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Tests of an integrated 4-Bed Molecular Sieve Carbon Dioxide Removal System (CDRA), a Mechanical Compressor Engineering Development Unit (EDU), and a Sabatier Engineering Development Unit were conducted at NASA Marshall Flight Center in 2005 to evaluate the performance of a closed loop Air Revitalization System (ARS). A previously developed model for the integrated ARS was validated and correlated using the test data. Test data, including profiles of molecular sieve 5A bed pressure, CO2 accumulator pressure, CO2 delivery rate from the compressor, on/off operations of the compressor and relieving operation of the pressure relief valve were analyzed and compared with predictions using the integrated model. Findings from analyzing the test data, such as air leak rate to desorption beds, CO2 co-adsorption on 13X of desiccant beds, improvement in thermal modeling, etc. were reported.

An analysis model has been developed for analyzing/optimizing the integration of a carbon dioxide removal assembly (CDRA), CO2 compressor, accumulator, and Sabatier CO2 reduction assembly. The integrated model can be used in optimizing compressor sizes, compressor operation logic, water generation from Sabatier, utilization of CO2 from crew metabolic output, and utilization of H2 from oxygen generation assembly. Tests to validate CO2 desorption, recovery, and compression had been conducted in 2002-2003 using CDRA/Simulation compressor set-up at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). An analysis of test data has validated CO2 desorption rate profile, CO2 compressor performance, CO2 recovery and CO2 vacuum vent in the CDRA model. Analysis / optimization of the compressor size and the compressor operation logic for an integrated closed air revitalization system is currently being conducted