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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
The proposed project intends to utilize plant waste aboard the ISS in a plasma activated water application. Injecting a plasma into water is known to introduce compounds within the water. The goal of this study is to gain an understanding of the various feedstock gases found in waste gasification processes, (i.e. methane, CO2, oxygen, nitrogen,) in a plasma jet submerged in water. The initial study will take each gas in its research grade “pure” form to gain a base study. This will be performed with a single stage plasma system available at KSC with some modification. Following the base study, a second stage will be implemented to provide a plant biomass gasified waste. This study will use two low-power (sub-kilowatt) AC, plasma sources that will generate a plasma torch to gasify the waste and a plasma jet submerged in water with various plasma feedstock gases.
The goal of this study is to gain an understanding of the various feedstock gases found in waste gasification processes, (i.e. methane, CO2, oxygen, nitrogen,) in a plasma jet submerged in water. The initial study will take each gas in its research grade "pure" form to gain a base study. Water is one of the most important items for astronaut habitation and space crop food production. Specific water properties are needed for space crop production, buffer solutions, and system processes. The proposed project intends to utilize plant waste aboard the ISS in a plasma activated water application. Injecting a plasma into water is known to introduce compounds within the water.
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