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The ability of a cabin air condensing heat exchanger to survive the depressurization of a space module is limited. The phenomenon that limits a heat exchanger's survivability is freezing caused by the cooling effect of the condensate evaporating on the air side of the condensing heat exchanger and freezing the coolant water. There are several options for solving the problem. These options include: Isolate the air side of the heat exchanger. Design the heat exchanger to meet the demands of freezing. Increase the coolant temperature and/or the coolant flow rate. Control the rate of depressurization.

The TIMES is an evaporative water processor which has shown great theoretical potential for providing reliable and efficient production of high quality water. The test results of the system have however fallen short of the predicted performances. A thorough systems analysis has identified the condensing heat exchanger as a primary source of the shortcomings of the assembly. This condenser, along with three other heat exchangers in the system, have been redesigned and integrated into a new “Regenerator” that is predicted to significantly lower the power consumption and improve both the operating stability and product water quality.