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Development Status for a Combined Solid Oxide Co-Electrolyzer and Carbon Formation Reactor System for Oxygen RegenerationA critical component in spacecraft life support loop closure is the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2, produced by the crew) from the cabin atmosphere and chemical reduction of this CO2 to recover the oxygen. In 2015, we initiated development of an oxygen recovery system for life support applications consisting of a solid oxide co-electrolyzer (SOCE) and a carbon formation reactor (CFR). The SOCE electrolyzes a combined stream of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) gas mixtures to produce synthesis gas (e.g., CO and H2 gas) and pure dry oxygen as separate products. This SOCE is being developed from a NASA GRC solid oxide fuel cell and stack design originally developed for aeronautics long-duration power applications. The CFR, being developed by pHMatter LLC, takes the CO and H2 output from the SOCE, and converts it primarily to solid carbon (C(s)) and H2O and CO2. Although the solid carbon accumulates in the CFR, the innovative design allows easy removal of the carbon product, requiring minimal crew member (CM) time and low resupply mass (1.0 kg/year/CM) for replacement of the solid carbon catalyst, a significant improvement over previous Bosch reactor approaches. In this work, we will provide a status of our Phase I efforts in the development and testing of both the SOCE and CFR prototype units, along with an initial assessment of the combined SOCE-CFR system, including a mass and power projections, along with an estimate of the oxygen recovery rate.
Document ID
20170001404
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Green, Robert D.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Matter, Paul H.
(PH Matter, LLC Columbus, OH, United States)
Holt, Chris
(PH Matter, LLC Columbus, OH, United States)
Beachy, Michael
(PH Matter, LLC Columbus, OH, United States)
Gaydos, James
(PH Matter, LLC Columbus, OH, United States)
Farmer, Serene C.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Setlock, John
(Toledo Univ. Toledo, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
February 8, 2017
Publication Date
September 13, 2016
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN35056
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPACE 2016
Location: Long Beach, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: September 13, 2016
End Date: September 16, 2016
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 453797.04.03.04.02
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC15CA03C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC13BA10B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
air revitalization
life support
oxygen recovery
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