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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Status of ISS Water Management and Recovery

Water management on ISS is responsible for the provision of water to the crew for drinking water, food preparation, and hygiene, to the Oxygen Generation System (OGS) for oxygen production via electrolysis, to the Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) for flush water, and for experiments on ISS. This paper summarizes water management activities on the ISS US Segment as of March 2023 and provides a status of the performance and issues related to the operation of the Water Processor Assembly (WPA), Urine Processor Assembly (UPA), and Brine Processor Assembly (BPA).

Jill Williamson↗
NASA NTRS2006

Hydrogen Reduction of Ilmenite from Lunar Regolith

Each ascent vehicle returning from the lunar surface with a crew vehicle will require several tons of fuel. Most architecture studies of lunar exploration vehicles use liquid oxygen for fuel, either for LOX/LH2 or LOX/methane. Utilization of oxygen generated on the lunar surface saves mass launched from Earth, with a multiplication factor on the order of 4-5, e.g. production and utilization of 4 tons of lunar oxygen for the ascent vehicle saves 16-20 tons of initial mass in low Earth orbit (IMLEO). The paper discusses ongoing MSFC activity on oxygen production by hydrogen reduction of Ilmenite. Specifically the important project milestone is to develop the Technology Readiness Level for the generation of lunar oxygen for propellant production from 3 to 5. The paper will provide an overview of the processes for Oxygen Generation, Complete Systems Architecture for a pilot lunar plant, experimental apparatus development and initial experimental results, and future directions.

Ramachandran, N.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Generating High-Pressure Oxygen Electrolytically

Electrolytic cell generates oxygen directly at high pressure at point of use. System makes it unnecessary to use heavy, bulky air compressor or to ship compressed oxygen in heavy tanks. Produces hydrogen as byproduct, at pressure that may be different from that of oxygen, if desired. Cathode also barrier that lets gases collect at widely differing pressures.

Schubert, F. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Integrated testing of an electrochemical depolarized CO2 concentrator /EDC/ and a Bosch CO2 reduction subsystem /BRS/

An oxygen reclamation system (ORS) in a spacecraft has the task to revitalize the spacecraft atmosphere by recovering the elementary oxygen from metabolically produced carbon dioxide and water vapor. Life support subsystems which can form such an ORS are an electrochemical depolarized carbon dioxide concentrator (EDC), a Bosch carbon dioxide reduction subsystem (BRS), and an oxygen generation subsystem (OGS). A total recovery of the oxygen from metabolically generated carbon dioxide can be obtained with the aid of system composed of the considered three subsystems. Attention is given to the control concept which assures an integrated operation of the EDC, BRS, and OGS. A description is presented of the test results obtained during 86 days of testing.

Schubert, F. H.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Intense laser beams; Proceedings of the Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 23, 24, 1992

Various papers on intense laser beams are presented. Individual topics addressed include: novel methods of copper vapor laser excitation, UCLA IR FEL, lasing characteristics of a large-bore copper vapor laser (CVL), copper density measurement of a large-bore CVL, high-power XeCl excimer laser, solid state direct-drive circuit for pumping gas lasers, united energy model for FELs, intensity and frequency instabilities in double-mode CO2 lasers, comparison of output power stabilities of CO and CO2 lasers, increasing efficiency of sealed-off CO lasers, thermal effects in singlet delta oxygen generation, optical extraction from the chemical oxygen-iodine laser medium, generation and laser diagnostic analysis of bismuth fluoride. Also discussed are: high-Q resonator design for an HF overtone chemical lasers, improved coatings for HF overtone lasers, scaled atmospheric blooming experiment, simulation on producing conjugate field using deformable mirrors, paraxial theory of amplitude correction, potential capabilities of adaptive optical systems in the atmosphere, power beaming research at NASA, system evaluations of laser power beaming options, performance projections for laser beam power to space, independent assessment of laser power beaming options, removal of atmospheric CFCs by lasers, efficiency of vaporization cutting by CVL.

Wade, Richard C.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Modification of the Surface Properties of Polyimide Films using POSS Deposition and Oxygen Plasma Exposure

Topographically rich surfaces were generated by spray-coating organic solutions of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, octakis (dimethylsilyloxy) silsesquioxane (POSS), on Kapton HN films and exposing them to radio frequency generated oxygen plasma. Changes in both surface chemistry and topography were observed. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy indicated substantial modification of the POSS-coated polyimide surface topographies as a result of oxygen plasma exposure. Water contact angles varied from 104 deg for unexposed POSS-coated surfaces to approximately 5 deg, for samples exposed for 5 h. Modulation of the dispersive and polar contributions to the surface energy was determined using van Oss Good Chaudhury theory.

Wohl, Christopher J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Development Unit Configuration and Current Status of the MIP/MAAC Experiment

The Mars In-Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) Precursor (MIP) experiment package is planned for inclusion on the Mars 2001 Lander. This experiment package consists of five experiments whose purpose is to demonstrate the performance of various ISPP processes in-situ on Mars. The demonstrated ability to produce propellant for Mars Return Vehicles (MRV) is considered to be a necessary precursor to any future manned mission to Mars. The Mars Atmosphere Acquisition and Compression (MAAC) experiment is part of the MIP package and is intended to demonstrate that, by using a sorption compressor, CO2 can be preferentially adsorbed at about 6 torr from the Mars atmosphere during the night when the bed is cold then subsequently compressed to about 800 torr by heating the bed and desorbing CO2 during the day. The compressed CO2 produced by MAAC is to be fed to the Oxygen Generator Subsystem (OGS) where pure oxygen is to be produced. Pure oxygen is considered to be one of the primary constituents of a future manned MRV propellant system. A MAAC Development Unit (DU) has been fabricated and tested at JPL. The MAAC DU consists of 1) a sorption bed filled with a CO2 selective sorbent material, 2) a purge system to be used to periodically backflush non-CO2 gases from the sorbent bed during adsorption, 3) a JPL-developed gas-gap heat switch that allows heat transfer to a radiator for heat removal from the bed during the night time adsorption period and that impedes heat transfer during the day time desorption period, 4) a radiator to radiate heat to the night sky during the adsorption period, 5) a set of three isolation valves and connecting tubing. 6) two pressure transducers and several thermocouples for monitoring the MAAC operating conditions, and command and data handling electronics. This paper will describe the operational theory and the configuration of the MAAC DU and will discuss the current status of the MAAC experiment development including some selected results of performance testing that has been completed prior to the ISRU III meeting.

Karlmann, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Development Unit Configuration Status of the MIP/MAAC Experiment

The Mars In-Situ Propellant Production (ISPP) Precursor (MIP) experiment package is planned for inclusion on the Mars 2001 Lander. This experiment package consists of five experiments whose purpose is to demonstrate the performance of various ISPP processes in-situ on Mars. The demonstrated ability to produce propellant for Mars Return Vehicles (MRV) is considered to be a necessary precursor to any future manned mission to Mars. The Mars Atmosphere Acquisition and Compression (MAAC) experiment is part of the MIP package and is intended to demonstrate that, by using a sorption compressor, CO2 can be preferentially adsorbed at about 6 torr from the Mars atmosphere during the night when the bed is cold then subsequently compressed to about 800 torr by heating the bed and desorbing C02 during the day. The compressed CO2 produced by MAAC is to be fed to the Oxygen Generator Subsystem (OGS) where pure oxygen is to be produced. Pure oxygen is considered to be one of the primary constituents of a future manned MRV propellant system. A MAAC Development Unit (DU) has been fabricated and tested at JPL. The MAAC DU consists of: (1) a sorption bed filled with a CO2 selective sorbent material; (2) a purge system to be used to periodically backflush non-CO2 gases from the sorbent bed during adsorption; (3) a JPL-developed gas-gap heat switch that allows heat transfer to a radiator for heat removal from the bed during the night time adsorption period and that impedes heat transfer during the day time desorption period; (4) a radiator to radiate heat to the night sky during the adsorption period; (5) a set of three isolation valves and connecting tubing; (6) two pressure transducers and several thermocouples for monitoring the MAAC operating conditions, and command and data handling electronics. This paper will describe the operational theory and the configuration of the MAAC DU and will discuss the current status of the MAAC experiment development including some selected results of performance testing that has been completed prior to the ISRU III meeting.

Karlmann, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Plants for Life Support in Space

Plants can provide a means of life support for space missions. Through photosynthesis, plant can generate oxygen and remove CO2, while generating clean water through transpiration. And, by using edible crops, the plants can also produce. The talk will review some of NASA's testing with plants for life support through the years and show how student teams at the "Growing Beyond Earth" challenge have helped NASA in this effort.

Wheeler, Raymond M.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Module for Oxygenating Water without Generating Bubbles

A module that dissolves oxygen in water at concentrations approaching saturation, without generating bubbles of oxygen gas, has been developed as a prototype of improved oxygenators for water-disinfection and water-purification systems that utilize photocatalyzed redox reactions. Depending on the specific nature of a water-treatment system, it is desirable to prevent the formation of bubbles for one or more reasons: (1) Bubbles can remove some organic contaminants from the liquid phase to the gas phase, thereby introducing a gas-treatment problem that complicates the overall water-treatment problem; and/or (2) in some systems (e.g., those that must function in microgravity or in any orientation in normal Earth gravity), bubbles can interfere with the flow of the liquid phase. The present oxygenation module (see Figure 1) is a modified version of a commercial module that contains >100 hollow polypropylene fibers with a nominal pore size of 0.05 m and a total surface area of 0.5 m2. The module was originally designed for oxygenation in a bioreactor, with no water flowing around or inside the tubes. The modification, made to enable the use of the module to oxygenate flowing water, consisted mainly in the encapsulation of the fibers in a tube of Tygon polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with an inside diameter of 1 in. (approx.=25 mm). In operation, water is pumped along the insides of the hollow fibers and oxygen gas is supplied to the space outside the hollow tubes inside the PVC tube. In tests, the pressure drops of water and oxygen in the module were found to be close to zero at water-flow rates ranging up to 320 mL/min and oxygen-flow rates up to 27 mL/min. Under all test conditions, no bubbles were observed at the water outlet. In some tests, flow rates were chosen to obtain dissolved-oxygen concentrations between 25 and 31 parts per million (ppm) . approaching the saturation level of approx.=35 ppm at a temperature of 20 C and pressure of 1 atm (approx.=0.1 MPa). As one would expect, it was observed that the time needed to bring a flow of water from an initial low dissolved-oxygen concentration (e.g., 5 ppm) to a steady high dissolved-oxygen concentration at or near the saturation level depends on the rates of flow of both oxygen and water, among other things. Figure 2 shows the results of an experiment in which a greater flow of oxygen was used during the first few tens of minutes to bring the concentration up to approx.=25 ppm, then a lesser flow was used to maintain the concentration.

Gonzalez-Martin, Anuncia↗
NASA NTRS1993

Oxygen rich gas generator design and performance analysis

The present oxygen-rich combustion research investigates oxygen gas generator concepts. The theoretical and modeling aspects of a selected concept are presented, together with a refined concept resulting from the findings of the study. This investigation examined a counter-flow gas generator design for O2/H2 mass ratios of 100-200, featuring a near-stoichiometric combustion zone followed by downstream mixing. The critical technologies required to develop a performance model are analyzed and include the following: (1) oxygen flow boiling; (2) two-phase oxygen flow heat transfer; (3) film-cooling in the combustion zone; (4) oxygen-rich combustion with hydrogen; and (5) mixing and dilution.

Gloyer, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Plasma Methane Pyrolysis for Spacecraft Oxygen Loop Closure

Life support is a critical function of any crewed space vehicle or habitat. Human life support systems on the International Space Station (ISS) include a number of atmosphere revitalization (AR) technologies to provide breathable air and a comfortable living environment to the crew. The Trace Contaminant Control System removes harmful volatile organic compounds and other trace contaminants from the circulating air. The Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) removes metabolic carbon dioxide (CO2) and returns air to the cabin. Humidity is kept at comfortable levels by a number of condensing heat exchangers. The Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) electrolyzes water to produce oxygen for the crew and hydrogen (H2) as a byproduct. A Sabatier reaction-based CO2 Reduction Assembly (CRA) was launched to the ISS in 2009 and became fully operational in June 2011.The CRA interfaces with both the OGA and CDRA. Carbon dioxide from the CDRA is compressed and stored in tanks until hydrogen is available from OGA water electrolysis. When the OGA is operational and there is CO2 available, the CRA is activated and produces methane and water via the Sabatier reaction shown in Equation 1... One approach to achieve these higher recovery rates builds upon the ISS AR architecture and includes adding a methane post-processor to recover H2 from CRA methane. NASA has been developing the Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) to fill the role of a methane post-processor.

Greenwood, Z. W.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Method of Separating Oxygen From Spacecraft Cabin Air to Enable Extravehicular Activities

Extravehicular activities (EVAs) require high-pressure, high-purity oxygen. Shuttle EVAs use oxygen that is stored and transported as a cryogenic fluid. EVAs on the International Space Station (ISS) presently use the Shuttle cryo O2, which is transported to the ISS using a transfer hose. The fluid is compressed to elevated pressures and stored as a high-pressure gas. With the retirement of the shuttle, NASA has been searching for ways to deliver oxygen to fill the highpressure oxygen tanks on the ISS. A method was developed using low-pressure oxygen generated onboard the ISS and released into ISS cabin air, filtering the oxygen from ISS cabin air using a pressure swing absorber to generate a low-pressure (high-purity) oxygen stream, compressing the oxygen with a mechanical compressor, and transferring the high-pressure, high-purity oxygen to ISS storage tanks. The pressure swing absorber (PSA) can be either a two-stage device, or a single-stage device, depending on the type of sorbent used. The key is to produce a stream with oxygen purity greater than 99.5 percent. The separator can be a PSA device, or a VPSA device (that uses both vacuum and pressure for the gas separation). The compressor is a multi-stage mechanical compressor. If the gas flow rates are on the order of 5 to 10 lb (.2.3 to 4.6 kg) per day, the compressor can be relatively small [3 ~16 ~16 in. (.8 ~41 ~41 cm)]. Any spacecraft system, or other remote location that has a supply of lowpressure oxygen, a method of separating oxygen from cabin air, and a method of compressing the enriched oxygen stream, has the possibility of having a regenerable supply of highpressure, high-purity oxygen that is compact, simple, and safe. If cabin air is modified so there is very little argon, the separator can be smaller, simpler, and use less power.

Graf, John C.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Understanding the impact of the gas diffusion layer structure on catalyst utilization in the PEM water electrolyzer

A multiphysics half-cell model of a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) was developed to probe impacts of the detailed 3-dimensional pore structure of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) on performance characteristics. We show that pores in the titanium GDL mesh led to significant underutilization of the catalyst layer (CL), with only 45% of the catalyst effectively utilized. This contradicts the assumption of uniform electron flow across the CL, as shown in graphical abstract (a), as near-zero current was observed near GDL pore regions and the current distribution in CL was influenced by GDL structure, as shown in graphical abstract (b). Instead, oxygen generation was primarily concentrated under the solid titanium regions, diffusing out around the pore walls. High current density peaks were also noted at the GDL-catalyst contact, correlating with degradation hotspots that were directly observed in companion experiments, as shown in graphical abstract (c). Collectively, these findings point to the critical importance of the heterogeneous GDL porous architecture not only for PEMWE efficiency but also for uneven degradation of the CL.

COMSOL↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Improving the Recovery of Oxygen from Carbon Dioxide

Long duration human exploration missions far from Earth will need to recycle life support consumables for missions to be affordable. The state-of-the-art for atmosphere revitalization is not closed. Although the Sabatier Carbon Dioxide Reduction Assembly (CRA) on the International Space Station has the capability for full closure, there is insufficient metabolic hydrogen available from the Oxygen Generation System to recover more than about 47% of oxygen from carbon dioxide. Methane is produced as a byproduct, which consumes hydrogen that would otherwise be available to reduce additional carbon dioxide. Several strategies are available to increase the fraction of oxygen recovered. One is to pyrolyze methane to recover the lost hydrogen. Others are to replace the Sabatier with a new processor that is more efficient. Candidates include Bosch, Carbon Dioxide Electrolysis and Co-Electrolysis, and electrochemical reactors. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has recently made investments in several of these technologies which will be described in this presentation.

Carbon dioxide reduction↗
NASA NTRS1982

Development of a static feed water electrolysis system

A one person level oxygen generation subsystem was developed and production of the one person oxygen metabolic requirements, 0.82 kg, per day was demonstrated without the need for condenser/separators or electrolyte pumps. During 650 hours of shakedown, design verification, and endurance testing, cell voltages averaged 1.62 V at 206 mA/sq cm and at average operating temperature as low as 326 K, virtually corresponding to the state of the art performance previously established for single cells. This high efficiency and low waste heat generation prevented maintenance of the 339 K design temperature without supplemental heating. Improved water electrolysis cell frames were designed, new injection molds were fabricated, and a series of frames was molded. A modified three fluid pressure controller was developed and a static feed water electrolysis that requires no electrolyte in the static feed compartment was developed and successfully evaluated.

Schubert, F. H.↗
NASA NTRS2019

A Scroll Filter System for In-Situ Resource Utilization CO2 Acquisition of the Martian Atmosphere

The Martian atmosphere, consisting mainly of gaseous CO2, is regarded as one of the main planetary resources capable of providing a significant portion of the oxygen that will be needed for human missions to the planet's surface. NASA's In-Situ Re-source Utilization (ISRU) project supports the development of oxygen generation technologies that can convert the Martian atmosphere into usable oxygen. The thin CO2 based Martian atmosphere, however, carries certain levels of dust stirred up by the Martian winds that must be filtered out at the front end of any CO2 acquisition system. Thus, the ISRU project is developing particulate filters as part of a Mars CO2 acquisition sys-tem. A prototype filter system, known as the Scroll Filter, is being tested under simulated Martian atmospheric conditions in the Mar Atmospheric Flow Loop at the NASA GRC. The measurement techniques as well as the preliminary results from a series of performance tests will be discussed.

Agui, Juan H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Integrated lunar materials manufacturing process

A manufacturing plant and process for production of oxygen on the moon uses lunar minerals as feed and a minimum of earth-imported, process materials. Lunar feed stocks are hydrogen-reducible minerals, ilmenite and lunar agglutinates occurring in numerous, explored locations mixed with other minerals in the pulverized surface layer of lunar soil known as regolith. Ilmenite (FeTiO.sub.3) and agglutinates contain ferrous (Fe.sup.+2) iron reducible by hydrogen to yield H.sub.2 O and metallic Fe at about 700.degree.-1,200.degree. C. The H.sub.2 O is electrolyzed in gas phase to yield H.sub.2 for recycle and O.sub.2 for storage and use. Hydrogen losses to lunar vacuum are minimized, with no net hydrogen (or any other earth-derived reagent) consumption except for small leaks. Feed minerals are surface-mined by front shovels and transported in trucks to the processing area. The machines are manned or robotic. Ilmenite and agglutinates occur mixed with silicate minerals which are not hydrogen-reducible at 700.degree.-1,200.degree. C. and consequently are separated and concentrated before feeding to the oxygen generation process. Solids rejected from the separation step and reduced solids from the oxygen process are returned to the mine area. The plant is powered by nuclear or solar power generators. Vapor-phase water electrolysis, a staged, countercurrent, fluidized bed reduction reactor and a radio-frequency-driven ceramic gas heater are used to improve thermal efficiency.

Gibson, Michael A.↗