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Paradoxically, trace contaminant control systems that suffer unexpected upsets and malfunctions can release hazardous gaseous contaminants into a spacecraft cabin atmosphere causing potentially serious toxicological problems. Trace contaminant control systems designed for spaceflight typically employ a combination of adsorption beds and catalytic oxidation reactors to remove organic and inorganic trace contaminants from the cabin atmosphere. Interestingly, the same design features and attributes which make these systems so effective for purifying a spacecraft’s atmosphere can also make them susceptible to system upsets. Cabin conditions can be contributing causes of phenomena such as adsorbent “rollover” and catalyst poisoning can alter a system’s performance and in some instances release contamination into the cabin. Evidence of these phenomena has been observed both in flight and during ground-based tests.

The Regenerable Trace Contaminant Control System (RTCCS) is a system designed to meet all of the size, weight, power use, contaminant removal rate, and operational requirements of the International Space Station (ISS) Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly (TCCS) without the need to replace an approximately 80 lb charcoal bed every 90 days. It is designed to remove every class of contaminants found in spacecraft cabin air, including alcohols, aldehydes, aromatics, ethers, esters, chlorocarbons, halocarbons, fluorosilanes, hydrocarbons, ketones, silicones, sulfides, and inorganics, and it is designed to operate continuously with minimal maintenance or periodic replacement major components. The RTCCS is comprised primarily of a pre-sorbent bed, regenerable bed, catalyst bed subassembly, post sorbent bed, blower, and associated valves and instruments.