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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 2)
Project Objective
Complete test stand build-up for the Series Bosch (S-Bosch) Reactor test stand, which includes a reverse-water gas shift reactor coupled with a carbon formation reactor, and study/optimize the reaction mechanism.
Project Description
The S-Bosch Reactor test stand was designed to convert carbon dioxide to water and carbon. The water was intended to be converted to oxygen by an Oxygen Generation Assembly, while the carbon could be used to support lunar regolith carbothermal reduction for ISRU oxygen extraction from lunar regolith leaving behind a metallic slag component.
The long-term goals for this project were as follows:
1. Develop test documentation necessary to operate and test using the existing Series Bosch Reactor test stand,
2. Complete a kinetics test series where the reactors are operated at varying conditions to determine the optimal operating parameters,
3. Compare agitation methods needed to remove carbon from the carbon formation reactor portion of the S-Bosch reactor, and
4. Generate a reactor component prototype with the new agitation methods.
Project Results and Conclusions
The S-Bosch reactor, purchased before this project, was comprised of Inconel-625 instead of Inconel-718 due to the concern of iron content of Inconel-718 and potential negative effects when catalyzing the reaction. However, Inconel-625 was not compatible with hydrogen gas operation as investigated during the Special Fluids Compatibility Assessment and Hydrogen Hazard Assessment. The reactors were not operated, and there was not enough funding in the project to procure a new reactor.
Long-term goals 3 and 4 were completed despite goals 1 and 2 remaining incomplete.
Programmatically, the Mars Campaign Office and Life Support System Project budget down-selected Sabatier technology as an architectural placeholder for future exploration endeavors for oxygen generation from carbon dioxide. Series-Bosch reactor work was placed on-hold in funding for future work.
Bosch technologies are beneficial for converting carbon dioxide to oxygen and solid carbon. Solid carbon can be utilized in-situ as a feedstock for carbothermal reduction while oxygen can be used to sustain crew habitability.
Sabatier technologies convert carbon dioxide to methane and water which presents a new byproduct to handle or vent. The methane byproduct contains hydrogen and carbon which are not being captured in closed-loop recyclability. Bosch reactors are able to produce recyclable by-products from carbon dioxide maintaining a closed-loop cycle.
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