Spacecraft Cabin Air CO2 Recovery

An advanced Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for long duration manned space missions ?such as planetary flight missions or planetary bases- requires an almost complete closure of all relevant material loops. Energy efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) removal and reduction systems are critical to reducing the power consumption of the spacecraft atmosphere revitalization systems. TDA proposes to develop a rapidly cycling vacuum-assisted thermal swing adsorption (VTSA) system to remove CO2 from cabin air and concentrate it for subsequent reduction and pressurization. Our unique sorbent exhibits one of the highest capacities reported for CO2 adsorption at very low CO2 partial pressures (1-3 torr CO2 partial pressure range). The low heat of adsorption of CO2 on the sorbent and the relatively low heat input needed to desorb the CO2 across a small temperature differential during regeneration will reduce the power requirement for the process. The new material is also highly tolerant to moisture. In Phase I, we will prepare the sorbent and demonstrate its ability in selectively removing CO2 from air under representative conditions. The technology readiness level (TRL) will be elevated to 3 at the end of Phase I. We will also complete the detailed design of the VTSA reactor. In Phase II, we will build a high fidelity prototype assembly and demonstrate the concept at full-scale, elevating the TRL to 5.

If successful, the sorbents developed in this project will find immediate use in NASA life support applications. Reducing the weight and volume of the sub-components of the spacecraft atmosphere restoration system is of critical importance to NASA particularly for next generation planetary exploration missions.

In addition to NASA and military (i.e., the submarines), we believe the new CO2 control system can find applications in commercial aerospace applications (a vacuum swing sorbent will eliminate the engine air intake to control the CO2 levels in commercial airliners) and shelters (e.g., mine rescue shelters). There is also potentially a very large market exist for CO2 capture if regulations put in place to capture carbon emissions from power plant and industrial sources.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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.