Multi-Species Inline Analyzer for Monitoring Process Gases in ISRU Systems

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes the development of a multi-species gas analyzer for monitoring the quality of process streams generated by lunar and Mars in situ resource utilization (ISRU) systems. This multi-component in-line gas analyzer (MIGA) integrates technologies successfully demonstrated in several PSI projects with innovations in ruggedizing lightweight optical gas cells, multiplexing laser sources to reduce footprint, covering more than one gas species per laser, and miniaturizing control and detection electronics for high-sensitivity measurements. The proposed project will target the monitoring of produced oxygen, methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from lunar regolith. MIG will also monitor impurities in these process streams including ppmv-level (typical) of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and water vapor. The innovative integration of field-proven technologies and components will accelerate the development of MIGA and its certification for space applications. The integration of field-proven technologies and components will accelerate the development of MIGA and its certification for space applications. The proposed innovation has very high relevance and significance to the NASA topic H10.04 “In-Line Commodity Purity Analysis” of the solicitation. The benefits of the technology may include a cost-effective tool for wide deployment on systems requiring high purity gases to operate such as fuel cells and electrolysis systems, minimizing losses due to damages to production infrastructure from harmful impurities that would cause corrosion, maximizing heating value of the purchased fuels by verifying the composition of gas mixtures, increasing safety of propellants produced on lunar or Mars outposts to prevent catastrophic failures, and most importantly ensuring the quality of produced oxygen and water for safe human consumption. • The proposed innovation has very high relevance and significance to the NASA topic H10.04 “In-Line Commodity Purity Analysis” of the solicitation. • The developed instrument, with a shoebox form factor, will monitor multiple gas species (with detection limits of sub-percent for major species, and sub-ppm for impurities) to ensure the quality of the process streams generated by lunar and Mars in situ resource utilization (ISRU) systems, and to maximize the efficiency of the processes. • There exists a trace water vapor sensor developed by JPL for oxygen and hydrogen process streams. Other multi-species instruments are tailored for monitoring crew habitats. The residual gas analyzer (RGA) is the standard instrument used in space applications for monitoring gases. There is no instrument for process streams. • Essential chemicals for live support and propellants will be generated on the Moon & Mars for long duration habitats. The quality of the chemicals generated needs to be assured and the processes optimized. A multicomponent inline gas analyzer is needed to provide these functions.

The potential NASA applications include the monitoring of ISRU process streams for quality and safety control and maximization of process efficiency. ISRU processes may include carbo-thermal reactors, solid-oxide electrochemical cell, and Sabatier, Haber-Bosch, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The proposed technology will support future missions to the Moon and Mars for long-term habitats requiring the production of chemicals for life support and propellants using lunar regolith, water, and atmospheric gases. Cabin air quality monitoring is another application of the technology. The non-NASA applications may include oil refineries, industrial chemical processing plants, natural gas plants, gas wholesalers, renewable natural gas producers and buyers, hydrogen production plants, and carbon sequestration sites.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — 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.

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