Harry W. Jones↗
NASA NTRS2003

Carbon balance in bioregenerative life support systems: some effects of system closure, waste management, and crop harvest index

In Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems with bioregenerative components, plant photosynthesis would be used to produce O2 and food, while removing CO2. Much of the plant biomass would be inedible and hence must be considered in waste management. This waste could be oxidized (e.g., incinerated or aerobically digested) to resupply CO2 to the plants, but this would not be needed unless the system were highly closed with regard to food. For example, in a partially closed system where some of the food is grown and some is imported, CO2 from oxidized waste when combined with crew and microbial respiration could exceed the CO2 removal capability of the plants. Moreover, it would consume some O2 produced from photosynthesis that could have been used by the crew. For partially closed systems it would be more appropriate to store or find other uses for the inedible biomass and excess carbon, such as generating soils or growing woody plants (e.g., dwarf fruit trees). Regardless of system closure, high harvest crops (i.e., crops with a high edible to total biomass ratio) would increase food production per unit area and O2 yields for systems where waste biomass is oxidized to recycle CO2. Such interlinking effects between the plants and waste treatment strategies point out the importance of oxidizing only that amount of waste needed to optimize system performance. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of COSPAR.

NASA Discipline Life Support Systems↗
NASA NTRS1984

Air Revitalization System integration

This paper presents a status review of Spacecraft Air Revitalization System (ARS) integration using regenerable techniques. The paper addresses concepts of integration of individual subsystems into an Air Revitalization System, as well as integration of components within subsystems. An ARS design is presented based on the Electrochemical Depolarized Carbon Dioxide Concentrator Subsystem, the Sabatier Carbon Dioxide Reduction Subsystem, the Static Feed Water Electrolysis Subsystem, a condensing Humidity Control Subsystem, and a Water Handling Subsystem to perform the functions of CO2 removal, CO2 reduction, O2 generation, humidity control and by-product water distribution, respectively. The paper also highlights the numerous advantages of this integration. Trace contaminant control and the nitrogen supply are not included in the ARS described in this paper.

Quattrone, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Development status of regenerable solid amine CO2 control systems

The development history of solid amine/water desorbed (SAWD) CO2 control systems is reviewed. The design of the preprototype SAWD I CO2 system on the basis of a three-man metabolic load at the 3.8 mm Hg ambient CO2 level, and the functions of the CO2 removal, CO2 storage/delivery, controller, and life test laboratory support packages are described. The development of a full-scale multiple canister SAWD II preprototype system, which is capable of conducting the CO2 removal/concentration function in a closed-loop atmosphere revitalization system during zero-gravity operation, is examined. The operation of the SAWD II system, including the absorption and desorption cycles, is analyzed. A reduction in the thermal mass of the canister and the system's energy transfer technique result in efficient energy use. The polyether foam, nylon felt, nickel foam, spring retained, and metal bellows bed tests performed to determine the design of the zero-gravity canister are studied; metal bellows are selected for the canister's configuration.

Colling, A. K., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Environmental Control and Life Support System

Viewgraphs on the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for the space station are presented. The ECLSS is divided into six subsystems: temperature and humidity control (THC), atmosphere control and supply (ACS), atmosphere revitalization (AR), fire detection and suppression (FDS), water recovery management (WRM), and waste management (WM). Topics covered include: ECLSS subsystem functions; ECLSS distributed system; ECLSS functional distribution; CO2 removal; CO2 reduction; oxygen generation; urine processor; and potable water recovery.

Ray, Charles↗
NASA NTRS1990

Technologies for ECLSS Evolution

Viewgraphs and discussion on technologies for Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) evolution are presented. Topics covered include: atmosphere revitalization including CO2 removal, CO2 reduction, O2 generation, and trace contaminant control; water recovery and management including urine processing, hygiene water processing, and potable water processing; and waste management. ECLSS technology schematics, process diagrams, and fluid interfaces are included.

Diamant, Bryce L.↗