Proposal to Study Alternative CO2 Methods for Possible Mars Extravehicular Activities Using Permeabl

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Proposal to Study Alternative CO2 Methods for
Possible Mars Extravehicular Activities Using
Permeable Membranes and Molecular Sieves

• Daniel Carvajal
• Adam Darrow
• Matthew Estes
• Greg Pang
• Vitaliy Vatkovsky

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Abstract

• Goal To develop and test a membrane/zeolite
  based CO2 removal system

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So why do we need CO2 removal?

• Wouldnt it be easier just to dump the gasses the
  astronaut breathes out?
• It would make the PLSS simpler, and it would be
  lighter.
• So, lets get rid of the CO2 removal device..
  Right?

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Not So Fast!!

• Astronauts only consume somewhere between 3 to 5
  of the O2 in each breath.
• We need the CO2 removal device to be able to
  reuse all this oxygen.
• If not astronauts would have to carry somewhere
  between 25 to 30 times the oxygen they normally
  carry!!!

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Introduction

• Current Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) CO2
  removal systems
• Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH)
• Metal Oxides (Metox)

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LiOH

• So we need CO2 removal, what now?
• We use LiOH 2LiOH(s)CO2(g)?Li2CO3(s)H20(s)
• Very High Efficiency, 92.
• Non-Regenerable.
• You need 1 kg per 8 hour EVA.
• This will NOT work for Mars!!!

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Metox

• So what has NASA looked into as alternatives?
• Metal Oxides looked promising.
• AgO is the most promising.
• Less efficient, only 18.9.
• Regenerable, but what is the cost?
• 1.865 kJ/gCO2

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Problems With Current CO2 Removal Systems

• LiOH
• Relatively non-regenerable

• Metox
• Weight considerations
• Limited to 50 adsorb/desorb cycles

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Summary and Problem Statement

• Remove CO2 from closed Portable Life Support
  Systems (PLSS)
• More efficient/Longer-lasting
• Lighter
• Membranes Offer differing permeabilities for CO2
  and O2
• Zeolites Adsorb CO2

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Technical Objectives and Methodology

• Combination of permeable membranes and molecular
  sieves creates a highly desirable system for CO2
  removal
• The research will focus on designing and
  optimizing such a system

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Phase 1 Data Collection
Variables to Measure

• Composition of O2/CO2 mixture
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Rate of feed gas
• Amount of water vapor

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Phase 2 Evaluation of Efficiency

• Find the optimal settings for the five variables
• Balance comfort with efficiency

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Phase 3 Implementation of Design

• Further refinement of settings.
• Adjustment to meet engineering restrictions of
  PLSS and Martian conditions.

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Phase 4 Further Application
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Timeline

• August - September 2002 Assembly Period
• October - November 2002 Stage 1 Testing
• December 2002 Analyze data
• February 2003 Optimize Stage 2 design
• March - April 2003 Stage 2 Testing
• May 2003 Analyze Stage 2 data and construct
  report

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Management Structure

• Principal Investigator
• Industrial Liaison
• Academic Liaison
• Chief Researcher
• Researchers
• Machine Shop Technician
• Outreach Coordinator/Instructors

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Outreach

• Waste Removal Class at Washington Elementary
  School
• Interactive lectures and exercises

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Conclusion

• Improve EMU for a terrestrial exploration of Mars
• Further application in other fields
• Air purification
• Hazardous Materials (suits)