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The “low power-CO2 removal (LPCOR) system” is an advanced air revitalization system that is under development at NASA Ames Research Center. The LPCOR utilizes the fundamental design features of the ‘four bed molecular sieve’ (4BMS) CO2 removal technology of the International Space Station (ISS). LPCOR improves power efficiency by replacing the desiccant beds of the 4BMS with a membrane dryer and a state-of-the-art, structured adsorbent device that collectively require 25% of the thermal energy required by the 4BMS desiccant beds for regeneration. Compared to the 4BMS technology, it has the added functionality to deliver pure, compressed CO2 for oxygen recovery. The CO2 removal and recovery functions are performed in a two-stage adsorption compressor. CO2 is removed from the cabin air and partially compressed in the first stage. The second stage performs further compression and delivers the compressed CO2 to a reduction unit such as a Sabatier reactor for oxygen recovery.

CO2 removal, recovery and reduction are essential processes for a closed loop air revitalization system in a crewed spacecraft. Typically, a compressor is required to recover the low pressure CO2 that is being removed from the spacecraft in a swing bed adsorption system. This paper describes integrated tests of a Temperature-Swing Adsorption Compressor (TSAC) with high-fidelity systems for carbon dioxide removal and reduction assemblies (CDRA and Sabatier reactor). It also provides details of the TSAC operation at various CO2 loadings. The TSAC is a solid-state compressor that has the capability to remove CO2 from a low-pressure source, and subsequently store, compress, and deliver it at a higher pressure. TSAC utilizes the principle of temperature-swing adsorption compression and has no rapidly moving parts.

Continuous removal of carbon dioxide is one of the most critical processes in a spacecraft air revitalization system. Recovery of the waste carbon dioxide and its subsequent conversion to oxygen become essential for long-duration human space missions beyond Low-Earth orbit where re-supply of consumables such as oxygen is neither practical nor economical. The current CO2 removal technology employed in the United States Operating Segment (USOS) of the International Space Station (ISS) operates in an open loop mode where the waste CO2 is vented to space. A compressor is required to facilitate CO2 recovery capabilities. The CO2 removal process itself is one of the most energy-intensive processes in the life support system of the ISS due to the water vapor recovery method involved in the process. This paper discusses the design and development of a low-power CO2 removal system that has capabilities to recover and compress the CO2 for recycling oxygen.

This paper describes the results of an ongoing long-duration testing of a temperature-swing adsorption compressor (TSAC) that has application in closing the air revitalization loop of the International Space Station (ISS) and future spacecraft. The TSAC is a solid-state compressor that has the capability to remove CO2 from a low-pressure source, and subsequently store, compress, and deliver it at a higher pressure as required by a processor. The TSAC described in this paper was designed to function as an interface device for the CO2 removal and reduction units of the International Space Station (ISS). The air revitalization system of the ISS operates in an open loop mode and relies on the resupply of oxygen and other consumables from Earth for the life support of astronauts. A compressor is required for recovering the CO2 from the carbon dioxide removal assembly (CDRA) and delivering to a CO2 reduction unit of an oxygen recovery system and thereby closing the air-loop.

The International Space Station's air revitalization system operates in an open loop mode and relies on the re-supply of oxygen and other consumables from earth for the life support of astronauts. A compressor is required to deliver the carbon dioxide from a removal assembly to a reduction unit to recover oxygen and close the oxygen loop. We have developed a temperature-swing adsorption compressor (TSAC) that is energy efficient, quiet, and has no rapidly moving parts for performing these tasks. The TSAC has the capability to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from a low-pressure source, and subsequently store, compress, and deliver it at a higher pressure as required by a processor. As such, the TSAC is an excellent candidate for interfacing CO2 removal and reduction units in the air revitalization loop of a spacecraft for oxygen recovery. A TSAC that uses air as a cooling medium was developed and tested at NASA Ames Research Center.

This paper describes the mechanical design, thermal model development, and compression test results of a solid-state compressor prototype. This compressor utilizes the principle of temperature–swing adsorption compression and has no rapidly moving parts. Temperature-swing adsorption compressors (TSAC) have multiple applications in space exploration where acquisition, separation, purification, transportation or compression of gases are involved. NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has developed a TSAC for potential application in a closed-loop air revitalization system (ARS) for a future spacecraft or crew exploration vehicle. Since the ARS of International Space Station (ISS) naturally serves as the baseline for future systems, we chose the design guidelines for this TSAC based on the ISS requirements. ARC has designed and successfully tested similar compressors that use a liquid cooling medium in the past.

Accumulation and subsequent compression of carbon dioxide that is removed from the space cabin are two important processes involved in a closed-loop air revitalization scheme of the International Space Station (ISS). The 4-Bed Molecular Sieve (4BMS) of ISS currently operates in an open loop mode without a compressor. This paper reports the integrated 4BMS and liquid-cooled Temperature Swing Adsorption Compressor (TSAC) testing conducted during the period of March 3 to April 18, 2003. The TSAC prototype was developed at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)1. The 4BMS was modified to a functionally flight-like condition at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)2. Testing was conducted at MSFC. The paper provides details of the TSAC operation at various CO2 loadings and corresponding performance of the 4BMS.