Browsing by Author "Gott, Ryan"

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Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) Gas Analysis Subsystem Development
(2024 International Conference on Environmnetal Systems, 2024-07-21) Gott, Ryan ; Olson, Joel ; Azim, Nilab ; Aguilar Ayala, Roberto ; Captain, Janine ; Haggerty, Nathan; Rogers, Kevin ; Davis, Thomas; White, Brant
The Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) project is currently developing a subscale system to demonstrate the operation and performance of the carbothermal reduction process and quantify the production of molar equivalent oxygen (carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)). Traditionally, gas chromatography (GC) systems are utilized to qualify gases due to their ability to separate the volatile compounds within the gas mixture, followed by quantification of the isolated component of interest. Despite these capabilities, GCs require consumables for their operational mobile phase and consequently are not often considered a flight-forward option. An alternative analytical technique known as mass spectrometry measures the presentence of gas phase molecules based on their mass-to-charge ratio. Residual gas analyzers (RGAs) which utilize mass spectrometry are not traditionally used to quantify analytes, but proper design and calibrations can result in a flight-forward analytical instrument capable of direct quantification of volatile gases of interest. Kennedy Space Center's role for the project is to design a gas analyzer system to detect and quantify the CO and CO2 gas produced during the carbothermal reaction utilizing a commercial version of the Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo) instrument. MSolo is a modified commercial off-the-shelf mass spectrometer which consists of quadrupole mass filter and space rated electronics. MSolo is currently a TRL 6 technology and manifested on the PRIME-1 and VIPER missions. This paper describes leveraging MSolo based instrumentation to develop a gas analysis system for the work outlined in the 2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) paper number 313. The design and testing of the brassboard phase of the project will be described along with the current work underway which will cover the design and preliminary test results of the prototype phase.
Plasma Abatement of Volatile Organic Compounds in Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide Background Gases
(2024 International Conference on Environmnetal Systems, 2024-07-21) Olson, Joel; Peak, Shayla; Gott, Ryan; Elizarraga, Maria; Engeling, Kenneth; Pitts, Ray
Thermal conversion of crew waste to gases that can be vented from spacecraft for mass reduction has been investigated by NASA and others within the Trash-to-Gas program. One concern with operating thermal waste processors onboard spacecraft is the potential for contamination of cabin atmosphere with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from gaseous reactor effluent. Recent efforts at Kennedy Space Center's Applied Chemistry Laboratory have developed and reported on a recirculating plasma gas system for the rapid reduction of VOCs. In this case, a direct-current thermal plasma was used to break down VOCs into simpler, and preferably more benign chemical species. Previous work reported the application of this system on gases with carbon dioxide as the background. Here the authors report the results of plasma VOC abatement with an improved recirculation system. The VOCs studied included a set in a nitrogen background (benzene, pentane, ethanol, and Freon 113) and a set in a carbon dioxide background (benzene, pentane, ethanol, and acetone). Each of these analyte species is included in NASA's Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations list. The plasma abatement system showed a greater than 99.999% reduction in VOC concentrations within 2 minutes of plasma treatment for the nitrogen background, and greater than 95% VOC reduction within 2 minutes for the carbon dioxide background. This is a significant improvement over what was reported previously. All analytes obeyed first-order rate kinetics in agreement with the previous work.
Plasma Abatement of Volatile Organic Compounds.
(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Olson, Joel; Gott, Ryan; Wilhelm, Shayla; Campbell, Caiden; Engeling, Kenneth; Pitts, Ray
One difficulty with crewed space operations is the potential for the contamination of the spacecraft habitable volume from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may be present. One possible VOC abatement process is to apply a plasma to the contaminated gases. Plasmas provide high energy electrons and ions that are capable of breaking down gaseous organic species generally into smaller compounds. To explore plasma VOC abatement, the authors constructed a plasma gas system that recirculates a particular VOC-laden gas mixture through a plasma torch. This allows for the periodic collection of aliquots of gaseous samples for subsequent analyses via gas chromatography mass spectrometry, designed to quantify the remaining VOC materials. The VOCs evaluated included 100 ppm of acetone, benzene, ethanol, and pentane in a background of carbon dioxide. The plasma conversion of all analytes followed first-order rate kinetics, and VOC elimination was observed after 10 min or less of treatment for all analytes measured. Additionally, it was observed that the plasma caused the conversion of CO2 into oxygen and CO.
Plasma Activated Water: A Technology for Acid Generation and Space Crop Production
(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Gott, Ryan; Engeling, Kenneth; Olson, Joel; Tessema, Misle; Fischer, Jason; Franco, Carolina; Link, Bruce; Johnson, Christina
As humanity returns to the moon and onward to Mars, sustainable space travel becomes essential for cost and independence from Earth. Astronaut activities in low Earth orbit resupply consumable materials and can require alternative technologies if transportation of chemicals is deemed hazardous. Plasma technology and applications are able to generate commodities that assist in achieving Earth independence. Plasma interaction with water generates acid in-situ using on-board resources of electricity and breathable air without the need for large infrastructure. At Kennedy Space Center, researchers have shown that plasma is able to produce nitric acid, and therefore nitrates, in a plant-usable form in water. In this report, the team presents results on acid generation in g/kW-hr as well as provides results on plasma activated water for plant growth assistance. Plasma was generated utilizing DC, AC, and pulsed power supplies in order to determine optimizing parameters for generation of this useful commodity.
Plasma Assisted Acid Leaching of Inedible Biomass for Nutrient Recovery
(51st International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/10/2022) Engeling, Kenneth; Gott, Ryan; Lunn, Griffin; Franco, Carolina; Tessema, Misle; Link, Bruce
Sustaining a human presence on the moon, Mars or deep space will require closing loops on many life support systems. Some form of agriculture will be required because plants produce the vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils in our diets that degrade over time in stored foods. In addition, they provide dietary fiber, restore air, and purify water. It is estimated that 93 Kg of plant nutrients are required to support one crew member per year. Growing plants will require recycling nutrients trapped in inedible vegetation. Researchers at Kennedy Space Center have investigated the use of a thermal plasma with various carrier gases to thermally degrade inedible plant biomass for nutrient recovery. Previous work demonstrated a thermally degrading environment such as a muffle furnace improved nutrient recovery from inedible biomass prior to an acid leaching process. However, a muffle furnace is an inefficient process. We have explored the use of a small scale, thermal plasma for degradation of pellets to enhance the breakdown of plant stems, leaves and debris to further close the nutrient loop. Plasma carrier gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and air were used to explore variations in recovery and potential chemical by-products. Plasma processed inedible biomass was added to varying concentrations of acid solution for leaching of nutrients (e.g. potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus) for reuse in the crop production cycle. We also examine total nitrogen recovery. Results are presented showing the impact of plasma processing prior to acid leaching on recovery of plant nutrients.