Four Bed CO2 Scrubber

The Four Bed Carbon Dioxide (ops nom FBCO2) Scrubber has been developed as a technology demonstration flight system for the purpose of evaluating its potential as a carbon dioxide removal technology for the International Space Station (ISS) and future missions to the Moon and Mars. It was launched in August 2021 and activated in September of 2021.

The operation of a FBCO2 can be explained with the aid of the schematic shown in Figure 1. The FBCO2 continuously removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. The four beds consist of two desiccant beds and two CO2 sorbent beds. The system operates such that one desiccant bed and one CO2 sorbent bed are adsorbing while the other two beds are desorbing. When a new half cycle begins, the beds switch sorbent modes. The incoming air stream to the FBCO2 is downstream of a condensing heat exchanger and has a dewpoint and dry bulb temperature between 40 and 60 degF. The air stream passes first through a desiccant bed to remove much of the moisture from the process air. The temperature of the air stream rises as it flows through the desiccant bed due to the heat of adsorption.
The process air is next drawn through the system blower and then through an air-liquid (coolant water) heat exchanger or precooler. The precooler increases CO2 sorbent efficiency by reducing process air temperature before entering the CO2 sorbent bed. Prior to returning to the cabin, the air stream passes through the desiccant bed that adsorbed moisture from the previous half cycle. The water loaded desiccant bed desorbs this moisture to the air stream and returns it to the cabin atmosphere. This is called a water-save system, in contrast to the 2-bed Skylab system, which vented adsorbed water to space.

• Provides increased CO₂‑removal performance over the state‑of‑the‑art, the ISS Tech Demo has demonstrated increase performance over the SOA.
• Delivers higher reliability for long‑duration and exploration missions, meeting the need for CO₂‑removal systems with increased reliability and performance and reduced mass.
• Supports closed‑loop atmospheric revitalization architectures as the Four Bed CO₂ Scrubber Closed Loop Build, enabling reduced logistics and increased oxygen recovery. 
• Closes critical exploration reliability gaps, FBCO₂ demonstrates potential solutions for highly reliable systems that can meet performance requirements for Exploration.
• Enables integrated system testing and ground capability retention, with Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) Evolution confirming that ground testbeds increase reliability dataset, reducing risk for Exploration missions.
• Provides a pathway for infusion into future platforms, including use as baseline system for Mars Transit Habitat, potential backup to Gateway systems, and interest from Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) partners for design packages.
• Supports reduced mass, volume, and long‑term power consumption, with ongoing Calnetix blower and controller upgrades and associated development planning.
• Extends operational life and reduces logistic risk by transitioning to sustained ISS operations and continuing through ISS end‑of‑life, providing long‑term data for reliability and maintainability.

This is a mature technology (TRL 8) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.