Vacuum-Regenerable Trace Contaminant Control for Exploration Portable Life Support System

Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) will continue to develop and mature a compact, vacuum-regenerable sorbent bed for effectively removing a broad range of trace contaminants, meeting topic performance requirements, which can be integrated with the Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS) CO2/H2O removal unit. We anticipate iterative testing of the sorbent bed to provide test data in a relevant environment to increase its TRL to 6. Both the primary trace contaminants as well as other species that threaten to exceed the 7-day SMAC levels during an EVA were addressed via testing in Phase II-Base. These sorbents with different properties can be combined in a modular Trace Contaminant Control (TCC) bed, tailored to the requirements and in suitable proportion. Our approach is based on PCIs proven sorbent nanomaterials that have high surface area on a structured support, enabling a compact, low pressure drop, and vacuum-regenerable TCC device. In Phase II, all objectives and proposed tasks were successfully completed to demonstrate the performance of these vacuum-regenerable sorbent materials for a compact, efficient TCC. This offers the potential for real-time, in-suit sorbent regeneration, reduced logistical burden associated with bed replacement or thermal regeneration, and further packaging volume and weight reduction. During Phase II, TCC hardware prototypes were developed, integrated, and evaluated with a NASA CO2/H2O removal unit. The TCC evaluation successfully demonstrated its capability to consistently remove NH3 from the ventilation loop as intended. In this proposed Phase II-E, the TCC hardware prototypes will be further matured via design iteration based on potential integration pathways with the xPLSS hardware. This effort would be valuable to NASA as it would address the current xPLSS technology gap and increase mission capability/durability/availability, while at the same time, increasing the TRL of the vacuum regenerable TCC sorbents.
Benefits: Targeted NASA applications will be in advanced spacesuit and exploration PLSS with key potential customers including Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and private sector customers. Additional NASA application includes Gateway and Artemis missions, future ISRU concepts for Lunar or Martian bases, spacecraft, and for the International Space Station. Targeted non-NASA applications include commercial aircraft air purification systems and for military vehicle cabins such as in aircraft, ships and submarines. Another market for this technology would be commercial buildings where it can have significant impact on the demand control ventilation and indoor air quality, resulting in significant decrease in associated energy and other costs.