carbon dioxide and moisture removal system nasa eclss july 17, 2002

Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Dioxide and Moisture Removal SystemMoisture Removal System

NASA ECLSSNASA ECLSS

July 17, 2002July 17, 2002

07-17-0207-17-02 Coeus EngineeringCoeus Engineering 22

Team OrganizationTeam Organization

• Jessica BadgerJessica Badger – Project CoordinatorProject Coordinator– Honeycomb Honeycomb

structuresstructures

• April SnowdenApril Snowden– Researcher Researcher – Carbon nanotubesCarbon nanotubes

• Dennis ArnoldDennis Arnold – Team LeaderTeam Leader– AerogelsAerogels

• Julia ThompsonJulia Thompson– ResearcherResearcher– Honeycomb structuresHoneycomb structures


OverviewOverview

• Space Launch Initiative ProgramSpace Launch Initiative Program• Current RCRS DesignCurrent RCRS Design

– Solid Amine Technology/Ion Resin BeadsSolid Amine Technology/Ion Resin Beads

• Carbon Dioxide/Moisture Removal Carbon Dioxide/Moisture Removal System (CMRS) Design RequirementsSystem (CMRS) Design Requirements

• Coeus Engineering’s Design ProcessCoeus Engineering’s Design Process• Possible DesignsPossible Designs

– Honeycomb structuresHoneycomb structures– Carbon nanotubesCarbon nanotubes– AerogelsAerogels

• Future WorkFuture Work


Space Launch Initiative Space Launch Initiative ProgramProgram

• FFocuses on the future ocuses on the future of exploration and of exploration and development of spacedevelopment of space

• Creation of 2Creation of 2nd nd

Generation Reusable Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)Launch Vehicle (RLV) – Reduce risk of crew loss Reduce risk of crew loss

to 1 in 10,000 missionsto 1 in 10,000 missions– Lower payload cost to Lower payload cost to

less than $1,000 per less than $1,000 per poundpound

– Incorporate latest Incorporate latest technology for COtechnology for CO22 removalremoval


Current RCRS DesignCurrent RCRS Design

• 11 layered CO11 layered CO22 adsorbent adsorbent “beds”“beds”

• Alternating active and inactive Alternating active and inactive bedsbeds– Active beds remove COActive beds remove CO22

– Inactive beds exposed to Inactive beds exposed to vacuum release COvacuum release CO22

• Dimensions: 3 ft x 1 ft x 1.5 ft Dimensions: 3 ft x 1 ft x 1.5 ft – 70% beds70% beds– 30% controls/valving 30% controls/valving

• Removes Removes ≈ 0.62 lbs CO≈ 0.62 lbs CO22/hour/hour

– 7 member crew7 member crew

– Requires 26 lbs of solid amine Requires 26 lbs of solid amine chemicalchemical

– Requires flow rate of 40 cfm Requires flow rate of 40 cfm



• Ion resin beadsIon resin beads– Copolymer of Copolymer of

polystyrene and polystyrene and divinylbenzenedivinylbenzene

– Sometimes made Sometimes made from Acrylic from Acrylic

– ≈ ≈ 3mm diameter3mm diameter– Extremely porousExtremely porous– Coated surface area:Coated surface area:

250-350 m250-350 m22/cm/cm33



• Hamilton Standard produces solid Hamilton Standard produces solid amines used in RCRSamines used in RCRS

• Solid amine chemicalsSolid amine chemicals– COCO22 and H and H22O “loosely” bond to solid aminesO “loosely” bond to solid amines

– Reaction produces heatReaction produces heat

– Common alkanolamine COCommon alkanolamine CO22 adsorbents: adsorbents:– monoethanolamine (MEA)monoethanolamine (MEA)– diethanolamine (DEA)diethanolamine (DEA)– methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)



• Active/Inactive beds Active/Inactive beds inter-layeredinter-layered– Active beds pressurized Active beds pressurized

and heatedand heated– Inactive beds cold and Inactive beds cold and

exposed to vacuumexposed to vacuum– Large pressure and Large pressure and

temperature gradientstemperature gradients

• Aluminum Puffed Duocell Aluminum Puffed Duocell FoamFoam– Houses ion-resin bedsHouses ion-resin beds– Structural rigidity Structural rigidity – Heat transfer propertiesHeat transfer properties



• Channeled air flowChanneled air flow– Each bed contains Each bed contains

4 bead-filled foam 4 bead-filled foam chamberschambers

• Retaining screensRetaining screens– Prevent beads Prevent beads

from entering main from entering main air streamair stream

– 8 screens per layer8 screens per layer– Create large Create large

pressure droppressure drop


CMRS Design CMRS Design RequirementsRequirements

• Maximize solid-amine surface areaMaximize solid-amine surface area• Minimize pressure drop through Minimize pressure drop through

each bedeach bed• Maximize structural rigidity Maximize structural rigidity • Maximize heat transfer from active Maximize heat transfer from active

to inactive bedsto inactive beds


Design ProcessDesign Process


Honeycomb StructuresHoneycomb Structures

• Packed or joined Packed or joined together in hexagonal together in hexagonal mannermanner

• LightweightLightweight• High strength and High strength and

rigidity to weight rigidity to weight ratiosratios

• Commonly used in Commonly used in sandwiched structuressandwiched structures– Airliner floorsAirliner floors– Airplane wingsAirplane wings– Motorcycle helmetsMotorcycle helmets



• Applied in directional Applied in directional air/fluid flow control air/fluid flow control and/or energy and/or energy absorptionabsorption

• Available in 5052 and Available in 5052 and 5056 Aluminum alloys5056 Aluminum alloys

• Varied cell sizesVaried cell sizes– 1/16” - 3/8”1/16” - 3/8”

• Can be perforatedCan be perforated– Allows air flowAllows air flow– Improves heat removalImproves heat removal



• Various grades can be exposed to Various grades can be exposed to temperatures up to 430 temperatures up to 430 ooFF

• 5 lbs/ft5 lbs/ft33

• .0015 nominal thickness.0015 nominal thickness• Provides for about 30.38 inProvides for about 30.38 in22 surface surface

area per cubic incharea per cubic inch



• If coated with If coated with chemical, surface chemical, surface area not comparable area not comparable to that of beadsto that of beads

• Would provide Would provide structural rigiditystructural rigidity

• Would provide heat Would provide heat transfertransfer


Carbon NanotubesCarbon Nanotubes

Enter the World of


What is it?What is it?

• Discovered by Discovered by Sumio Iijima in 1991Sumio Iijima in 1991

• High-resolution High-resolution transmission transmission electron microscopyelectron microscopy

• Fullerene-related Fullerene-related structures structures

• Consists of Consists of graphene cylinders graphene cylinders closed at either endclosed at either end


Types of Carbon Types of Carbon NanotubesNanotubes

• Single-walled Single-walled carbon nanotubecarbon nanotube– Single sheet of Single sheet of

carbon atomscarbon atoms– 1 < d < 3 nm.1 < d < 3 nm.

• Multi-walled Multi-walled carbon nanotubecarbon nanotube– Multiple sheets of Multiple sheets of

carbon atomscarbon atoms– d > 3 nm.d > 3 nm.


Attributes of Carbon Attributes of Carbon NanotubesNanotubes

• DiameterDiameter– Size of nanometersSize of nanometers– 1/50,0001/50,000thth of a human of a human

hairhair

• LengthLength– Several micrometersSeveral micrometers– Largest is ~ 2 mmLargest is ~ 2 mm

• Each nanotube is a Each nanotube is a single moleculesingle molecule– Hexagonal network of Hexagonal network of

covalently bonded covalently bonded carbon atoms carbon atoms

• Super strengthSuper strength• Low weightLow weight• StabilityStability• FlexibilityFlexibility• Good heat Good heat

conductanceconductance• Large surface areaLarge surface area

– 300-800 m300-800 m22/cm/cm33


Mechanical PropertiesMechanical Properties

• Extremely strongExtremely strong– 10-100 times stronger than steel per unit 10-100 times stronger than steel per unit

weightweight

• High elastic moduliHigh elastic moduli– About 1 TPaAbout 1 TPa

• FlexibleFlexible– Can be flattened, twisted, or bent around Can be flattened, twisted, or bent around

sharp bends without breakingsharp bends without breaking

• Great performance under compressionGreat performance under compression• High thermal conductivityHigh thermal conductivity


Possible UsesPossible Uses

• Transistors and diodesTransistors and diodes• Field emitters for flat-panel displaysField emitters for flat-panel displays• Cellular-phone signal amplifiersCellular-phone signal amplifiers• Ion storage for batteriesIon storage for batteries• Materials strengthenerMaterials strengthener

– Polymer compositesPolymer composites– Low-viscosity composite Low-viscosity composite


Potential Use for CMRSPotential Use for CMRS

• Coat nanotubes with solid amineCoat nanotubes with solid amine– Maximize surface areaMaximize surface area

• Eliminate mesh retaining screenEliminate mesh retaining screen– Carbon nanotubes fixed to housing structureCarbon nanotubes fixed to housing structure– No need for beads No need for beads – Minimize pressure dropMinimize pressure drop

• Nanotube structure to channel air Nanotube structure to channel air – Replace aluminum Duocell foam with Replace aluminum Duocell foam with

aluminum/carbon nanotube compositealuminum/carbon nanotube composite– Coat carbon nanotubes with solid amine and fit Coat carbon nanotubes with solid amine and fit

into honeycomb or Versacore structureinto honeycomb or Versacore structure


What is an Aerogel?What is an Aerogel?

• Critically evaporated gelCritically evaporated gel• Lightest solid knownLightest solid known• Almost transparent Almost transparent

solidsolid• Great insulatorGreat insulator


The History of AerogelsThe History of Aerogels

• Samuel Stephens Kistler Samuel Stephens Kistler • A friendly little wagerA friendly little wager• First publication: Nature 1931First publication: Nature 1931• Little done until late 1970’sLittle done until late 1970’s


Aerogels as Support Aerogels as Support StructuresStructures

• Young’s modulus: Young’s modulus: 101066 – 10 – 1077 N/m N/m22

• Tensile strength:Tensile strength: 16 Kpa16 Kpa• Density: Density: ≥≥ 0.003 g/m 0.003 g/m33

• Support 1500 timesSupport 1500 times

their own weighttheir own weight


Aerogels as InsulationAerogels as Insulation

• Examples of use:Examples of use:– Modern refrigeratorsModern refrigerators– Mars roverMars rover

• 39 times better than best 39 times better than best

fiberglass insulationfiberglass insulation


Aerogels as High Aerogels as High Surface Surface Area MaterialsArea Materials

• Up to 99% airUp to 99% air• Pore sizePore size

– Range from Range from

3 nm to 50 nm3 nm to 50 nm– Average about 20 nmAverage about 20 nm

• Effective surface area:Effective surface area:

300 – 400 m300 – 400 m22/cm/cm33


Aerogels and Coeus Aerogels and Coeus EngineeringEngineering

• RecapRecap– StrongStrong– LightweightLightweight– High surface areaHigh surface area– Does not require a screenDoes not require a screen

• Can the aerogel be coated?Can the aerogel be coated?• Different base materialsDifferent base materials• Place inside honeycombPlace inside honeycomb


Carbon Nanotubes / Carbon Nanotubes / AerogelsAerogels

PropertiesProperties Ion Resin Ion Resin BeadsBeads

Carbon Carbon NanotubeNanotube

ss

AerogelsAerogels

Surface Surface AreaArea

250-350 250-350 mm22/cm/cm33

300-800 300-800 mm22/cm/cm33

300-400 300-400 mm22/cm/cm33

Young's Young's ModulusModulus

N/AN/A 11 TPaTPa 101066-10-1077 Pa Pa

Tensile Tensile StrengthStrength

N/AN/A 30 GPa30 GPa (max)(max)

16 kPa16 kPa

CostCost ?? ?? ??


Future PlansFuture Plans

• Wrap-up researchWrap-up research– NanotubesNanotubes– AerogelsAerogels– Carbon nanofoamCarbon nanofoam

• Prepare cost analysisPrepare cost analysis• Compare and contrast research findingsCompare and contrast research findings

– Confer with John GrafConfer with John Graf

• Decide on a final recommendationDecide on a final recommendation• Final presentation and final reportFinal presentation and final report


Special Thanks!!Special Thanks!!

• Dr. John GrafDr. John Graf• Dr. Ronald O. StearmanDr. Ronald O. Stearman• Marcus KrugerMarcus Kruger


Questions?Questions?

• Preguntas?Preguntas?• Questionne?Questionne?• Bопрос?Bопрос?• Kwestie?Kwestie?• Ninau?Ninau?• Swali?Swali?• Spørsmål?Spørsmål?• Förhöra?Förhöra?

carbon dioxide and moisture removal system nasa eclss july 17, 2002

Documents

co2inactive beds

inactive bedsactive

in2 surface area

solid aminesreaction

heatedinactive beds

vacuumlarge pressure

rcrssolid amine chemicalsco2

main air stream8 screens