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System Design Techniques for Reducing the Power Requirements of Advanced life Support SystemsThe high power requirement associated with overall operation of regenerative life support systems is a critical Z:p technological challenge. Optimization of individual processors alone will not be sufficient to produce an optimized system. System studies must be used in order to improve the overall efficiency of life support systems. Current research efforts at NASA Ames Research Center are aimed at developing approaches for reducing system power and energy usage in advanced life support systems. System energy integration and energy reuse techniques are being applied to advanced life support, in addition to advanced control methods for efficient distribution of power and thermal resources. An overview of current results of this work will be presented. The development of integrated system designs that reuse waste heat from sources such as crop lighting and solid waste processing systems will reduce overall power and cooling requirements. Using an energy integration technique known as Pinch analysis, system heat exchange designs are being developed that match hot and cold streams according to specific design principles. For various designs, the potential savings for power, heating and cooling are being identified and quantified. The use of state-of-the-art control methods for distribution of resources, such as system cooling water or electrical power, will also reduce overall power and cooling requirements. Control algorithms are being developed which dynamically adjust the use of system resources by the various subsystems and components in order to achieve an overall goal, such as smoothing of power usage and/or heat rejection profiles, while maintaining adequate reserves of food, water, oxygen, and other consumables, and preventing excessive build-up of waste materials. Reductions in the peak loading of the power and thermal systems will lead to lower overall requirements. Computer simulation models are being used to test various control system designs.
Document ID
20000121171
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Finn, Cory
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Levri, Julie
(Orbital Sciences Corp. United States)
Pawlowski, Chris
(Orbital Sciences Corp. United States)
Crawford, Sekou
(Orbital Sciences Corp. United States)
Luna, Bernadette
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2000
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Meeting Information
Meeting: Life Support and Biosphere Science
Location: Baltimore, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: August 6, 2000
End Date: August 9, 2000
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 131-20-10
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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