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A five hour regenerate, nonventing Humidity and CO2 Control Subsystem (HCCS) technology demonstration unit is being developed for potential use in an Advanced Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AEMU) for Space Station application. The HCCS incorporates a weak base anion exchange resin packed in a metal foam matrix heat exchanger. This system simultaneously removes CO2 and water vapor with the resulting exothermic heat of reaction rejected to the heat exchanger. The system has no moving parts resulting in a highly reliable, simple configuration. Regeneration may be accomplished via internal heating and vacuum.

The Extravehicular Activity (EVA) operations for Space Station (SS) require that a regenerable carbon dioxide (CO2) absorber be developed for the manned Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). A concept which employs a solid amine resin to remove metabolic CCL and water vapor from the breathing air within the space suit is being developed by the Hamilton Standard Division of United Technologies Corporation under Contract NAS 9-17480 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC). The solid amine is packed within a water cooled metal foam matrix heat exchanger to remove the exothermic heat of chemical reaction. After completion of the EVA mission, the amine is regenerated on board the Space Station within the heat exchanger using a combination of heat and vacuum. This paper describes the concept design features, operational considerations and test results during simulated laboratory conditions.